JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley boys lacrosse team might be playing with a chip on its shoulder, but nobody's complaining — except for the Raiders' opponents.

SV (13-3) wrapped up the most successful regular season in the history of the program last Wednesday night with an 11-5 win over Butler.

The squad rolled to the Division I, Section 2 title after defeating its opponents by an average score of 12-5.

The team is now preparing for postseason play, which is where its 2008 season ended in disappointment.

The Raiders reached the Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association's Division I title game a year ago, only to lose to Mount Lebanon by a score of 9-8.

With a great season ending on such a sour note, SV's players felt their job was incomplete following the defeat.

"It was just really disappointing," said Colin O'Donoghue, now a senior attacker. "We had lost to Mount Lebanon by one goal in the regular season last year, and, by the time we got to the title game, we felt we were a much better team. And then we lose by one goal again.

"We had gone from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows and we didn't take it very well," he added.

SV's 2009 playoff march will begin Wednesday, when the Raiders host Upper St. Clair in a WPIAL Division I first-round clash at 7 p.m. at NexTier Stadium.

Though SV has had a return trip to the championship game, along with a different result, on its mind, the team was able to keep its focus.

"If we want to get another chance at the title, we have to get there first," said senior midfielder Brent Rotz. "Our coaches helped us take it one game at a time."

The fact that SV has so many battle-tested and experienced players didn't hurt, either.

"Being a veteran group, that has helped the team maintain its focus," said Raiders coach Peter Hoffman.

Still, SV's players readily admit that there was one game in particular that they were eager to play during the regular season — a rematch with Mount Lebanon April 24.

"We had that game circled on the schedule," said O'Donoghue.

The result was a 10-5 victory for the Raiders.

Seneca Valley and Mount Lebanon could face each other again, this time in the WPIAL semifinals, if each team gets past its first-round opponent.

The Raiders are solid in every aspect of the game, with two capable goalies, a staunch defense, four players with at least 16 assists and six with at least 14 goals.

"The great thing about our team is that when you take the field, you know there's 10 other guys who have your back," said Rotz. "If you don't play your best game, your teammates will pick you up."

The Raiders' three losses have come against teams outside the WPIAL.

In fact, the only squad in Pennsylvania to knock off SV this year is Haverford School, near Philadelphia. The other two are from Ohio: St. Ignatius and Western Reserve Academy.

SV hopes the tough competition will pay dividends.

"Getting back and winning in the title game is definitely our goal," said senior defenseman Austin Brockway. "This is the most focused I've seen this team."

RAIDERS BY THE NUMBERS

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Following are the Seneca Valley boys lacrosse team leaders. The Raiders won their section and are 13-3 entering Wednesday's WPIAL first-round playoff game against Upper St. Clair.

GoalsJake McAndrew 35Colin O'Donoghue 30Tyler Bond 27Jason Handerhan 24Sean O'Rourke 19Brent Rotz 14

AssistsJake McAndrew 27Jason Handerhan 21Colin O'Donoghue 18Brent Rotz 16

Save PercentageAndy Branscum 58.1Brian Bohn 56.8