This was supposed to be the game that finally got the Penn State field hockey team over the hump, the game that would prove that this club could not only hang tight with the top teams, but beat them as well.

This team had been through overtime losses, last-second regulation losses, even a controversial loss -- and now it was time to rectify what was left of the regular season. It was Penn State's time to win, and the days of singing the blues after big games were supposed to be over and done with.

Senior day was to be the perfect setting. With personalized pumpkins awaiting the seniors in the locker room, this Halloween weekend was supposed to provide the Nittany Lions with more treat than trick, as a win against Michigan would have put them in good shape to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.

But, like so often has been the case for the No. 19 Lions this season, they were able to do everything except find the back of the cage.

The Journey lyrics above are appropriate when discussing these Lions, who find themselves on the losing side far too often in close games against quality competition. The now common defeats do not get any easier as the season wears on.

"I just feel bad for them," Penn State coach Char Morett said after Saturday's 1-0 loss to Michigan. "They work so hard and can't seem to get the win. I'm just so tired of giving that same speech."

Needless to say, the players are tired of hearing that speech, as it does little to alleviate the obvious pain associated with this all-too-typical result.

"Sometimes you just get the tough breaks, like today," junior goalkeeper Megan Akstin said after the game, the frustration on her face unmasked -- both literally and figuratively.

Akstin's frustration lies in the outcome, not at the shoddy offensive production that has plagued this team for more than two months now.

"It's a tough loss, and it hurts, but I know [the offense] did what they could do," Akstin said.

The Lions (10-9, 3-3 Big Ten) have mustered just six goals in their nine games this season against teams that are currently ranked -- each of those nine games ending in a loss. Saturday's loss to the Wolverines put the proper exclamation point on a regular season filled with "if onlys." If only the offense could find some consistency against a decent team. If only the Lions could find one morsel of luck when needed.

When asked last Monday what the Lions would need to do in order to gain entry to the NCAA Tournament, Morett said that if they couldn't win their two remaining regular season games, they'd have to win the Big Ten Tournament.

As a result of Saturday's loss to the Wolverines, Penn State will now have to travel the latter path, which is undoubtedly more difficult.

But as down and glum as these Lions may be after such losses, they never seem to lose sight of the greater goal (which is, perhaps, easier for them to find than the opponent's goal) -- which is winning the remaining games and advancing to the NCAA's.

Only this time, the Lions' next close loss can, and probably will be, their last.