It doesn't matter that the Penn State men's lacrosse team isn't going to make the playoffs this year. Head coach Glenn Thiel is still getting his team ready for tomorrow's game at Georgetown as if it is a playoff game.

These Nittany Lions, however, are used to crucial games against the Hoyas. Tomorrow the Lions (5-7, 3-3 ECAC) will take on the No. 4 Hoyas (10-2, 6-0 ECAC) at 2 p.m. at Multi-Sport Field. It will be the third year in a row that the Lions have closed out their regular season schedule against Georgetown, a team that many of the players describe as their biggest rival in the conference.

In these end-of-season contests, the Lions have had mixed results.

Two years ago, the Lions won at Georgetown, 13-12 in overtime, and went to the NCAA tournament, ultimately losing their first-round game against Maryland. Last year the Lions played host to Georgetown, thinking a win would earn them their second straight trip to the tournament. They had a 9-7 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but ended up losing to the Hoyas, 10-9, in the last minute of the game.

"Last year's loss was really motivating," senior midfielder Gil Pearsall said.

"It's things like last year's game that really motivates us this weekend."

Thiel even has a motto for the week leading up to the game, Pearsall said -- 'win the game in practice' -- which means that his team is intently watching film and practicing hard in preparation for Saturday's game.

"This is always a big game -- a big rivalry in our league," junior midfielder Andrew Mackrides said.

Even though they're not competing for a spot in the NCAA tournament or the ECAC title -- the Hoyas locked that up at home last Saturday against Rutgers -- the Lions have a few things to play for when they face the Hoyas.

Winning the last game of the year against a highly rated opponent could set the tone for a good start in 2008, Pearsall said.

"Let's set the guys up for next year," Pearsall said.

"Maybe they'll take some experience and motivation from a win over Georgetown."

And, even though the season has been disappointing in some ways for senior midfielder Pat Heim, who serves as one of the team's three captains, he sees leaders in some of the younger players that will still be around next year.

Sophomore goalie Drew Adams, Heim said, is used to playing in high-pressure situations and has kept the Lions in many games this year. Sophomore attacker Rob Forster has been driving to the goal harder and showing more emotion during each game.

Mackrides and junior defenseman Tommy Zichelli are also two of the hardest-working players on the team, Heim added.

"It's a big deal to us," Heim said of tomorrow's game. "Every year we play these guys, we're always in a dogfight."