Mars' Alex Perri, rear, jumps on Ryan McKenzie after McKenzie scored the first of his three goals against South Park in their WPIAL AA semifinal Tuesday. The Planets won 3-2 to advance to the final.

SHALER TWP — Ryan McKenzie had a hat trick earlier this season, but this one carried a bit more weight.

The Mars junior forward scored all three of the Planets' goals in a 3-2 win over South Park in the WPIAL Class AA boys soccer semifinals Tuesday at Shaler.

The victory sends Mars (16-2-2) to the WPIAL title game against Thomas Jefferson, a 2-1 winner over Knoch, Saturday at Elizabeth Forward High School at a time to be determined.

"We're really excited to be where we're at," said McKenzie, who now has a team-leading 19 goals on the year. "Mars (boys soccer) has never played in a WPIAL title game before."

McKenzie's other hat trick came in a 7-0 win at Ambridge Oct. 13.

The first of his three goals Tuesday night came on an incredible individual effort late in the first half.

McKenzie took possession 40 yards from the goal. Surrounded by three defenders, he sped down field, leaving two of the South Park defenders behind.

Just to the left of the net he was able to get a shot off while being harassed by one final Eagle.

The ball skipped under goalkeeper Alec Valenta, who dove to his left for the save attempt with 8:55 left in the half.

"Ryan's a great player," said Mars coach Chris Knauff. "He plays hard the entire game, and, tonight, he happened to be the one with the best scoring chances."

McKenzie's second tally, on an assist from Michael Page, gave his team a 2-0 edge with 20:01 remaining in the game.

But the Eagles (14-5-2) received new life when senior Andy Darragh scored on a penalty kick with 11:09 left.

Following McKenzie's third score, at 10:01, South Park again cut its deficit to one goal when Pat Chiesa beat Mars keeper Joe Haefner at 4:45 on a second penalty kick.

"The penalty kicks came when we started pressing more," said Eagles coach Jon Cantwell. "We sat back way too much tonight."

South Park had a couple of chances to tie the game in the closing minutes, including a corner kick that Mars successfully defended as time expired.

Haefner needed to make just five saves, while Valenta had seven stops.

"The two penalty kicks aside, I thought our defense played very well tonight," said Knauff. "We were faster than (South Park), and that paid off for us."

"I don't think any coach would be satisfied with the number of scoring chances we had tonight," said Cantwell.

South Park is headed to the third-place game, where it will take on Knoch at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Shaler.

The winner will head to the state playoffs while the loser's season will be over.

Note: Thomas Jefferson (18-2), Mars' opponent in Saturday's title game, competes in the same section as South Park. During the regular season, TJ defeated the Eagles twice by scores of 5-2 and 3-0.