Going into every game, every unranked collegiate lacrosse team thinks it has a shot of beating one of the few squads with a number plopped in front of its name.

But after No. 1 Maryland lost to unranked Bucknell, 7-6, on Tuesday, both Penn State men's lacrosse coach Glenn Thiel and Stony Brook men's lacrosse coach Lars Tiffany found the score to prove one point. Nobody is unbeatable.

Especially the No. 20 Penn State men's lacrosse team (2-2, 0-1 ECAC), who will face Tiffany's Seawolves (1-3) at noon tomorrow, most likely in Holuba Hall because of inclement weather. While both teams are safe from any downpour outside, neither will be able to escape the tremendous amount of talent all over the field.

Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the country. Tiffany knows that from losses to No. 2 Virginia and No. 4 Navy this year, but also while recruiting for Penn State.

He found himself in Virginia two years ago while recruiting Penn State senior attacker Nate Whitaker, before his 45-game point streak ever began, and all over the nation finding the other pieces of the Lions' senior and junior classes.

"There are so many people playing lacrosse, it really has provided an exciting amount of parity," Tiffany said. "Anybody in the top 30 to 40 have enough talent to beat one another."

According to Inside Lacrosse's Jeff Sagarin and his rating system, the Nittany Lions are the No. 19 collegiate team in the country, while Stony Brook finds itself just inside Tiffany's criteria of a contender, at No. 37. Tiffany has somebody smart in his corner, as well, because Sagarin is an MIT graduate.

But the matchup won't be a numbers game or mathematics competition and both coaches know that. This competition will be an even-handed brawl. While Penn State will boast the better record and home field, the Seawolves are hot after a 19-7 thrashing of Siena.

"There are so many good athletes everywhere," Thiel said. "If you are not ready, you're going to get beat."

The Lions, coming off of a close 14-13 win over Ohio State, have been thinned by injuries, and Stony Brook attacks with imposing size. But Tiffany knows senior defenseman Keith Benjamin, another player he recruited, isn't a little guy.

The Seawolves' attackmen, such as 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior Jason Cappadoro, will meet the 210-pound Benjamin and the 212-pound junior Dan Saltsman in a heavyweight fight near the cage.

And while many former assistants take their styles with them to other schools, Thiel knows that Tiffany runs a style not very reminiscent of Penn State.

That can be seen in the attack, where the Lions' attackmen are of the smaller variety.

"A bigger attackman can kind of bully and bull-dodge his way to the goal," Tiffany said. "Penn State's attackmen are quicker and slicker with nifty sticks."

Thiel is unsure if a few of his speedier offensive players will be ready for the game.

Both senior midfielder Chris Gannett and junior midfielder Gil Pearsall have missed every game this season so far.

"We'll know Saturday," Thiel said.

At the same time, Tiffany was anxious to know if both of those players would play.

While he doesn't root for injuries, filling out the scouting report this week would be even easier if he knew who was playing. Each player could be the one who wins the game.

"I hope they play -- do you know if they are playing?" Tiffany joked.