Talk about reloading. Nine seniors, two acclaimed goalies, five starters and a head coach aren't returning. With this in mind, the women's lacrosse team very well could be labeled, for the first time in years, as not THE favorites.

Yet in a program with four consecutive national title game appearances and two national championships in that span, six returning starters from last year's 19-1 team, and a preseason No. 4 ranking in Lacrosse Magazine, things aren't that bad.

And this team would like nothing better than making it three and five, respectively.

"The ones returning, it's almost inbred now (to get to the title game)," co-captain Tracy Mass said. "We've been there so many times, I don't even think about not making it. It's getting everybody to realize that goal."

"Sure the pressure's there," first-year coach Julie Williams said, "but we're used to it."

To bring home two titles in a row, the Lady Lions have to overcome their inexperience, injuries to key players and what they believe to be a lack of respect from opponents. After Sunday's 11-3 romp over Richmond, they feel they can.

With co-captain and forward Mary Ann Foley and defense wing Ann Kolongowski out indefinitely with knee injuries, plus all the graduated players, Williams has to look to a younger lineup. Of this season's projected starters, eight are newcomers to full-time varsity.

"We are very young and might be nervous," Williams said. "We have (last year's) starters and they're well-experienced; then we have a layer with no experience, but tremendous potential."

A perfect example of this is in goal. The last several years Sue Sommers and Cheri McMonagle have played between the posts with much success, but with their departure, junior Kay Young has stepped forward. Against Richmond and at Saturday's William and Mary Invitational, Young received praise from all over the field.

In the Richmond game, Williams said it was Young's play that energized the team. And while the coach stressed she was pleased with Young's confidence, before the trip she indicated that Young needed to be consistent.

But after serving two years as backup on junior varsity, Young finally has received her chance and wants to make the most of it.

She said, "I feel very fortunate. I was really lucky to have worked with (McMonagle and Sommers), it was excellent experience. I learned a lot from both of them and I just hope I can do as well as they did."

Mass must be considered the anchor of the defense. A participant in international play, she is the only returning defensive starter.

Lynn Burnes moves into the point position while Elena Brazer will play third man. With the absence of Kolongowski, Karen Hoysted drops back to defense wing with Susan Yoder. After one game, Williams was pleased with the communication within the defensive unit, in telling each other what opponents were doing and who's guarding who.

Williams also expects the defense to begin the transition to offense and be involved in it, too.

"We have to run a lot," Brazer said. "We have to be the midfield connection and get back on defense, it's (more of) a variety pack. Hopefully, Karen, Sue and I will be able to sneak on attack."

On offense, with Foley out, only co-captain Diane Whipple and second home Megan Smith return. Their experience was seen already in the Lady Spiders' game with Whipple scoring five goals and Smith notched one assist.

Williams said the biggest obstacle for the offense to overcome is getting used to playing with each other, learning when someone is going to cut back or break ahead and where to place a pass. With the game so precise, it all has to click.

"It's difficult for an attack to work together," she said. "They have to cut into space and get the ball to score. (Sometimes) they have to give up their chance."

Whipple, a center last season, will move to attack wing beside Faith Sweeney. Beth McNicholas is the center, while Karen Brown is third home and Deanna Blood is first.

With players stepping into the various positions, most of the question marks will have to be solved once the season gets in full swing. Yet the Lady Lions feel that with people gone, other teams will feel Penn State is beatable. They want to make sure that is not the case.

"Everyone still wants to beat us," Brazer said. They think (that) because we won the national championship and lost so many people that it'll be easier."

"I don't think we'll feel that pressure," Smith said. "The other teams think they have the edge over us because we lost all this, but if we (play), for now, they can't."