Sophomore Lindsay Dutch continued to excel in her role as a primary goal scorer, notching three in the game.

The win brought the Lions' record to 4-0 on the season and put them at the forefront of the national scene. Feeling overlooked with a preseason ranking of No. 17, the Lions had looked to be the silent spoiler.

But that plan has been tossed aside following the win, establishing the Lions as a contender. With this and a win over Vanderbilt to start the season, they have beaten two teams that played in last year's Final Four.

"We're not going to surprise anybody anymore," Penn State women's lacrosse coach Suzanne Isidor. "We had four days to prepare and we were ready. Everybody played the games of their lives."

Defensively, Renée Chipro made the difference as she held Virginia's Amy Appelt, Lacrosse Magazine's Preseason Player of the Year, to one goal.

Offensively, it was all about balance. The speed and fast breaks that categorized earlier Lion victories saw the settled attack come together.

However, the Cavaliers were the first opponents that Penn State couldn't simply run into the turf.

The Lions were not able to sustain their run throughout the week, though. Coming off the emotional high of a win against Virginia, Penn State dropped a 13-12 decision to William & Mary.

The team defense that categorized the Lions' success thus far failed them, as William & Mary notched 31 shots on goal. Penn State allowed more goals (13) than it had all season, as the adhesive that held the team together on Friday wore off when the Lions made the trek to Williamsburg, Va.

"Our defense tonight wasn't nearly what it was Friday night," Isidor said. "We were all over the place."

But it wasn't just defensive ineptitude. On offense their inability to finish the plays rendered them unable to hang with the Tribe.

"Execution," Isidor said, citing the team's main problem. "As well as we played Friday night, that's as poor as we played tonight as a team."

Isidor and company consider this weekend a lesson learned the hard way. She said that in 48 hours, her Lions showed how well and how poorly they can play.

This weekend, Penn State is forced to replicate, in difficulty, the match-up from Charlottesville, Va.

Princeton, who Isidor expects to assume the No. 1 spot in this week's poll, will host the Lions on Saturday.