Last Wednesday was a good day to be senior attacker Kristen Burke. One of three preseason All-Americans on the Penn State women's lacrosse team, she left the field after No. 8 Penn State defeated No. 15 Penn, 16-9.

Her five-goal performance led the Nittany Lions to the win, but when she left the field to meet her father, her afternoon only got better.

He told her she was in the April 11 issue of Sports Illustrated. Tailgating at the game, Burke's father got a call from a co-worker in Maryland who opened the magazine to see a blurb with Burke's picture on page 33.

The nation's most widely circulated sports magazine included her in its "Faces in the Crowd" section because of her performance the week earlier against then-No. 1 Princeton.

Her career-high six goals, including the game winner in the third overtime frame, prompted this recognition and also earned her National Player of the Week honors from Womenslacrosse.com.

Burke's appearance in the magazine isn't a first for a Penn State women's lacrosse player, but for coach Suzanne Isidor, it was the first time one of her athletes was recognized.

"That win was big for everybody," Isidor said. "It was another No. 1 team [we beat]. It was a great team effort and Kristen just had a phenomenal day."

For Burke, it represents the seniors, who were members of Isidor's first recruiting class.

"It's special with the class in general," Burke said. "We were the first ones she hand-picked."

Without the team performance, Penn State wouldn't get the win, which means maybe somebody from Princeton winds up in SI instead.

"It was incredible all over the field. Tort was incredible," Burke said. "She had a huge save on a free position in the first overtime that could've ended the game."

Knocking off two No. 1 teams on the road and maintaining an 8-3 record at halfway point in the season, the Lions will use this recognition as another stepping stone in their emergence at the forefront of women's lacrosse.

"It's great exposure," Isidor said of Burke's appearance in the popular magazine.

"There's no doubt about that. It wasn't just going to lacrosse enthusiasts but sports fans everywhere."

As for the clip, it's not hung on a wall in some display room.

"Suzanne gave me the copy and it's been in my backpack since I first went to class," Burke said.

Friday, the Lions and Burke will look for a repeat performance as they find themselves facing another No. 1 team, this time in the form of Northwestern on the road.