As soon as the Penn State men's lacrosse game ended Wednesday night at Jeffrey Field, Penn State coach Glenn Thiel knew that his team needed one thing before its next game three days later.

The team may have just lost by one to Bucknell, but Thiel did not feel the team needed better defense or more scoring for its next game, just one thing in particular -- rest.

Tomorrow the No. 13 Nittany Lions (6-4, 4-2 ECAC) host ECAC opponent Rutgers at noon at Jeffrey Field in a must-win game in terms of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Lions knew that they would have to win out to have a chance at making the tournament but, after the setback to Bucknell, every game is a must win. But Thiel knows that a tournament berth is not just in the team's hands.

"I don't give it much thought at all until May 7," Thiel said. "We just have to win. We have to win out. You just don't know. Stuff changes so much up until May 6 when somebody loses and all of a sudden you're in the mix or the other way around."

May 7 is the day when the NCAA committee picks the teams for the national tournament, something the Lions have been preparing for all year.

But Thiel wants his team's sights set on the Scarlet Knights and knows his team is tired.

"We have a couple guys who could use [rest]," Thiel said. "Andrew Mackrides is sick as a dog, and Chris Gannet hasn't really done anything in four weeks, he must be exhausted. We'll just rest up."

Gannet had been sidelined due to injury over the last month and saw his first playing time in a while against the Bison.

With the four-game winning streak snapped, the Lions will be looking to start another streak, and they want the Scarlet Knights to be their first victim.

With light practices yesterday and today, Thiel hopes that his team will be ready to compete at the higher level in which they were competing during the winning streak.

"We just have to be a little bit more excited," Thiel said. "We have to play with a higher energy level, and that's what we hope to see out there on Saturday."

Freshman goalie Drew Adams seemed to struggle for the first time in his career against Bucknell, something that the team is not worried about.

After giving up three goals the game before, Adams allowed 11 goals against a dangerous Bucknell team.

The Lions know that the defense will have to step up more to make Adams' job easier and to ensure a win.

But in the end, Thiel knows the team can practice all they want but its not the skill of that team that needs to be worked on.

"We can't afford any more losses that's for sure," Thiel said. "We just need to rest up, and we'll be ready to go."