Zero tolerance
ADAMS TWP — Mars girls soccer coach Blair Gerlach makes sure Sammy Papik and the other goalkeepers get plenty of work in practice.
That way when games go like the Planets' 2-0 Section 2-AA win over Knoch did Wednesday night at the Mars Athletic Complex, everyone's ready for the next game.
The Knights (2-3, 2-3) didn't register a shot on goal as Mars extended its section unbeaten streak to 79 games.
“Our training sessions are intense and we make sure our goalkeepers stay active,” Gerlach said. “We're going to be tested this weekend against Norwin. We had to defend more than we wanted to last year and snuck out a win.”
Opposing teams haven't snuck anything behind the Planets' defense. Mars, which is 7-0 overall and 6-0 in section, has outscored its opponents 36-0.
Communication has been a hallmark of the defense so far this season.
“I think our defense does a lot of things that other teams don't,” Mars junior Tori Kopchak said. “They always talk and know where their players are and don't let balls through and all that.”
Knoch played without three of its starting four defenders — Lauren Betts, Allie Gore and Shawna Thoma — and had to adjust accordingly.
Knights coach Rich Kenzie said his team wasn't planning to load up on defense.
“We played to win and I thought the girls played the best they have all season and it was the best game they've played in a long time,” Kenzie said. “They always get up for Mars and I thought we showed we could play with anyone in the section.”
Mars senior Dillon Wright set up the first goal in the 13th minute. Wright played a long ball that made it to Kopchak.
Kopchak took the ball just outside the goalie's box, took a couple steps in and lifted the ball into the back of the net.
Knoch had clogged up the midfield to that point.
“We have to put more passes together and make more runs,” Kopchak said. “We can't just play the ball over the top and try to put passes together and do more one-twos and through balls.”
Scaletta gave the Planets insurance about seven minutes later.
She was in front of the net when a ball popped out of the goalie's arms and Scaletta booted the rebound in.
“We've been really good at shutting down the through ball and practices,” Scaletta said. “We've put a lot of work into that and it's paid off.”
Mars plans on continuing to work on different ways to win games.
That way the Planets will be prepared for whatever they see.
“It's always interesting to see what people's gameplans are going to be because it seems like if it doesn't work the first time, they will do something else the second time,” Gerlach said. “All we really have to do is make sure we adjust accordingly and quickly before it punishes us.”
