Judging from a quick glance at the final score and stat sheet, it doesn't seem like the Pittsburgh Passion's contest Saturday against the Erie Illusion was any different than the team's previous eight games this season.

But, beneath the surface, the victory was anything but ordinary.

The weekend matchup presented the Passion with its first postseason appearance in team history, and it took full advantage of that opportunity, drubbing the Illusion, 63-7, and going from postseason newcomers to championship contenders in the process.

The Passion topped the 50-point plateau for the fifth time in nine games this season, while holding its opponent to fewer than 10 points for the seventh time.

Some players said they were surprised there was not a sense of nervousness before their first playoff performance.

Rather, they said, there was a feeling of eagerness and enthusiasm.

"There's always that calm excitement before a game," quarterback Lisa Horton said. "Being our first playoff game, I think [the excitement level] was up a notch or two."

Passion team owner and free safety Teresa Conn said she expects the atmosphere in the locker room to be vastly different Saturday when the Passion faces the West Michigan Mayhem. The game starts at 7 p.m. at Cupples Stadium.

"Each step closer you get, every game is going to carry its own intensity," Conn said. "There's no loser's bracket. You just have to hope you put in more time and effort than everyone else."

Time and effort have undoubtedly been contributing factors in the Passion's undefeated season but money might play a larger, unwanted role in the team's march to a National Women's Football Association (NWFA) championship.

Conn said the estimated travel costs for the semifinal and final rounds of the playoffs are about $50,000.

The team has had the assistance of several individual and team sponsors throughout the season, but Conn is seeking sponsorship to get the Passion through the remainder of the postseason.

Necessities such as uniforms and equipment have been financed by sponsors or by the players themselves. Conn isn't overly concerned about possible economic difficulties because she believes team members would be willing to sacrifice overnight stays and bus or airfare, if necessary.

"Even if the girls have to take their own cars, we'll get there," she said. "The girls will do whatever it takes."

If the NWFA's seedings hold true to form, the Passion will have to travel to Beverly, Mass., to face the Mass Mutiny, the Northern Conference's No. 1 seed, in the semifinals.

A victory in the semifinals would propel the Passion to the NWFA championship game July 21 in Nashville.

The Passion's four road games this season were in Cincinnati, suburban Harrisburg, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

Despite what could be some long hours of driving in the final two postseason rounds, Horton said she does not believe anyone will have a problem finding their own way to games.

"At the end of the day, if we put this much time into [the season], we'll drive," she said.

Before the Passion can fully focus its attention on the semifinals and all the financial uncertainty, it must first worry about the Mayhem, which has a 7-2 record and is coming off a 33-14 first-round win against the Baltimore Burn.

"I know that [the Mayhem is] an aggressive team that plays some different defensive looks," she said. "But our game plan isn't going to change that much because we've been effective with it."

NOTE -- Tickets for the playoff game Saturday will be available at the gate.