Suzie Friedrich let out a cry on the Cornell team bus when she saw the familiar and towering structure in front of her.

Coming over the mountains, Friedrich, an assistant coach for the Cornell women's lacrosse team, had just seen Beaver Stadium. Upon her reminiscent shout, several of the Big Red players laughed as the coach recalled her previous days in Happy Valley.

"I will always be Penn State proud," Friedrich said. "What I expressed to the Cornell players is that I certainly have a lot of that inside of me, but I hope that they get the same thing out of their Cornell experience."

Friedrich, who played at Penn State from 1982-85, arrived at State College with the Big Red players and also Cornell's head coach Jenny Graap. Graap, a graduate of Cornell, was an assistant coach for Penn State while attaining her master's degree between 1990 and 1993.

In those years, Graap formed a close relationship with now-Penn State head coach Suzanne Isidor. Isidor, then Suzanne Weinberg, and Penn State assistant coach Tara Hohenshelt, then Tara Rowlyk, played under Graap while the Cornell coach was at Happy Valley.

"It's not hard to coach against Penn State, but it's emotional," Graap said. "It's the added element of really knowing that coaching staff well, the program, and Penn State athletics."

After the game, the traditional handshakes between coaches could not be found. Instead, they approached each other, smiled and hugged.

But although embracing each other fit the criteria of good post-game sportsmanship, during the game, there was one thing on Isidor's mind.

"When we're on the field, we're obviously pretty competitive," Isidor said. "But after the game, we'll both give opinions on each other's teams and talk about how each of our teams can get better."

Graap acknowledged her and Isidor have similar coaching styles, which can be attributed to Julie Williams. Williams was Penn State's head coach while Graap assisted and Isidor played.

During Isidor's career, the Lions attained three NCAA tournament appearances and a semifinal berth. Graap said Isidor's vision on the field, decision-making and crease play made her stand out as an attacker.

Friedrich also had tournament experience at Penn State. The Cornell assistant helped lead the Lions to three national semifinal appearances.

Although close ties to Penn State are a soft spot for Graap, when having to decide between Cornell and Penn State, one school stays at the top of her list.

"I would have to say I'm Cornell red now pretty through and through," Graap said. "I've been a coach for 10 years at Cornell. I was only a coach for Penn State three years so I'm going to have to say that I'm bleeding Big Red."

But with images of Beaver stadium coming to Friedrich's mind, the Cornell assistant's blood takes on a different color.

"I said to the Penn State coaches, 'I know I'm wearing red, but I'm blue and white inside for sure," Friedrich said between intermittent laughs.