State College, Pa.- The Penn State women's lacrosse team will open its 2001 season against Cornell, Saturday at noon in Holuba Hall. The Nittany Lions, ranked #14 in the preseason IWLCA Division I poll, are led by new coach Suzanne Weinberg, who returns to her alma mater after a four year stint at Drew University.

Weinberg inherits a squad with eight returning starters, highlighted by co-captains B.J. Lucey (Springfield, Pa.) and Megan Ames (Alexandria, Va.). Ames, a senior goalkeeper, started every game for the Lions in 2000. Lucey, a 2001 at-large preseason All-America, had 27 goals last year for Penn State and is looking forward to a stellar junior campaign. Overall, the team returns eight starters and nine letterwinners to a squad that went 8-9 last season.

The Nittany Lions face another grueling schedule in 2001. Penn State has typically played one of the toughest slates in the nation and this season will be no different as the Lions face several extremely challenging match-ups. As all but four of Penn State's opponents are ranked in the top 20, each game will be a stiff test for the Lions. Over the course of 2001, Penn State faces all four NCAA final four teams from last season, including back-to-back games with defending national champion Maryland and national runner-up Princeton.

Penn State returns to Holuba Hall Saturday, March 10, facing #8 James Madison at 1:00 p.m.