JACKSON TWP — Seven might be a lucky number for the Seneca Valley girls soccer team.

This is the seventh time in as many years that coach Dave Sylvester has guided the Raiders into the WPIALplayoffs. Yet Seneca Valley has never advanced past the quarterfinal round and has not reached the state tournament.

"Our (playoff) draws have always been rough ones,"Sylvester said. "The last four years, we've played Mount Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Mount Lebanon, Upper St. Clair.

"Last year, we lost to Mount Lebanon in the first round of the playoffs on the second round of penalty kicks. ... That's a hard way to go out."

This year might be different for the Raiders, even though the team has only three seniors.

One senior, Kaitlyn Powell, doesn't start. The other two, Logan Gamelier and Rebecca Pecora, play defense.

Seneca Valley has allowed only 17 goals all season. The team has pitched seven shutouts and allowed one goal on six other occasions.

The Raiders finished 9-2-1 in Section 2-AAAand handed section champion Pine-Richland its only loss.

"We've always been a defensive-minded program,"Sylvester said. "Keep the ball away from your own net, and, in soccer, the ball will break loose eventually and you'll get a scoring opportunity."

The Raiders have exploited many such opportunities. The team has scored 55 goals, led by junior Karisa Fernandez with 15 and sophomore Katie Kelly with 13. Another junior, Aleisha Rees, has five goals.

"Our junior class has so much talent,"Pecora said. "I'm not surprised we're doing this well because they are that good."

Seven juniors are in the Raiders' starting lineup:Fernandez, Rees, Jennifer Jergel, Catherine Messmer, Brianna Meurer, Barb Rohm and Lauren Royal.

"Most of those girls have been starting since they were freshmen,"Sylvester said. "That experience goes a long way.

"I don't remember having a team that can score goals like this. Even beyond Karisa and Katie, we've got other girls who can find the net."

Seneca Valley scored nine goals in a recent win at Ambridge. The Raiders scored six goals in a game against North Hills, five in wins over North Allegheny and Fox Chapel, and recently scored four goals in the first 10 minutes of a 6-1 win at Butler.

"That helps the defense when the forwards are scoring goals," Pecora said. "There's no pressure on us and we can play relaxed."

Kelly scored a handful of goals last year before netting 13 as a sophomore this year, including three in the victory at Butler.

"I'm not surprised at all,"Gamelier said of Kelly's production. "That girl works so hard and she's fast out there. She's got a lot of ability."

"She doesn't have any fear, either,"Sylvester said. "The girls know what she can do, so they try to get her the ball in open space."

The Raiders have a pair of freshman goalkeepers in Keara Lydon and Marena Royal.

Seneca Valley's varsity soccer program draws players from sizable youth soccer organizations in Cranberry Township and Zelienople. Sylvester keeps 35 players each fall.

More than 40 girls try out for the team on an annual basis.

"We have to make cuts every year,"Sylvester said. "Talent is not a problem here.

"We've got a chance to do well in the playoffs because our younger players are already experienced. This is probably the deepest and most versatile team I've had here yet."