UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 20, 2000--The Nittany Lions men's lacrosse team will compete in the annual Friendship Bowl versus Rutgers this Saturday at Jeffrey Field. The competition will begin at 2:30 p.m.

The Friendship Bowl Game is a symbol of the friendship of four friends from Sewanhaka High School on Long Island who under the leadership of legendary lacrosse coach Bill Ritch learned what it took to play Division I lacrosse. The four went off to college splitting two ways; one pair attending Penn State, and the other heading off to Rutgers.

The four men dedicated the annual game between their alma maters to three things they hold dear: the idea of lifelong friendship, their old high school, and the close ties that have long existed between the Penn State and Rutgers athletic teams. The founders from Penn State are John Meisel and Vin Tedesco. Rutgers' founding members of the game are John Valestra and Ronald Yurcak.

The Friendship Cup is given to the victor of the Penn State/Rutgers match-up each year. Penn State had held the cup since the Bowl's inception on April 18, 1998. The Lions won in 1998 with a 11-9 victory over the Scarlet Knights. Last year, the two teams met on April 17 in New Brunswick, N.J. Despite playing in Knights' territory the Lions earned the Cup again after winning the match 15-8.

The Lions hope to continue the streak this Saturday for the third annual Friendship Bowl Game. The Lions come off a win versus in-state rival Bucknell, which brings their overall record to 5-6. Penn State stands at 1-3 in the ECAC, and hopes to score another league victory versus Rutgers.