UPPER ST. CLAIR — For 62 minutes of play, the Seneca Valley girls soccer team battled for the tying goal in vain.

Upper St. Clair then put the game away.

Panthers senior forward Laura Elliott scored 7½ minutes into the game and teammate Maria Baltutat found the net with just 11 minutes remaining to play for a 2-0 victory in a WPIAL Class AAA playoff at Panthers Stadium Tuesday night.

In between the two goals, the Raiders' offense had plenty of chances, but it was turned away each time.

"I was happy with the number of scoring chances we had," said Seneca Valley coach Dave Sylvester. "But we couldn't put the ball in the net, and that was the difference."

Upper St. Clair got the all-important first goal when its leading scorer, Erica Marshall (26 goals), centered a pass to Elliott, who beat SV goalkeeper Aly Intihar from 10 yards out.

"That was a huge goal for us," said USC coach Dave Gray. "It did a lot for the girls' confidence."

SV couldn't manufacture any early scoring chances, but beginning in the 12th minute of play, the Raiders consistently began to get the ball in close, and many near misses followed.

With 12 minutes left in the first half, a Seneca Valley midfielder managed to loft the ball deep into USC territory.

SV's Cassie Berlin and Jessica Meurer both got behind USC's defenders and had a tied game in their sights.

But as she would all night, Panthers goalkeeper Brittany Findley turned in a huge play by getting to the ball before the Raiders' rush.

Findley made 13 saves in the game.

"She was the difference in the game tonight," said Gray. "We actually have two goalkeepers who we've been rotating all season, Alex Lostetter being the other. Both have done a great job for us."

The entire game was played in a cold rain, which slowed down the action on USC's field turf.

"I don't think it gave either team an advantage," said Gray. "Both teams had to play in it, but it would've been a better game if the weather wasn't so bad."

Seneca Valley came inches away from scoring the equalizing goal several times late in the first half.

In the final 10 minutes before halftime, the Raiders (12-3-4) saw five legitimate scoring chances fall by the wayside.

The team's best scoring opportunity came with 9:36 left before the break.

Jessica Meurer's initial shot hit the left post and when she got to the rebound, the junior reeled off a laser shot, but it was right at Findley.

"After (USC) scored that first goal, we really had them on their heels," said Sylvester. "But we've had trouble scoring goals this year. It's been our Achilles' heel.

"But I'm happy with the girls' season. They played very well."

Intihar tallied 16 saves in defeat.

Upper St. Clair (18-1-1) will take on the winner of the Pine-Richland/Hopewell game in a district quarterfinal affair.