His five-foot-11 inch, 215-pound frame is not the most impressive. He's not the fastest guy, he's not a great shooter, but Sean Droogan is in all senses of the word, a leader.

He is more of a leader by example, rather than the get-in-your-face type. His teammates honored him last year at the annual picnic when they voted him one of the three 2002 team captains.

If any player takes one thing from Droogan, it's probably that pain is something that must be played through. He suffered an injury his freshman year of high school while jumping hurdles for the track team.

The senior midfielder damaged his hamstring and the injury has never fully healed. He describes it more as a nagging pain, rather than a severe pain, but nonetheless a pain that does not go away.

"I kind of got to forgetting about it," Droogan said. "It hurts every single day. It gets worse some days and better others. It's never going to go away, but I can't let it stop me from playing."

It is that attitude that earned him some heckling during practice from assistant coach Lars Tiffany.

"I've been kidding him lately that he looks like a 13-year NFL veteran with all the knicks he has," Tiffany said. "He guts it out everyday."

The heart and determination that Droogan shows in practice does not go unnoticed by his teammates.

"He brings a lot of enthusiasm to the field," senior and roommate Tim Emmick said. "He gets guys pumped up and sometimes practice is not the best practice, but Sean comes through and gets the guys to step it up. "

Droogan's practice ethic was first seen at North Shore high school in Glen Head, N.Y., where he lettered in lacrosse, basketball and football. He may never have picked up a lacrosse stick if his parents didn't force him in third grade. Droogan was miserable playing lacrosse and after third grade his parents said if he didn't like it he wouldn't have to play anymore.

His determination shown at an early age when he decided to give lacrosse one more shot in fourth grade and that was when he fell in love with the sport. He played lacrosse all throughout high school and was named an All-American his senior year.

After deciding to come to Penn State after his initial visit, he would have to adjust to not being the goal scorer he was in high school. He was put in the midfield and he even took some faceoffs his first two years. Some players would have problems with not being the scorer anymore or the go-to guy, but the selfishness that he displayed is what has made him the leader he is now.

"He is such a good feeder," Tiffany said. "He does a great job there. He has great vision, when someone pops open he can put it on their stick. I think a lot of guys tend to be big time goal scorers in high school, but everyone can't be big scorers in college. It's the guys who adjust that become big time players."

Despite the team not having the season they hoped to have, Droogan is having his best season statistically for the Nittany Lions. Coming into the season with only six goals and six assists, he has put up five goals and 11 assists already this year. His status as captain has only improved his game as he is second on the team in assists.

"I definitely like it when people look up to you to do better," Droogan said. "Especially when the game is on the line it helps to have people look up to you."

The senior's season winding down and the team having no chance of reaching the NCAA tournament. Many people would figure that he and the team would throw in the towel for their last three games.

But that is not the case. Droogan and teammates recently called a team meeting stressing how important it is for them to try to go 3-0 and give the guys for next season some momentum. It is a testament to the team attitude he has had for his time here at Penn State.

Droogan will get the chance to top off his career as a Nittany Lion, when in his last game ever the Lions will get the chance to play No. 2 Virginia at home.

"The situation we are in right now I couldn't ask for anything more than winning the last three and beating UVA (Virginia)," Droogan said. "It's a disappointing season losing five games, but if we beat UVA it will be an incredible feeling."

His teammates and friends have nothing but good things to say about him and the motivation he provides for his team. Droogan has strived for respect because he believed it is something that you must earn.

"That's the kind of person that I try to be," Droogan said. "That's how I was brought up and that's how I'd like to be looked at and who I wanna be."