WEXFORD — Mars boys lacrosse coach Bob Marcoux had a simple game plan entering Tuesday's WPIAL Class 2A semifinal against Hampton — attack the net early and often.

It took the Planets just five seconds to show they had every intention of executing it.

Junior midfielder Andrew Moyer won the opening faceoff and raced down the middle of the field before beating Talbot goalie Robby Voinchet for a quick 1-0 lead at North Allegheny's Newman Stadium.

Mars never trailed and dispatched Hampton, 17-10, to reach Friday's district title game against Quaker Valley. The Planets and Quakers will square off at 6 p.m. at Robert Morris University.

The Planets' lead swelled to 3-0 just over three minutes into the game. By the end of the first period, Mars' 6-3 lead belied its 15-5 advantage in shots.

“We wanted to break their will to stay in the game,” said Mars senior midfielder Ben Lewis. “They made a bit of a comeback, but we played well the entire night.”

The two teams met May 9 with the Section 2 title on the line and Mars prevailed, albeit in a much different type of game, by a score of 9-7.

“Watching the film from that first game really helped us,” said Marcoux. “We recognized where their slides were coming from on defense and went with more of an open set tonight.”

Another difference in the rematch was a healthy Moyer. He appeared in the first meeting, but Marcoux said he was playing at “half speed” after returning from injury.

“Andrew wins a lot of faceoffs and he starts our offense,” Marcoux said.

Moyer's presence is even more important since the Planets' other faceoff ace, Garrett Reinke, is done for the season with his own injury.

The former consistently won the draws on Tuesday, including the ones contested after the Talbots had scored.

Hampton's Ross Andersson scored to pull the Talbots to within 8-5 with just 31 seconds left in the first half.

But the Planets won the faceoff to begin the second half and it quickly turned into another Mars goal, this one from Joe Horvat just 13 seconds into the third period.

Hampton (13-5) cut the Mars edge to 10-6 with a goal from Rich Myros with 8:47 left in the third quarter. But over the next 16 minutes, a span that ended with just five minutes left in the game, Mars owned six of the seven goals that were scored. Moyer's ability to control the draw was again at the center of the Planets' run, which included goals from Lewis (2), Anthony Grieco, Brendan Moyer, Horvat and Mike Doyle.

“Winning the faceoffs was the main reason they beat us tonight,” said Hampton coach Jim Vollberg. “We got pretty far this season, but I don't think we played our best game tonight. We'll have to wait until next year to get another shot at them.”

Grieco and Lewis both scored four times to pace the Planets (18-2). Brendan Moyer, Horvat and Doyle each scored twice.

Goalie Jack Austin made five saves in net.

Myros led the Talbots with four goals and Luke Molingowski added three.

Tuesday's result clinches for Mars a berth into the state playoffs. The Planets won the WPIAL Division II title last year, but the state did not field a Division II tournament. This is the first year that lacrosse is divided into classes as opposed to divisions, meaning the Planets.

“We had some tough (graduation) losses last year,” Lewis said, “but we knew we had the tools to be good again this season. We're glad we extended our season. We all love lacrosse.”