Simply dominant
ADAMS TWP — It didn't take long for the Mars girls soccer team to display its dominance.
Caroline Wrboblewski scored the first of her two goals off her own rebounded shot just two minutes into the contest and the Planets continued to score at will in a 9-0 rout of Greensburg Salem in the first round of the WPIAL 3A playoffs Saturday afternoon at the Mars Athletic Complex.
Seven players for Mars scored a goal as Planets' coach Blair Gerlach substituted frequently.
“I think at this time of the year it's just about trying to make sure you're healthy,” Gerlach said. “Managing situations and avoiding things that you think may be dangerous as far as any certain matchups that might be out there that may be too overly physical.
“I'm not trying to say you want to save people, but you're trying to prevent as much catastrophe as possible.”
The only catastrophe unleashed Saturday was the Mars offense upon Greensburg Salem.
Wroblewski scored again in the ninth minute for a 2-0 lead.
Ellie Coffield, Gracie Dunaway and Samantha King all added goals in the first half for a 5-0 Mars advantage.
Coffield began the second half with a goal just two minutes in and Isabella Cincilli, Jenna Jedry and Rebekka Ranalli got into the act with scores.
It was Greensburg Salem's fifth consecutive loss. In those five losses the Golden Lions (6-12-1) were outscored 30-3.
Wroblewski, Coffield, King and Dunaway are just sophomores. Cinalli and Jendry are freshmen,
The only senior to score was Ranalli.
“We have a lot of people on this team who are dangerous offensively,” Gerlach said. “And it's nice, because it's difficult to play against that, right? We don't have one kid you can man-mark. It was a good start today and hopefully we can keep that momentum.”
Mars (16-0) will play Montour (12-6) Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.
“We're just really young and we're enjoying the ride we're on,” Gerlach said. “It's cool to be a one-seed. If the one seed goes to the youngest team, we'd be the one-seed, too.”
