The mood was light, the checks and stick work was less prevalent, and the trash talking was done with the utmost respect.

However, the smiles and laughter, as well as the bantering were clearly evident through the players, and ex-players' helmets. And on this day, that's all that really mattered.

The scoreboard read 14-4 at the end of Saturday's Penn State men's lacrosse alumni game at Holuba Hall, which marked the beginning of the Nittany Lions season, one full of promise. But clearly on this day, it was all about having fun.

"A lot of these guys drive a long way to play in this game and you kind of owe it to them to lighten it up a little bit," Ryan "Bonecrusher" Haggerty said, a 1999 graduate. "Especially these guys on the team that worked real hard since they came back from Christmas break and [Penn State men's lacrosse coach Glenn Theil's] been busting their chops, it's the least we can do to add some fun to the game."

Haggerty did more than his share, highlighted by his goal celebration early in the first period to tie the game at 1-1, when he threw down his stick and gloves, pulled a sharpie out of his sock and signed his yellow helmet.

The move scored well with the players, though Haggerty said he wouldn't give credit to Terrell Owens for the idea.

"That sharpie idea isn't new," Haggerty said. "I just haven't scored in seven years."

At the end of the first period the Lions were up only 3-2, and the alumni had hope. However, their chances faded, as did their stamina, in the second period, when they were outscored 5-0.

However the spirit on both sides remained high throughout the rest of the game, as chants of "alumni rule, alumni rule" went up after the team's third of four goals. And as much fun as the alumni were having, the current Lions squad was just as excited to get the season started.

"It's a lot of fun, we do this every year . . . and it's just good to get out and finally get our team playing together," said Chris Gannett, who scored three goals.

The Lions also got two goals each from Kevin Hershner, John Eremus and Derek Howells.

Ranked No. 17 in the preseason poll, the Lions will be looking to make a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, where they bowed out in the first round to Towson, 11-6. Getting their first-ever taste of tournament play, the Lions are eager to get back there.

"I think there's a little bit of pressure to get back, but I think we got a group of guys that, no matter what, are going to play hard at the top of our game," Gannett said.

For now though, those expectations are on hold, courtesy of a few laughs and a good old time. As for Haggerty, he may still be lamenting the fact that he missed a wide-open chance in the third period because he had more up his sleeve.

"Actually I was going to do the Macarena but it didn't work out. I should have just finished," he said.

That being said, maybe it was for the better. That may have been too many laughs for one day.