ADAMS TWP — Mars soccer was the high school sports story of the fall.

Mars lacrosse is the high school sports story of this spring.

Planet junior Wes Scurci and freshman McKenna Merritt — mainstays of their school's boys and girls lacrosse teams — are the Butler Eagle's final high school male and female athletes of the week this season.

The Eagle's athlete of the week program will return in the fall.

Scurci scored three goals and added six assists in Mars boys' 14-9 win over Trinity in the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal round. He led the Planets in goals (58) and assists (43) in the regular season.

Merritt, a steady scorer all season, netted six goals in the girls' 15-7 win over Conneaut in the state playoffs.

Scurci got into lacrosse through his older brother Will, now a junior goalkeeper at Baldwin-Wallace College.

“My brother was in Mars' first youth lacrosse program,” Scurci said. “I got into the sport that way.”

A starter for the Planets since late in his freshman season, Scurci also served as captain of the Mars hockey team this past winter.

That team missed the playoffs while battling with COVID-19 issues all seasion.

“We had a new team on the ice practically every game,” Scurci said. “Guys were constantly in and out of the lineup. I had a decent year personally, but it was rough.

“I love both sports, but I love lacrosse a little more. I can play it a lot more often — all through spring and summer — and it's a blast getting out there with my friends.

“I look forward to every game,” Scurci added.

The Planets have nine seniors on their roster as they prepare to face Allentown Catholic in the PIAA Class 2A title game Saturday afternoon in West Chester.

“Wes is definitely a leader for us on the field,” Mars boys lacrosse coach Bob Marcoux said. “He is such an offensive force and an unselfish player.

“Leading the team in goals and assists demonstrates that. He and Austin Cote are the quarterbacks of our offense. Wes is very vocal. He gets us going.”

Scurci takes pride in his statistics. He takes more pride in his team's success.

“I'm set up ready to shoot, ready to pass ... ready for anything,” Scurci said. “I want to play lacrosse in college and I've been looking around. I haven't committed to anything, but I'm hoping there will be a place for me.

“Our team this year has been more hungry than teams we've played. We consider ourselves six-time WPIAL champions because we believe we would have won it last year.

“We've been proving ourselves to the rest of the state in these playoffs ... just one more step to go,” Scurci added.

The Planet girls had a breakthrough of their own this spring, winning the program's first WPIAL championship.

Merritt has played a major role in that surge as a young player.

Merritt scored 45 goals for the Planets and was one of three freshmen in the starting lineup, joining Mya Cote and Zoey Krock.

“It may it easier for me (as a freshman), playing with two of my best friends,” Merritt said. “I was a little scared at first, the game was so fast, but I got better as I got used to it.”

Mars girls coach Monica Ewansik admitted to being surprised by Merritt's productivity this season.

“I knew she was a good player coming up and would be able to contribute a little bit at the varsity level,” Ewansik said. “But she is such an aggressive attacker.

“Once she adjusted to the speed of the game, she took off. As she continues to mature, she will get even better.”

Merritt began playing lacrosse in second grade and “I hated it at first.

“I wasn't any good at it and I hate things I'm not good at,” she said. “By the fifth grade. When I could finally catch the ball and cradle it, make plays ... I loved it.”

She loves the potential of next year's team as well.

“We are losing some good players, but we have more young talent coming up,” Merritt said. “I think we can make another run at it.”