As the 2002 season wound down, both the Penn State and Lehigh men's soccer teams were awarded NCAA Tournament berths. When the 2003 season commenced, both teams held a genuine opportunity at winning their respective conferences.

After rough stretches of play, however, both teams are currently mired in five-game winless streaks, a slump that the Nittany Lions and Mountain Hawks would like to rectify tonight at 7 at Jeffrey Field, in Penn State's last home match of the season.

Following Penn State's victory over Northwestern on Oct. 2, Penn State (6-8, 1-3) has lost five consecutive contests and has been trounced by Big Ten opposition, in the likes of Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.

Although the Nittany Lions lost six straight games spanning the end of the 1961 season and continuing into the 1962 campaign, the current drought is Penn State's longest in one season, in the team's 93-year history.

While Penn State has been unable to win, Lehigh (7-1-7, 1-0-4) has recorded nine shutouts this season and has not lost in its last ten games, the team's longest unbeaten streak.

Compiling five straight ties, however, has ruined Lehigh's chances at a conference title and frustrated and disappointed Lehigh men's soccer coach Dean Koski.

"We need to make sure we show up and play at a competitive level," Koski said. "This is a very important game."

Led by senior forward and Hershey native Steve Fisher, Lehigh has outscored its opponents thus far 21-9 and, ranked fifth in the Patriot League standings, is still mathematically eligible for postseason play.

Lehigh's smothering defense is due in large part to goalkeeper Sam Bishop's low goals against average, as he is currently ranked 11th in the nation in that category.

After losing a hard-fought battle against Michigan on Sunday, Penn State held a light practice yesterday and is ready to face the Mountain Hawks, according to freshman David Gray.

"There was energy across the board [the last few days] and we feel prepared for Lehigh," Gray said.

Seeing his team's hopes of winning the Big Ten regular season title fall by the wayside, Gorman and the Nittany Lions are now prepping for the Big Ten playoffs and see tonight's regional match as a tune-up.

"We are extremely hungry for a victory," Gorman said.