PITTSBURGH — Mars senior Shannon Doyle didn't plan on settling for silver.

Tasked with taking a penalty kick of the 42nd minute of the WPIAL Class AA girls soccer title game Saturday at Highmark Stadium, Doyle took the opportunity to eliminate two years of playoff frustration.

Doyle rocketed a penalty shot past South Park goalie Molly Saylor that turned out to be the game-winner in the Planets' 2-1 victory.

That goal sealed the Planets' fifth WPIAL title and first since 2012.

Mars, which was the top seed, lost to Montour in the finals last season and were upset by Hopewell in 2013.

“We wanted to avenge that loss (to Montour) and wanted the gold this year,” Doyle said. “We didn't want to settle for less.”

Mars coach Blair Gerlach was happy that this group, which includes five seniors, was able to add another title.

“The senior class, this is the third WPIAL final in four years and this is the (second) one they've won,” Gerlach said. “They definitely wanted to get the gold one. The bittersweet thing is winning the championship in the WPIAL gives you a more difficult game in the first round of states.”

The Planets, who are 17-2, will play District 10 runner-up Mercyhurst Prep in the first round of the PIAA tournament Tuesday at North Allegheny.

Second-seeded South Park (18-2-1) controlled possession early.

Eagles junior forward Kylie Trainer dribbled the ball in the box toward Mars goalie Sam Papik, who finished with four saves, but Papik was able to corral the low shot two minutes into the game.

The Planets wanted to feel out how South Park planned to attack.

“We were OK sitting in a defensive shell to see what patterns they were going to play,” Gerlach said. “Once we felt we knew what their patterns were going to be, it was step in, win the ball and counter.”

Mars senior Erin Posey found the right window. She played a ball forward that Tori Kopchak tracked down just outside the goalie's box and pushed to the far side of the net for a goal in the 25th minute.

“Play more balls forward and possess the ball,” said Kopchak about how the Planets attacked. “They play a lot out of the middle, so we had to get pressure on their midfielders and get the ball forward.”

Two minutes into the second half, Doyle had her chance to double the lead. Dillon Wright got hauled down inside the box by South Park defender Cassidy Zendier.

Doyle then buried the penalty kick.

“I knew I had to stay calm and in the past couple games at the end of our season I made a couple PKs in the run of play,” Doyle said. “I had some confidence going into it and I had to relax and not think about the pressure of it.”

South Park cut the lead to 2-1 two minutes later. Abby Petrosky kicked in a cross from Jordyn Minda.

The Eagles' best chance to tie the game came on a long shot by Amanda Luffey in the 61st minute that Papik punched away. Kopchak had two more shots on net for Mars.

“I feel like we missed three or four that we should have had,” Gerlach said. “The two we scored on were difficult shots.”

Doyle and Mars kept calm.

Knowing the Planets already had a state bid locked in helped them settle down.

“We went into the game knowing we were going to give it our all,” Doyle said. “It wasn't a season-ending game whether we won or lost. We had more to play. That helped with our nerves, that it wasn't going to be the last straw for us.”