Char Morett never questions her team's effort. But while the Penn State field hockey team always comes out to play, it seems they don't really show up until the second half.

The Nittany Lions' 5-1 win against Bucknell on Tuesday is evidence of that. Penn State waited until the clock wound down on the first half to score all five of their goals. However, Morett hasn't lost all hope of a strong first half.

"We improve weekly and that's a really good sign," Morett said. "As a coach I am encouraged by that. The thing I would like to see is for us to start the beginning of the game with the intensity and confidence that we finish with."

Penn State will have a chance to work on that this weekend, as they are scheduled to play in Iowa today at 2 p.m., and then come back home to host Princeton on Sunday at 1 p.m.

"Iowa is a very skilled team," Morett said. "They are very confident at home and very organized in their play. Tiffany Leister and Lindsay Miller are very dominating players. We will be worried about the two of them."

Penn State has other worries when they play Princeton. Morett said Princeton's program has just skyrocketed the past two years.

"They are an extremely strong team," she said. "They are a quick team, they are a fast team. They have a strong, lanky sweeper who controls the defense and very fast forwards."

The Lions are lucky to get junior midfielder/back Heather Conroy back, however, after healing from an injury to her Achilles tendon.

"Heather should be able to play all weekend," Morett said. "After that long overtime (against Michigan State this past Friday), there was just too much stress on her Achilles. She needed this whole week to get herself healed."

Conroy's strong play this year will make her a welcomed addition to this weekend's lineup. Considering four of the Lions' five losses have been decided by one goal, the defense has been challenged by Penn State's extremely tough schedule this year.

"Our defense has actually handled themselves very well when we get into trouble," Morett said. "We play solid defense, it's just that occasionally we get caught back on our heels."

Morett also added that the close losses have been against top 10 teams.

"Every game has been better than the last," she said. "We have a difficult schedule and we have risen to the challenge of that schedule."

The team has been spending time in practice developing its passing game. Morett wants the young team to be consistent and strong, as well as making good decisions inside the 25-yard line.

When asked what one thing she would like to see come out of this weekend's games, Morett replied, "A competitive start. That's it, just a competitive start."