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BOULDER, Colo. -

Living up to lofty expectations can be hard in sports.

Trying to live up to expectations after coming off a poor year can be even harder still.

That's the challenge the University of Colorado men's club lacrosse team faces this season: Climb back up to the level the team expects to be at, and not the level the team dropped to a year ago.

That journey began last weekend, with the No. 10 Buffs taking a double-overtime 9-8 win over No. 7 Boston College.

"It's shaping up to be a good season, but we have a long, tough road ahead of us, and these guys have to work," CU club head coach John Galvin said. "Obviously the double overtime win is a good win.

"They showed some good character in the early part of the season."

Kittredge Field will be the site for three games for the Buffs in the next five days: they'll play Montana at 7 tonight, Texas A&M at noon Sunday and Florida at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

CU's captains said the team is looking forward to the home set of matches.

"I think getting out of this next five days or so with three wins under our belt, plus the one we had before, will be a good start," junior midfielder Mike Britt said.

Senior captain Kevin Moriarity said the team has improved in every facet of the game.

"We returned everybody on defense and made a couple big additions, and our offense looks a lot better than last year," the senior goalkeeper said. "Last year was a disappointment, but it was a rebuilding year and teams go through it."

That could be a kind way to put it.

After finishing in the top five in the nation in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association in 2004, 2005 and 2006, last season the team lurched to a 3-6 record.

While it can be attributed to having (and leaning on) many underclassmen, the silver lining is that those young players are now veterans who have survived a tough season.

"Those guys who were freshmen last year are now sophomores this year with a ton of game experience," Galvin said. "We have that edge this year to get back in the tournament."

Midfielder Mike Emerson said he hopes the young players will have learned from last season.

"I think a lot of them gained confidence getting that one year under their belt, that they can raise their voice and can be heard," the senior captain said. "It's definitely important to let them know that last year was not part of the CU culture, it was a down year."

That "CU culture" seems to be one of hard work and discipline; head coach Galvin said he runs the program as if it was an NCAA varsity team.

"We ask these guys to be student athletes like any other varsity team around the country that's a lacrosse team," Galvin said. "We take our program as serious as any of them."

That means a load of hard work for the club â early morning weight training sessions, a full week of practice and even studying game film.

But for players such as Emerson, it's a welcome challenge.

"Everyone on this field could be playing somewhere else, but we chose to come here because of the school and the tradition of an excellent program," Emerson said.

These Buffs will go a long way toward re-establishing that tradition if they can make it through the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse Conference championships â hosted at CU this spring â to the MCLA National Tournament at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City.

"That's the ultimate goal we've got right now," Britt said.