The No. 15 Lions' (4-3) Atlantic Coast Conference opponent will be No. 8 Maryland (6-3) at 7 tonight and No. 5 North Carolina (5-2) at noon on Sunday. Ohio State is the other American Lacrosse Conference team participating.
A bright side for Penn State is that it is undefeated on the road this year at 3-0. Also, with Isidor and 13 of her players on the roster hailing from Maryland, it will be a homecoming of sorts.
"All the Maryland people are excited," Isidor said. "With everybody's family, friends and high schools, we'll definitely have a lot of support."
A triumvirate of players who have 30-plus points on the season lead the Terrapins. Delia Cox leads the way with 37, and Kelly Kasper and Krista Pellizzi both have 30 points.
On paper, the Tar Heels' attack doesn't look as potent as Maryland's, with only three players in double-digit points. Stephanie Scurachio heads the trio with 16 goals and 21 points. Behind her is Melissa McCarthy with 14 points and Christina Juras with 13. Goalie Kristen Hordy is only giving up about seven goals a game. Seniors Lori Havrilla and Shari Maslin stepped up their play against the Owls combining for seven of Penn State's nine goals. Maslin now has 19 on the season, and Havrilla is close behind with 15. Havrilla is two goals shy of 100 for her career and, if she continues to play like she has been all season, should be able to pick that milestone up this weekend.
"I think we have finally found that chemistry, and we're really excited about where we are as a team," Isidor said. "We're at a good place right now and we just have to play well as a team."
Last season at the ACC/ALC challenge, Penn State defeated Maryland 13-12, and lost to North Carolina, 13-7.
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