Planets' plan falls together
ADAMS TWP — The goal is to get goals — and the earlier the better.
That's what Mars was hoping to do in its showdown against Knoch Tuesday.
First-half goals by Michael Page and Chris Karns helped stake the Planets to a 2-0 halftime lead en route to a 4-0 Section 2-AA victory.
With the win, Mars improved to 10-1-1, just behind first-place Hampton (10-1) while Knoch slipped to 8-3-1. All three squads have clinched WPIALplayoff berths.
Mars and Knoch had tied 1-1 on Sept. 13, but the Planets were able to cash in on several of their chances Tuesday.
"We scored on our opportunities early, and it makes the game easier," said Mars coach Chris Knauff. "Last time we played them, we had a much more difficult time getting goals."
Mars goalie Joe Haefner made two huge saves midway through the first half: a diving stop and a point-blank, chest-high save to keep the game scoreless.
With 14:27 left in the first half, Page took a left-footed shot from the left side. Knights goalie Steve Frey made a diving attempt, but the ball deflected off his hands and into the net.
Karns doubled the lead when his shot found the back of the net with 6:34 left.
"Any time you get up by two goals on a team, their style of play has to change," said Knauff. "They had to change ... and that opened up the back even more."
To Knoch coach Doug Wood, that wasn't the goal that changed the game.
"Our approach at the half was to come out in the second half and score early and rely on our defense," said Wood. "It's been strong all year."
But Ryan McKenzie scored 3:32 into the second half off backup goalie Aaron O'Leary to give the Planets a comfortable 3-0 advantage.
"We told the kids we had to come out and score and (Mars) did," said Wood. "It kind of deflated us. As the game wore on, we weren't getting our first goal and it wore us down."
Frey, who has a pinched nerve in his hip suffered in a recent game against Highlands, re-aggravated the injury so the team was cautious and wanted to give him more time to rest in the second half.
"This game was disappointing, but we'll be fine," said Wood. "(Frey) probably won't play Thursday (at Freeport). We want to get him ready for the playoffs."
Nathan Ganzer's goal with 10:11 left closed out the scoring.
"I'm happy with the way we're playing," said Knauff. "We're missing a key player (Drew Glavin, concussion), but it will be nice to get him back."
Notes: Page, Andy Knauff, Tanner Panza and Tim Frigot each had an assist. ... Haefner made nine saves while Frey and O'Leary made three saves each.
