Something has been different this week for the Penn State men's lacrosse team. Senior captain Dan Saltsman said that practices have been more up-tempo, players have been digging in for a little more speed and pushing themselves with more effort.

"It's picked up," Saltsman said. "Monday comes around, and you get this feeling of urgency, because you've only got so many days until the real thing."

That "real thing" is the team's first official game of the season, a 7 p.m. contest tomorrow against the University of Denver in Holuba Hall.

The Nittany Lions finished up their exhibition schedule last weekend with a loss to Johns Hopkins, earning them a 1-1 preseason record. Saltsman said he was pleased with the results of the exhibition games, as they showed the progress the team has made since the fall.

In the preseason, they showed an ability to be versatile on offense -- six different players scored goals and six players provided assists. Still, the Lions may have to play tomorrow's game without last year's leading scorer, senior attacker Brian Boyle.

Boyle sprained his medial collateral ligament in practice about three weeks ago, when the team was working on drills.

"I just made a move, and it didn't feel right," Boyle said. "It's starting to come around now, but it's been a few weeks. I guess it takes a little time. Each day, it keeps getting better."

Boyle, who had 12 goals and 25 assists last year, has worked on drills in practice this week but has opted not to play in the intrasquad scrimmages.

In an interview yesterday, he said his
status for the game is "still undecided,"
adding that he would consult with trainers
and coaches prior to the opening face-off.

Nevertheless, Penn State coach Glenn Thiel was confident when asked about his offense. He praised the team's two offensive midfielders, Pat Heim and Gil Pearsall, who he said will give the offense the ability to take some chances.

"We have some explosive talent," Thiel said. "We can run in transition, I think we can score in transition, and maybe get back to a higher-paced game."

Penn State last played Denver in 2004, winning 11-10.

"It's gonna be a pretty aggressive team," Thiel said of Denver. "To watch them on tape, they just take chances, they double team, they're athletic. They will be all over the field, so we have to be able to read that pressure."