ADAMS TWP — Lessons are learned out of losses.

The thing is, though, Mars’ boys lacrosse team rarely falls short.

Ahead of the their 23-2 shellacking of visiting Shaler in the teams’ WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinal Thursday night, the Planets linked up with Upper Arlington, a group from Columbus, for an impromptu matchup last Sunday.

Mars (17-1) hit a speed bump in one of those instances that are few and far between, losing their first of this spring, 13-8.

“They came out very fast, very focused, and we weren’t quite ready for the speed of that game,” Planets coach Bob Marcoux said. “We basically got punched in the mouth.”

The defeat, to a crew that Marcoux contends might be the best in the state over, was an effective playoff primer. Knowledge imparted, Mars returned to its role as the region’s bully.

The defending WPIAL champions entered the postseason tilt with Shaler (13-5) with an eye-popping +228 goal differential. When the squads met in late March, Mars topped the Titans, 17-1.

“We had an idea of trying to shut them down to their off hand,” Shaler coach Jon Monahan said. “We wanted to double-pull the wings to try to slow up the face-off guy (Ian Edinger), because we know he’s very good.”

Plans are easier crafted than carried out. Mars’ unselfish offense let loose.

Senior attacker Joshua Seipp netted the team’s first marker 1:09 in. Austin Cote, Enzo Grieco, Jacob Caringola, Ryan Blake, and Wesley Scurci followed, all tallying goals in the intial frame.

The Titans had fallen into a nine-score hole before getting on the board themselves. Their strike, with 3:52 to go in the first half, was greeted by three more from the Planets. At halftime, Mars had fired 20 shots on goal to Shaler’s four.

“They have electric shooters,” Monahan said. “The athleticism they show is pretty unmatched. Their movement and knowledge of the game made it difficult. Once you show them one look on defense, they rotate out of it pretty quickly and they know how to beat it.”

For first steps toward the ultimate goal — which for Mars is state supremacy — the commanding victory was about as good as they get. Atoning for last year’s loss to Allentown Central Catholic in the PIAA final is all the drive the team needs.

“They play for each other,” Marcoux said. “They remember what it was like riding that bus on the way home from West Chester last year after that tough loss. It doesn’t make it hard for us to motivate these guys at all.”

Grieco paced all scorers with five goals and added an assist in the win.

“We’re feeling good,” he said. “We know our competition is going to be really tough out there, so we’re just going to keep on getting better each day.”

Cote, Caringola, and Scurci all put four past Shaler’s netminder. Seipp wound up with two goals and Ryan Blake, Connor Hartle, Jack Dunham, and Ian Coulter all found the twine once.

Winners of 39 of their last 41 outings, Mars is slated to play South Fayette in the semifinal round on Monday. Time and location are yet to be announced.