Sidelines

"We are going again with the Sweet Sixteen," Felton said. "It is important for us to establish ourselves here and not have a letdown."

The Laxcats beat UCLA 13-5 last season in Tucson and have not lost to them in several years.

"Most of the guys on their team have never beaten us and they will be hungry because they haven't played a game yet this season due to the weather in L.A.," Felton said.

UA will be playing without midfield captain Chris Greco, who has a thumb injury, but they do get midfielder Max Webber back. Webber has been recovering from an injury to his right wrist that he suffered in a game earlier this month.

Sunday's game versus Whittier is going to be a bit harder for the Laxcats but it does not count toward the playoffs.

-Dan Rosen

Briefly

UA's women's lacrosse club team is hoping for three things this weekend.

Two wins and no more El Niño.

After having their road trip to Santa Barbara, Calif., washed out last weekend by storms created by the Pacific weather phenomenon, the Wildcats (1-0) return home to take on Westmont College tomorrow at 10 a.m. and UC-Santa Barbara Sunday at 11 a.m.

This weekend the Gauchos come to Tucson hoping the storms that have been plaguing California don't tag along with them.

"Santa Barbara is really good," UA team captain Jessica Diehl said. "We lost to them once last year in the regular season and then beat them in the playoffs to advance to the Final Four."

The Wildcats finished 8-2 and lost in the semifinals last year.

Diehl, a senior midfielder, said this year's club's philosophy is simple.

"We'll have to just beat everyone," she said.

- Chris Jackson

By the Numbers

5:

The number of home runs the UA baseball team needs to hit to match last year's total.

The Wildcats finished the 1997 season with 42 homers. Through 16 games this season, the team has already smashed 37 with more than half the season still left to be played.