Three years ago, the North Hills High School golf team had a face-lift. The Indians got a new coach in Jamie DeWeese and featured five new freshmen, a group that remains the face of the team today.

North Hills hasn't had a senior on the team since -- until this season -- when Ryan Fichter, Sean White, Mike O'Malley, Matt Dilulio, Jack Ross and Brian Koslosky, who played football his first two seasons of high school and joined the team as a junior, form a core that is leading the golf program to new heights.

"We've been playing together for more than three seasons now," Ross said. "We kind of depend on each other."

For Ross and his teammates, this season is a final chance to make North Hills a WPIAL golf power. And so far, they have seized that opportunity.

"The kids have known that as far as the team is concerned, this always was the year for them to really make a serious charge in the section," said DeWeese.

"This is kind of a team we've built over the past three years. It's come to fruition now."

The Indians were 7-0 overall and 5-0 in Division I Section 3 play after a big, 188-208 win Tuesday against Pine-Richland. North Hills was to play Shaler yesterday.

"We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but this is probably one of the best [North Hills] teams in a while," DeWeese said. "We're shooting for a section championship, but we have to prove it. We have a battle ahead of us, but it is a realistic goal."

The Indians are deep enough that virtually anyone on the team is capable of being the medalist at any given match.

"The hardest choice I have to make is deciding the six individuals to represent the team [before a match]," DeWeese said. "There's really no weak link."

For all the Indians have accomplished the past four years, one stubborn hurdle remains: North Hills has yet to beat rival North Allegheny.

The first of two annual showdowns with the Tigers is scheduled for Tuesday.

"That is our biggest match of the year against NA," Ross said. "We just really have to step up and come together. All of us have to shoot our best.

"We all know and played with all those NA guys. We've been looking forward to showing them," Ross said.