From an 0-3 start to the WPIAL championship and then on to the PIAA quarterfinals.

The journey that the Mt. Lebanon boys' lacrosse team took to its fourth consecutive widely recognized Western Pennsylvania championship -- this one, the first sanctioned by the WPIAL -- was one that Lebo coach Kee Joe Song could appreciate, even when reached a day after his team's season-ending defeat.

"It always takes a while after losing that last game -- especially when you feel like you had a good chance to win," said Song, referring to the Blue Devils' 6-5 loss to Manheim Township in the PIAA quarterfinals Saturday at State College. "But with where we started, looking back you realize that these kids did something pretty special.

"This is the fourth year for our seniors, and they didn't let this season get away from them when some people from other schools were doubting us. That's the one thing about this group these past four years: They never let you down. In the long run, they always ended up finding a way to come together and get it done."

Mt. Lebanon lost its first three games of the season but went 14-5 thereafter. Song believes the stability of the Blue Devils' eight seniors helped the team's ship stay its course.

Midfielders Chris White, Pat O'Donnell, Rob Brunner and Gavin McDonough, attack Dan Roman, long-stick middie Spencer Thompson and defense John Galbreath and Ian Thompson -- the Mt. Lebanon lacrosse Class of 2009 -- won three WPSLA titles and then took the inaugural WPIAL Division I lacrosse championship this season.

"It means a lot just watching kids grow, watching kids stick with it," Song said. "We always kind of have that senior who, if you looked at him his freshman, sophomore, junior years, didn't really think he'd be able to help us out on the field. But he sticks with it, buys into the offseason program, works his butt off and ends up being a big-time contributor for us his senior year.

"They stick with it. Kids like that could quit at any time because they're not happy with their playing time or not happy with this or that. That mental toughness to stick with it and keep working, it does end up paying off. It's absolutely a more rewarding thing watching kids like that mature."

White, Roman and Ian Thompson were team captains along with junior goalie Will Round. White has started since his freshman season and will play at Princeton. Roman was a three-year starter. He will play at Christopher Newport University next year. Galbreath will play at Ithaca College.

White graduates as one of the school's all-time best.

"He's special," Song said. "He came in as a freshman who you didn't think he'd be able to keep up right away. He played defense and middie for us, and he picked up the defense because he understood the game. He wasn't intimidated by playing with older players at all.

"I think what stands out the most about him is his mentality, his mind-set where he had confidence as a freshman ... What sets people apart isn't size or physical tools or good skills or a good stick. So often it's the mental side that sets people apart."

Winning a fifth consecutive championship without the benefit of having White and the other seven seniors will not be easy, but a talented core figures to return.

Round is a standout in goal, sophomore Bijan Firouzan started as both a freshman and sophomore and was one of the team's top offensive threats.

"He could be poised for an even bigger breakout year," Song said.

Song said attack Pat Donnelly "has some of the best stick skills for a freshman I have ever seen." Scott Allen is a big and athletic midfielder. Young's brother, Dylan, showed enough that, like his older sibling, he "is going to be a special player by the time he's through," Song said.

"We've definitely got a lot of young talent. We've got a very strong two or three young classes in a row and I've heard and seen this incoming freshman class is strong," Song said.

"We usually try not to make any predictions, but I'd say our biggest challenge this offseason is not getting complacent, being satisfied with where you are, expecting winning to come easy for us, that we'll win just by showing up. That's just not the case.

"We've won our fourth in a row, but next year will be harder than this year and so on and so on. If we keep that mind-set, I think we'll be able to return and do it again."