ADAMS TWP — While sitting in AP Physics class at Mars High School, Carly Kern obsessively checked her phone.

She was looking for word if she made the Pittsburgh team for the 2019 U.S. Lacrosse Women's National Tournament.

It was a long three days of waiting and it was beginning to wear on Kern, a sophomore defender for the Planets.

“It was crazy,” she said. “On the third day, I was on the edge of my seat.”

But finally, the notification came. Kern had to read it several times before she could believe it was true.

Not only had she made the team, despite not picking up a crosse for the first time until the eighth grade, but two of her teammates — freshman goalie Kailey Phillips and junior midfielder Mara Fuller — were going to join her.

“When I found out,” Kern said, “I literally yelled in the middle of class.”

The excitement was justified.

Mars had never had more than one player selected for a national team in any one season in the program's six-year history.

Now, the program had three in one campaign.

“It's really a big accomplishment that all three of them were picked,” said Mars coach Cara DuMont.

The Mars trio had to overcome difficult conditions during the tryout, which was held on a muddy field at Hampton High School during a torrential rainstorm.

Players had difficulty with their footing on the sloppy field.

“It was a really nasty day,” Fuller said. “The weather wasn't so good for lacrosse.”

But Fuller, Phillips and Kern were unfazed and tried to use the conditions to their advantage.

The tryout had players split up into groups playing against each other in simulated situations, either one-on-one, two-on-two or three-on-three.

Kern said she thought the conditions played a little to her advantage.

“It was hard, especially on defense — it was muddy and I was slipping everywhere,” she said. “By the end, I was covered in mud. Honestly, though, it probably showed I was willing to do whatever needed to be done and I wasn't afraid to get dirty.”

The national tournament was held over Memorial Day weekend in Baltimore.

The Pittsburgh team went 3-1, losing to Tennessee.

Pittsburgh did beat Los Angeles, which went on to win the pool in the Iroquois Division. Pittsburgh also beat Colorado in the third-place game.

“It wasn't about winning the tournament,” DuMont said. “It was about playing at a high level against great players from all over the country and getting exposed to great lacrosse.”

DuMont wasn't surprised three of her players were chosen or that they played well in Baltimore.

Fuller surpassed 100 career goals early in the season and has her sights set on the school record, which is held by Shannon Doyle.

Fuller is a versatile player, a threat to score every time the ball touches her pocket.

But on the Pittsburgh national tournament team, Fuller played defense.

“Usually when I do tryouts, I play defense,” Fuller said. “There are so many midfielders trying out.”

Phillips was only a freshman, but made a huge impact in goal in a position that requires a great deal of mental fortitude.

“She completely blows my mind,” DuMont said. “She's always pushing herself.”

Phillips said she was honored to just be chosen by DuMont to try out for the team.

Only five players from each team can compete for a spot on the Pittsburgh national team.

Phillips is no stranger to work in net. In the family's living room is a pop-up goal that she and her father use for impromptu practices.

“My mom isn't so crazy about it,” Phillips said, chuckling.

Phillips began playing in the fifth grade. The highlight of her day is making an important save and seeing the reaction of the shooter.

“I always know if I make this save, wow, that girl is going to be angry,” Phillips said.

Kern is a virtual newbie in the sport.

Like Fuller, she is also a basketball player and her hoop skills — particularly on defense — translated well to the lacrosse field.

Kern said offense has never been her strong suit on the basketball court, so lacrosse was a great fit.

“I was like, 'Why don't I play a sport where I only have to play defense?'” she said, laughing. “I fell in love with it.”

Kern gets satisfaction from stonewalling opposing scorers before they can even get off a shot.

“Most people get joy out of shooting and making assists,” Kern said. “I get joy out of stopping people and seeing their faces when they're like, 'I can't get by this girl.'”

Kern is also an accomplished pianist, singer and performer.

She is a member of the Jeter Backyard Theater in Gibsonia, which performed three songs from “Frozen” at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta in January.

After a tough game, Kern can usually be found at the piano, playing out her frustrations with Mozart or Beethoven.

“When I get angry, I play the piano,” she said.

Fewer angry nights appear to be in the future for Kern and the Mars girls lacrosse program.

All three will be back next season for Mars, which is coming off a 10-6 season and a WPIAL playoff victory.

And all three are excited to see the program take another step forward.

“I think this year is just the beginning,” Phillips said.