ADAMS TWP — It was just a matter of time before the lacrosse fever sweeping Western Pennsylvania found its way to Mars.

Two third- and fourth-grade boys teams — the Mars Alien Attack — played the inaugural season of lacrosse in the Mars area last spring.

Competing against established teams in the Western Pennsylvania Youth Lacrosse Association, including Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Butler, North Allegheny, Sewickley, Fox Chapel and Upper St. Clair, both Mars squads ended the season with winning records.

Mars Blue went 6-4 and Mars Gold was 5-4.

"What I'm most proud of is the fact that all the kids played pretty much an equal amount of time and we rotated them to the different positions so they could learn the game," said Mars Youth Lacrosse Association president and coach Vince Grieco. "At this stage, it's more about the development of the players than anything else."

Grieco was involved with the organization of Mars Lacrosse from the start, which began in August 2008.

"In October, we sent flyers home with the kids," said Grieco. "We were hoping to get about 18 to 20 kids to play on one team, but ended up with 43, so we ended up fielding two teams.

"The communities around Mars have established lacrosse programs," he added. "Mars has been on the sidelines, but the idea of lacrosse caught on and there ended up being a lot of demand for it."

The Attack, which began with an indoor practice in February, played their home contests at the Mars Athletic Fields, across Three Degree Road from the Mars Athletic Complex.

"Most of the kids had never played lacrosse before that first practice," said Blue coach Jimmy Brown. "But by the end of the season, the skill level of all the players had improved, not just two or three players."

Mars Lacrosse isn't affiliated with the Mars School District, but all the players are from Mars and the surrounding area.

"While we are not connected to it, the Mars School District has been very receptive and encouraging toward what we are trying to do," said Grieco. "We are planning on having two third- and fourth-grade teams and two fifth- and sixth-grade teams next year. And then in 2011, a seventh- and eighth-grade team.

"That way, by the time those kids get to high school, there will be an opportunity for the high school to have a team, maybe in 2012," he added. "We want to do this the right way. We have to demonstrate to the school board that there's enough interest in lacrosse."

Grieco also explained that if any girl in third or fourth grade is interested, she could play on one of the boys teams next spring, adding, "If we could find somebody with the appropriate experience and enthusiasm to coach, we'd be more than happy to add a girls lacrosse team."

For an area that was missing out on a fast-growing sport, Mars now is well on its way to having lacrosse for years to come.

"There's actually a concern about finding enough fields and enough coaches for next year," said Grieco. "But the support we've gotten from players, parents, grandparents, it's been overwhelming. There's a lot of buzz right now."

"There's a lot of talk around town about the positive experience the kids had," said Brown. "This is not just a flash in the pan."

Also serving as coaches for Mars were Brian Moyer, Jody Ellis, Jeff Gentile and Tony Sutton.