Pine-Richland High School recently updated its varsity championship banners hanging in its gymnasium.

The Rams girls' field hockey team took notice.

"Our girls looked up at those banners, which were updated with section and WPIAL championships, and saw nothing on their banner," Rams coach Donna Stephenson said. "This is only the fourth year we've had a program in the WPIAL, and the girls are eager to make a name for themselves.

"They want to add something to their banner, especially the seniors, who want that for their legacy."

Stephenson, who started the Pine-Richland girls' field hockey program in 2004 and runs local field hockey programs and clinics year-round, believes her girls have an opportunity to fulfill that goal this season.

The Rams began their season with a four-game winning streak and were 5-1 overall with a 1-1 start in Section 1-AAA after their first six matches.

"We've corrected a few things since that loss; we're more efficient," said Stephenson, who played high school field hockey in upstate New York before starring at Division III Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. The college later honored her as the first field hockey player inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame.

"We've done well getting into our opponent's zone, but we gotta get it in the goal. That's what it comes down to each time we have movement around and in the circle."

After picking up wins against Shady Side Academy, Oakland Catholic, Upper St. Clair (in overtime) and Winchester-Thurston, the Rams dropped a 3-2 decision against section-rival and defending WPIAL Class AAA champion Norwin.

Last season, Pine-Richland finished fourth in Section 1-AAA with a 5-4-1 mark, behind Norwin, North Allegheny and Penn-Trafford.

"We dominated the first half and we were up 1-0 before they came back with three goals," Stephenson said. "We should have won that game."

Through six games, senior forward Katherine Klein paces Pine-Richland's scoring with five goals and five assists. A captain, Klein and her family moved to the area from Buffalo last winter.

"She's been a great surprise for us," Stephenson said. "She has become a leader and has phenomenal skills. She's aggressive and keeps a strong forward line with Rebecca Pereira.

"They know how to find each other on the field and set each other up nicely."

Pereira, a captain and senior forward, was a WPIAL All-Star last season. She has four goals and three assists.

Senior forwards Haley Burnside and Charlie Branovan as well as junior forward/midfielder Amy Paterline also have provided scoring for Pine-Richland. Burnside has scored three goals, while Paterline scored a goal and Branovan chipped in with a pair of assists.

Branovan, however, will be out the rest of the season. A WPIAL All-Star and the team's leading scorer last year, Branovan played in just two games this season after sustaining a serious knee injury during a national field hockey tournament in the summer.

Stephenson still returned a wealth of returning veterans in midfielders Carly Schaefer and Claire Kortyna and center back Brittany Hawley, all seniors, as well as midfielder Katie Gaus and left back Caitlin Haenig, both juniors.

The Pine-Richland coach also has been impressed with the play of newcomers junior back Katie Georgiadis, junior forward Lisa Machi and junior forward/midfielder Caitlin Datt, sophomore midfielder Alex Sharer and sophomore goalie Alyssa Lerda.

"I'm not looking down the bench and seeing girls I can't get in the game," Stephenson said. "That's nice to know these girls can be relied on to step up and play."

The season will only get more challenging for the Rams, who have section foes Hempfield (yesterday) and Penn-Trafford tomorrow before traveling to rival North Allegheny next week.

"Every game is big in our section. They all matter," Stephenson said. "We have to take it one win at a time because I think we're a championship team in the making. Every coach wants that and with seeing how hard they have worked, they have the work ethic, talent and desire.

"Every second in every game matters. We can't let our guard down. We have to play 60 minutes and really want it."