Penn State men's lacrosse coach Glenn Thiel isn't mincing words about his team's top priority this spring.

"Our goal is, once again, making the NCAA tournament field," Thiel said. "We have narrowly missed the tournament three times in the last six years but this spring the seniors' leadership and experience should impress the selection committee.

"Penn State has as its goal to make and impression on the lacrosse world."

Look no further than the Nittany Lions' midfield to find the senior guidance that Thiel is relying on.

Last season's team MVP Michael Kern heads a veteran corps of midfielders that lost only two players to graduation.

"This class of middies has been outstanding for the last two years," Thiel said. "They are leaders and have been the backbone of our offense for two years. We expect a lot out of them.

"They're the key guys for us this season. They do most of the work and we really like the fact that we'll have five senior who will see the field a lot."

Along with Kern, seniors Ted Holmes, Sean Huss and Randy Kleinman will round out the Nittany Lions' first midfield units. Huss returns to the lineup after missing fall workouts because of an internship he had in England.

Kleinman had a breakout season last year, netting seven goals while dishing out 11 assists.

Holmes's improvement on offense has made him a bona fide threat with and without the ball. Last season he tallied 14 goals and seven assists.

"Ted is a very unselfish player, but he has also developed into a much better shooter over time," Thiel said. "He's our key guy and the leader on our first offensive unit. He's like a quarterback really. He's always been a good player and he makes players around him better."

Although Kern is primarily used as a short-stick defensive midfielder, he still found the net 13 times last season.

Kern said the way the team plays in league play will determine their NCAA tournament fate.

"Our biggest goal is definitely to make the tournament," Kern said. "The best way to get there is to go out and win our league."

Junior Sean Droogan and sophomores Marshall Feldman and Rob Booth should provide quality depth in the second unit. Feldman actually started several games last season for the Nittany Lions at attacker.

Booth's imposing size — 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 220 pounds — should give the Nittany Lions' opposition headaches and will be counted on to take several face-offs.

Freshmen Edmond Perry, Mason Goodhand, Patrick Schmidt and Marc Young will pair up with sophomore Bobby McGihon to form the third unit. Goodhand, Schmidt and Young return to the Nittany Lions after suffering injuries last season.

"We just have a lot of depth in the midfield this season," Kern said. "We're not afraid to put any guy out on the field."