The bus ride to South Bend, Ind., lasts approximately eight hours, leaving plenty of time to think for the Penn State men's lacrosse team.

For a third of a day, freshmen will visualize playing in their first real game of college lacrosse, while seniors will think about beginning their final quest for a title. But when the No. 14 Nittany Lions arrive at No. 12 Notre Dame the day before their 1 p.m. showdown on Sunday, junior attacker Brian Boyle will have just a little bit more to think about.

An injury took his first chance to play against the Fighting Irish in a Penn State uniform. Boyle's second chance will come this weekend, the second time he'll stand opposite the Golden Domers as an opponent.

Boyle was a transfer from Notre Dame after his freshman year. No matter the anthem, Boyle has his own personal reason to perform.

"It's obviously a big game," Boyle said. "There is just a little more incentive for me because I went there for a year."

At Penn State, Boyle has found the experience better on and off the field. He only missed the first two games of the year in 2005, the second being the one against the Irish. After the short delay to the season, Boyle produced with 24 points, including 12 assists, which ranked second on the team.

This matchup with Notre Dame is an early mental test for the younger Lions. Boyle admits that he tried to help some of his teammates with some of the advanced knowledge of his former Irish compatriots.

But Penn State men's lacrosse assistant coach Guy Van Arsdale, who coached at Notre Dame for one year, warns that trying to predict if the shot is coming from the right, left or high doesn't help a player. The weeks of practice and advanced scouting reports on the bus do. Some studying on their opponent will help the Lions focus.

"We'll try to kill a couple of birds with one stone," Van Arsdale said.

Freshman goalie Drew Adams will need the help of the defense, including senior tri-captain Keith Benjamin, to help lighten his load. That doesn't worry Van Arsdale, who played right away at Hobart when he was a collegiate goalie. He also senses a difference in Adams.

"He's pretty unflappable," Van Arsdale said. "You don't know if he just gave up five goals in a row or just made a big save."

Along with Adams, Penn State men's lacrosse head coach Glenn Thiel knows freshmen will play at almost every position on the field. One place he doesn't expect them to struggle is on the bus ride.

The extra rest could be a plus, including healing time for senior attacker Nate Whitaker and the bone spurs in his ankle. The Lions have already lost sophomore Max Van Arsdale, Guy's son, for the year.

While players might be susceptible to injury, the daunting task of sitting down and thinking about a game for eight hours doesn't scare Thiel. Bringing those winning dreams to a reality on opening day are just delayed a little longer.

"I've been doing this for 39 years, and it doesn't bother me," Thiel said. "These kids are 20 years old. They are invincible. They can do anything."