ADAMS TWP — Trailing 5-1 less than 10 minutes into the match, it was looking like it was going to be a long night for the Seneca Valley girls lacrosse team.

Fox Chapel has had a knack this season of making teams have long nights.

But the Raiders responded, scoring four consecutive goals to tie the match.

Game. On.

Unfortunately for Seneca Valley, it could never wrest away the lead and the Foxes were able to outlast the Raiders 14-12 in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals Monday night at the Mars Athletic Complex.

“It was such a tough loss,” said Seneca Valley coach Katie Smolter. “We could never get that lead. We definitely fought back. We just had a couple of missed opportunities, but they fought so hard. I'm so, so proud of them.”

Several times it looked like Fox Chapel (20-0) was going to run away with the match, leading 8-5 late in the first half and 12-10 with possession midway through the second half.

But each time, Seneca Valley (15-5) found a way to get a stop and get back into the match.

The Raiders drew even at 10-10 early in the second half and again at 12-12 with 7:14 remaining, but Fox Chapel was able to respond each time.

Margeaux Essey and Marissa Hardiman scored a minute apart late to give the Foxes a two-goal lead and they hung on.

“It was a nail-biter,” said Fox Chapel coach Caitlin Lundberg. “We've been resilient all year, especially in the last few games we've had. It's been a dogfight and we told them that's how the playoffs would be.”

Meg McCrady, a senior who has signed to play at Georgetown next season, scored five goals to lead the Foxes.

Fox Chapel will play Pine-Richland at 8 p.m. Thursday in the title game at Robert Morris University.

McCrady's strength is on the draw and she and Seneca Valley's Karina Latsko battled all game at midfield.

“The draw is a very unrecognized position to play and she definitely deserves recognition for that,” Lundberg said. “You can't score goals if you can't get the draw control.”

Latsko, though, held her own in that area. The senior winning the draw led to Seneca Valley's first rally to tie the game at 5-5.

Latsko scored four goals to lead the Raiders.

Olivia Rupert added three goals for Seneca Valley, which has seen marked improvement as the season has gone on, Smolter said.

“I don't think anyone thought we would even come this close,” Smolter said. “I don't think Fox thought we'd come this close. I'm so proud of their efforts in this game.”