The young players are certainly earning their stripes for the Penn State women's lacrosse team.

Six underclassmen combined to register 10 goals in Penn State's 17-5 rout of Temple on Tuesday. This was not a new development, as the younger players have been a huge contribution in the team's six wins.

"I think it is really important that they are stepping up," senior attacker Karen Long said. "How can a team scout your team when you have that much depth? You do not have one or two players you can pinpoint or that you can look out for. It is one of our big strengths."

Depth has definitely not been an issue for the Nittany Lions this season. There are seven players with at least five goals, four of whom are underclassmen. The depth the younger players provide is integral to the team's success.

"We really stepped up this year," said sophomore midfielder Mariel Bryan, who has five goals in seven games this season. "Coach just tells us to go in there, and we stepped up."

Penn State head coach Suzanne Isidor is pleased with how the younger players are moving along and contributing.

"Freshmen and sophomores on the team have been coming up big," she said. "That is key going into our conference games because it allows us to have weapons all around."

Bryan said she felt she is doing a "pretty good" job this season, but added she's just trying to do what she can to help the team.

The older players on the team have been role models for the underclassmen. Bryan said they look to the experienced players for examples and sound advice. The players said players like Karen Long and Lindsay Dutch -- the team's leading scorer with 26 points -- are leaders on and off the field. The team likes how the roster is set and is happy with its play to this point in the season. The Lions' 6-1 record is indicative of how they are coming together and improving.

"At this point we are doing pretty awesome," Bryan said.