So, Emily Ellisen, Kim Wenger and Keelin Hood - three Division I-bound players who were freshmen in 2005 - have vowed to see that the Patriots get over the semifinal hump in their final season.

"That's a definite goal this year," said Wenger, who will play for Duke next season.

The threesome has certainly helped the Patriots to a good start this season. Ranked No. 2 by LaxPower in eastern Pennsylvania, Great Valley has won 13 of its first 15 games. The losses were to top-rated Radnor and No. 7 Bayard Rustin. The 11-10 loss to Rustin came in overtime.

"We didn't do a very good job of executing in that game," Hood said, after enjoying a 13-8 victory in over the Golden Knights in a May 1 rematch.

The three have executed well enough that they have compiled 148 goals and 71 assists among them. The 6-foot-1 Ellisen, coming off a great season with the Patriots girls' basketball team, had 70 goals and 16 assists through 15 games. She uses her long reach to big advantage.

"The high stick helps on my shots," said Ellisen, who changed her mind about playing basketball in college. She will play lacrosse at George Mason, instead.

"Keelin is very good at feeding the ball to me. I can go with both hands. I've been working on my lefthand shot."

Coach Joe Tornetta praised Ellisen for the improvement she has made over the last year.

"I guess you could call her a late bloomer," Tornetta said.

Hood, the shortest of the trio at 5-foot-2, had 17 assists and 46 goals in the first 15 games. How does she deal with opposition players who are more in Ellisen's height range?

"I may be short, but I'm tough," she said with a laugh.

Hood was also a soccer player until she decided to concentrate on lacrosse in her junior year. She began playing lacrosse in fourth grade with a local club.

"I just love the sport," she said, noting that she preferred playing a game in the air instead of on the ground.

She wasn't even thinking about Temple when she received an e-mail last year from the university touting its lacrosse program.

"I looked [at the school] over the summer and loved it," she said. "I haven't been able to see any of their games because of conflicts with our schedule, but I know they're doing well."

The 5-foot-7 Wenger has contributed 32 goals and 38 assists. She prides herself on her role as a "defensive" midfielder. She will head to Duke with plans to study architecture.

Her bedroom reflects her interest in architecture. She designed it.

"We've moved three times into newly built homes," said Wenger, who became interested in the construction. "I have an office with my computer; there's a separate room for my bed." She sees herself designing houses some day.

In the meantime, all three players will be designing ways to win lacrosse games to bring that district title to Great Valley.

"It's going to be fun to watch them, now and in the future," Tornetta said.