The Lions' schedule for the next six days also includes home games against No. 2 North Carolina on Friday and No. 3 Maryland on Sunday.
"We've been really stressing how important this stretch is going to be for us," midfielder Kerry Shea said. "This is a huge week that can really determine how the season goes."
Most of the Lions' seven wins have come in decisive fashion, by an average of more than eight goals. However, they have had some struggles against ranked foes, losing to No. 4 Virginia and No. 12 Vanderbilt. Penn State also had a close call against No. 9 Princeton, winning 8-7. Members of the team feel it needs to improve on those performances to compete consistently down the road.
"It's definitely a really difficult week," midfielder Jessi Lieb said. "But if we just play the way we know how to then we should come out on top."
Lieb said that finishing offensive possessions will be key if Penn State hopes to succeed against top-ranked opponents. In its two losses, the team's shooting accuracy has been well below 50 percent.
"We have to just dominate and possess the ball," she said. "And when we have a good possession, we have to score at the end of it."
That sounds simple enough, but Penn enters tonight's game allowing just over six goals a game. Scoring chances will be at a premium for the Lions, so capitalizing on offensive opportunities could be the difference between a win and a loss.
After defeating Loyola 20-7 last Saturday, Penn State is hoping to string together a couple victories before having to play the top three teams in the nation -- Northwestern, North Carolina and Maryland -- in consecutive games.
Beating the Quakers at home would provide some much-needed momentum for the rest of the homestand.
"On paper, technically we're not supposed to win all three games," Shea said. "But that's what were going to aim for."
