WEXFORD — For almost the entire second half, the field was tilted in favor of Mars.

The scoreboard, however, never followed suit.

The Planets managed scoring chance after scoring chance, but came away empty-handed each time in a 1-0 PIAA Class AA first-round girls soccer playoff loss to Mercyhurst Prep on a soggy Tuesday evening at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium.

Mars (17-3) had four corner kicks and several throw-ins in the attacking third in the final 40 minutes, but Lakers’ goalkeeper Elyza Pilatowski was forced to make just three saves in that span.

Mercyhurst defender Angela van Damia helped preserve the victory, deflecting two late shots in front of the net.

“These (weather) conditions benefit the shooter, not the goalkeeper,” said Mars coach Blair Gerlach, “but we didn’t challenge her enough.”

The Lakers (17-3-2) scored the game’s only goal early. Senior forward Jennifer Shreve beat Mars goalie Sammy Papik with a shot from 30 yards out in the 10th minute.

Shreve’s score tied Mercyhurst’s single-season record of 45 goals.

“This was our 14th shutout this season,” said Lakers’ coach Jamie Borowicz. “Scoring that (early) goal gave us more opportunity to work our gameplan, which was to possess. Mars began to press us in the second half, but we were able to hang in there.”

But it wasn’t easy. The Planets’ scoring chances in the first half were dominated by junior Tori Kopchak, who forced Pilatowski to make four saves, though all were routine stops. In the second half, Kopchak’s teammates joined in the rush in front of Mercyhurst’s net.

Shannon Doyle, Annabel Hnath and Emily Scaletta each had chances. Doyle’s shot in the 53rd minute came just yards to the left of the goal, but was deflected by a diving Pilatowski, leading to a Mars corner kick. Scaletta tried a long-range shot in the 67th minute, but Pilatowski snared it.

The Lakers were on their heels, but were able to clear the ball into Mars’ end twice in the final 12 minutes, taking precious seconds away from the Planets.

“We made some adjustments in our formation in the second half,” said Gerlach. “We had all the corner kicks and all the opportunities, but in the grand scheme of things, we didn’t do what we needed to do, which was put the ball in the net.

“Kudos to Mercyhurst, they scored the goal.”

Papik made three saves for the Planets, who last Saturday won their first WPIAL title since 2012.

“It was a very successful season,” said Gerlach. “The girls can be proud of keeping our section (unbeaten) streak going and winning WPIAL, which eluded us last season.”