It's just practice, encased inside Holuba Hall from the cold February winds, but that doesn't mean Penn State men's lacrosse coach Glenn Thiel wants to take it easy and get cozy up near the fireplace.

"In theory, we'd like to be playing the best team in the world," Thiel said.

Unfortunately, Lehigh won't give the No. 11 Penn State men's lacrosse team the challenge of a powerhouse at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Holuba Hall. The Mountain Hawks qualified for their first postseason tournament in the history of their program last year. But Penn State has had ample opportunity to face top-level competition before the regular season opens against No. 10 Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions scrimmaged No. 1 Johns Hopkins on Feb. 4, managing a 9-9 tie with the defending national champions. That is no biggie for Penn State.

The Lions finished their season last year with a 14-10 loss to then-No. 4 Maryland in the NCAA tournament.

"We expect to play at that level," Thiel said.

While Thiel said the Blue Jays were missing three of their best players for the exhibition, it was evened up by the fact that Penn State played without senior attacker Nate Whitaker and midfielders Chris Gannett and Patrick Heim. Both Gannett and Heim will return to action this weekend, but Whitaker, who led the team in points and goals last season, will sit out once again. Another attacker, sophomore Max VanArsdale, is already lost for the season with an ankle injury.

"It's a rough and tumble sport," Thiel said. "Getting these guys healthy going into the season is important."

From these injuries has come the opportunity for lesser-known players to make a name for themselves..

Next weekend, the youngsters can trade secrets with wily vets at the Alumni game. Some years the game can feature some stiff competition from the old-timers, but generally this game shouldn't be a contest.

"Typically we should beat them, because they aren't in the shape that we are," Thiel said.

Far from the best team mankind can offer.