Hoarding hardware
ADAMS TWP — The Mars girls soccer program's body of work since the start of the 2010 season is remarkable.
But instead of admiring their accomplishments, the Planets are looking to add to them.
With a 6-0 win over visiting Knoch Wednesday night, Mars improved to 13-0 in Section 2-AA and clinched its third straight section title outright.
Since the 2010 season began, the Planets have compiled a record of 62-2-2, winning back-to-back WPIAL titles and a state championship last November.
Mars did graduate four key players from the 2011 squad, including Crysta Ganter, Kristen Check, Kristen McKenzie and 2010 and 2011 Butler Eagle Girls Soccer Player of the Year Mani Brueckner.
“I can't say that this year's team is necessarily better than last year, but it is a different team,” said Planets' coach Blair Gerlach. “Last year, we were a bit predictable, but were still able to win because of our athleticism.
“We're more versatile this season and equally as dangerous,” he added. “We have four players with at least 20 goals — Amber Fichter, Lydia Dennis, Karli Paracca and Beth Perri.”
Helping this year's squad fine tune its game were three games on the schedule against Class AAA teams. The last of those comes Saturday against Mt. Lebanon. The first two resulted in the only two blemishes for the Planets (13-1-1 overall) this season — a 4-3 loss to Pine-Richland Sept. 5 and a 1-1 tie with Norwin 10 days later.
“Before the season, people were talking about us going 26-0 this year,” Gerlach said. “Losing early took the pressure off of us.”
Against its section foes, however, Mars has not been able to find a close match.
A 4-0 victory over Highlands and a 5-1 win over Knoch — both in September — are the closest section games the Planets have played. Most of the other contests have been decided by double-digit margins.
“We are so used to scoring that if we don't get a goal a few minutes into most games, we get a bit frustrated,” said Fichter. “But for the most part, we usually keep our composure.
“We get excited to play good teams and we're ready for a close game,” she added.
The Planets' defense has not changed since last year with Fichter, Jordyn White, Erica Schwab and Shaelyn O'Connor cleaning up most opponents' scoring chances before goalkeeper Sarah Dailey needs to make a save.
Wednesday night, the junior made one stop.
Though she has not been tested much this season, Dailey proved herself in last year's state title game, a 1-0 win over Villa Joseph Marie in which she made eight saves.
“She was all-section and all-WPIAL last season,” Gerlach said of Dailey. “Her record speaks for itself and she's got confidence.”
Notes: Scoring goals for the Planets in Wednesday's win were Beth Perri (2), Lydia Dennis, Caitlin Foltz, Jordyn White and Karli Paracca. ... Knoch goalkeeper Lexi Galbreath had 12 saves. The Knights (11-5, 9-4) had a WPIAL playoff berth secured entering Wednesday's contest.
