Penn State men's lacrosse coach Glenn Thiel has been coaching in Happy Valley for the past 26 years, so obviously he is good at what he does. But if he were to consider another career, soothsayer may be a good one for him.

Prior to the start of the season, Thiel said he believed his Nittany Lions would struggle at the beginning of the year due to injury and a tough schedule that included four straight ranked opponents to start the year. They did. He also said they would be much better later in the year and potentially a very good team. After four straight wins, including two against top-15 opponents, they are.

"We are playing the kind of lacrosse we have to now," Thiel said. "Confidence comes with winning, and we have a nice streak going. Not playing Notre Dame or Duke in that streak helps too. The confidence is building."

The Lions (6-5, 3-1 ECAC) will look to continue their win streak at noon tomorrow when they travel to Piscataway, N.J., to take on Rutgers (4-6, 1-2) at Yurcak Field in an Eastern College Athletic Conference matchup. Penn State is aiming to play the way it has lately and not resort back its early-season woes.

The "later in the year" Thiel was talking about in the preseason press conference came for the Lions on April 5 when they pounded Mount St. Mary's, 14-5, at Jeffrey Field. Heading into that game, Penn State had lost four straight games and was a dismal 2-5 on the year. The playoffs seemed very improbable. Then the Lions took out their frustrations on the Mount, and something in the team changed.

They looked different. They looked hungrier. As a result, Penn State rattled off three more wins to bring the streak to four, including its first road victory of the year Tuesday against No. 12 Bucknell.

"We are playing much more aggressive," Thiel said. "We are going hard after groundballs and playing with greater intensity. We didn't do that earlier in the year. We still have some holes, but we have definitely made up some slack."

The aggressiveness and hunger in the team has the players primed to make a run at the playoffs. Midfielder Greg Gurenlian said Tuesday after the victory that he and his teammates feel they are now the favorites in every game because no one wants it more than them.

The Lions will need to bring that intensity against a Rutgers team that has faced five ranked teams and has been tough despite its record.

The Scarlet Knights have struggled offensively, but defensively they are holding opponents to just 9.3 goals per game, so Penn State must continue its strong play if it hopes to extend its winning-streak to five games and keep its playoff hopes alive.

"Rutgers is one of our biggest rivals," Thiel said. "They are a good lacrosse team, and when we play each other it is always a tough, physical battle. There is a lot on the line for us, so we have to keep playing aggressive."