Few teams have suffered through a week like the Penn State men's lacrosse team. But, then, no team should ever have to in the first place.

Not this week. Not ever.

The Nittany Lions traveled to Providence, R.I., on Wednesday to attend funeral services for the parents and younger brother of their captain, Mike Jacober.

Some may label it unjust that this team, which has literally missed an entire week of practice, must surrender to the scheduling gods in the midst of a tragedy.

But the schedule says there's a game this weekend. So they'll play.

And with heavy hearts, the Lions (2-4, 1-0 ECAC) will seek to win their first road game this season when they play No. 13 Massachusetts (5-2, 0-0) at noon tomorrow.

The Lions have had trouble finishing out games of late. This season, their opponents have scored 16 goals in the fourth quarter, while the Lions have only scored nine. A feeling of tightness has overcome the team in the waning moments of games.

Jacober said after last Saturday's game he felt his teammates have lacked confidence late in games, questioning whether they felt winning was really possible.

Twice this season Penn State coach Glenn Thiel has said the Lions have been outworked in the second halves of games.

They have also been outshot.

Since goaltender Chris Courteau took over in net for Josh LaGrow, Courteau has had more saves than the opposition.

But that's because he's had more shots aimed in his direction, too. The Lions are being miserably outshot in the fourth quarter, 59-37.

Massachusetts hopes to get its first win in the ECAC when it hosts the Lions.

In the last six games, UMass has held each of its opponents without a goal for at least 20 minutes during a game, including a season-high 32:54 stretch against Brown on March 15. On April 3, 2004, the Minutemen dominated the Lions in Happy Valley, winning that game by a score of 17-8.

This week, Thiel has had to wear more than one hat as he's been forced to portray both coach and father figure. He allowed Jacober to stay at his home when the horrific news first hit.

"We're providing support in any way we can for Mike during this difficult time," Thiel said earlier in the week.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Mike, his family and friends. It's a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to both families."

After starting the season with a victory against a No. 14-ranked Ohio State team at the time, the Lions have lost four out of their last five games -- including three straight.

If there was ever a time a team could use a win to lift its spirits, tomorrow would be perfect.