On an unselfish and humble Penn State field hockey team (5-5, 1-0), the defense might be the unit that exaggerates those qualities the most.

This is a unit that could use words such as stifling, dominant, impressive and so on to describe its play of late. But don't expect the Nittany Lion backs to use any of those adjectives -- unless they're in reference to another positional unit on the team.

In describing the defensive effort in Saturday's 3-1 win over Ohio State -- which coach Char Morett called one of the best games the Lions have played this season --freshman sweeper Mallory Weisen spread the credit around.

"It was a great team defense," Weisen said. "Every line was doing its part and we really worked together well."

During the team's last seven games, the Lions have accumulated four shutouts, two Big Ten defensive player of the week awards and most importantly -- five victories.

Morett's team is looking to add to that win total tonight at 6 at Bigler Field, when they take on Princeton (2-5) at Bigler Field.

The game is a rematch of last year's NCAA first round game, which the Lions won 3-1.

In comparing games against like opponents this season, both the Lions and Tigers encountered the same problems against Connecticut and Northeastern -- a failure to generate sufficient offense.

Princeton may be in for much of the same offensive frustrations when it goes up against Penn State tonight. The Lions will look to make the defending Ivy League champions the next victim of effective defense.

In a recent stretch of shut-down defense, extending from late in a 2-1 loss against North Carolina to mid-way through Wednesday's 3-2 overtime defeat at Syracuse, the Lions did not allow a goal for more than 250 minutes of play. That's more than three and a half games.

Morett noted that Princeton is much like the Lions in some ways.

"I think they're similar to us," Morett said. "For us it's going to be real important to play a team passing game in order to dictate the pace of the game."

Morett has been searching for a combination of forwards that she can look to for consistency each game. She still doesn't know which combination to rely upon.

"You think you do [know], and then the next practice or game comes, and then you don't know again," Morett said.

Penn State's defensive rotation has been, as Morett likes to say, "steady", for much of the season.

Juniors Sara Cahill, Bekah Hostetler and Molly Schriver anchor the back line. Cahill was honored this past week with the Big Ten defensive player of the week award, the same award given to goalkeeper Megan Akstin the week before.

Mallory Weisen has stepped in nicely at sweeper for the injured (but now healthy) Carey Maser. Morett typically cites Weisen along with the upperclassmen when speaking of the steady defensive efforts the Lions put forth.

At this point in the season, Morett thinks the offense is becoming a bit more consistent., Morett thinks they arei ready to play up to the level of the back line and goalkeeper Megan Akstin.

"We're starting to become more consistent," Morett said. "We're really trying to get our middies more involved in the attack, and we're starting to utilize our speed."

If each of the positional units on the team is ready to click, then the Tigers may be in for a long evening -- but don't expect the Lions players to admit that.