In a season that starts by taking them to the West Coast and a Big Ten schedule that fills the middle with a healthy dose of the midwest region, the members of the Penn State women's soccer team are hoping that the 2002 season culminates in the south with the College Cup in Austin, Texas.

With a heartbreaking fourth-round defeat at the hands of then-No. 1 North Carolina, 2-1, the Nittany Lions came oh-so-close to reaching the College Cup for the second time in their eight-year history.

The Lions return their top five scorers from last season, including Hermann Trophy winner and senior forward Christie Welsh. While the offensive attack seems to remain intact, defense will be the question mark for the Lions this season. Any number of freshmen could take the field for the Lions this season. With the defense in transition, chemistry in the backfield will be key.

"Despite the number of freshmen our chemistry has already begun to form," freshman defender Natalie Jacobs said. "Everyone was really welcoming and everyone gets along well. That will really help."

The team's chemistry should be tested early on as the Lions will travel to Los Angeles for the UCLA Showcase for their second and third games of the season, where they will take on Southern California and No. 3 UCLA. These will be the first big road games for the freshmen, and the trek could be a big step in the team's bonding process.

"It will be a part of the growth process with the new squad this year," Jacobs said. "Especially with the freshmen going and playing in California it should be fun."

One mainstay on the Lions' non-conference schedule for the past three years has been No. 2 North Carolina, but the Lions do not play the Tar Heels during the regular season this year. Penn State knows its road to Austin, however, will probably include North Carolina.

"There is a pretty good chance we'll see them down the line," Welsh said. "They didn't want to play us this year out of fear."

The difficulty of the non-conference schedule should prepare Penn State for the Big Ten schedule, which it has dominated during the past four years, posting a mark of 34-2-3. The Lions have won the last four regular-season Big Ten titles and three of the last four Big Ten tournaments.

Penn State women's soccer coach Paula Wilkins said that every year there is a lot of change in the conference and this year will be no different. There are new coaches this year at Iowa, Indiana and Illinois.

One of Penn State's toughest Big Ten games comes on Oct. 4, when the Lions travel to Ann Arbor to take on No. 18 Michigan, which is coming off an impressive 5-0-2 spring. Michigan is led by senior Abby Crumpton, who joined Welsh and Lions junior Joanna Lohman on the Under-21 U.S. National Team.

"They really didn't graduate anyone from a year ago," Wilkins said. "When you have leaders like Clumpton and (Wolverines goalkeeper Suzie) Grech, you're always dangerous."

The Lions are not looking to ahead to Michigan or anyone else but are taking it one game at a time, knowing that the season will have its ups and downs. They know a trip to the College Cup, however, would be a satisifying ending.