WPIAL lacrosse: Mars boys turn it up in second half, beat Hampton to make 9th straight final
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Mars' Ian Coulter (3), Jack Tirch (22) and Connor Long (26) celebrate after beating Hampton in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' celebrates after scoring against Hampton in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Henry Saver (16) celebrates with Grant Weaver (9) after scoring a goal against Hampton in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Jack Tirch (22) take a shot on goal against Hampton in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Josh Wilburn (15) looks to pass around Hampton's Joseph Stephenson (25) in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Bowser (1) defends Hampton's Brody Eichas (21) in a WPIAL Class 2A boys lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
WEST VIEW — Mars boys lacrosse coach Bob Marcoux did not have a favorable opinion on the first half of Monday’s WPIAL Class 2A semifinal against Hampton.
After the first 24 minutes of play, which included a Planets turnover in their own end that led to a goal for the Talbots and Hampton winning five of seven faceoffs, the teams were deadlocked 3-3.
“It was sloppy, a little more helter skelter than we’re used to,” Marcoux said.
His thoughts on the second half were much different.
The Planets scored the first six goals after the break to take control and went on to defeat Hampton 13-6 at North Hills’ Martorelli Stadium.
The victory sends Mars (17-2) to its ninth consecutive district final. They will face No. 1 South Fayette, which beat Peters Township 12-5, either Wednesday or Thursday at Upper St. Clair High School.
Grant Weaver’s goal just over three minutes into the third quarter broke the tie. He scored again 95 seconds later, and the Planets were off and running. Ian Coulter scored three goals during the run, the last putting Mars up 9-3 with 11:45 left in the game.
“Our faceoff guy, Josh Wilburn, got on a roll, and the best defense in the world is a good offense,” Marcoux said.
It doesn’t hurt to have a three-year starter in net, either. That’s the luxury the Planets have in Luke Spreng, who stopped 10 shots in the win.
“Early in the game, we were playing down to their (Talbots) level,” Spreng said. “In the second half, we started playing Mars lacrosse.”
Will Venture and Parker Kelly scored less than two minutes apart for Hampton to cut the deficit to 9-5, but Jack Tirch (three goals) and Ben Bowser answered with four straight scores to ice the game for Mars.
“Luke made some big saves, especially early, to keep us in the game,” Marcoux said. “We didn’t clear the ball too cleanly tonight, and we’ll be working on that.”
Eli Schwarzbach, along with Venture and Kelly, scored a pair of goals for Hampton.
Tirch paced Mars with four goals, Bowser had two, and Henry Saver and Blake Cote had one apiece.
The Planets have won eight straight district crowns and played in the last four state finals, but lost a lot of talent to graduation last spring.
“We started this season with a chip on our shoulder because people were saying we’re not as good as we used to be,” Spreng said. “We had a lot of morale at the beginning of the year, and it’s only improved since then.”
