JACKSON TWP — Sam Struss sprints toward the mouth of the lacrosse goal, stops, spins and unleashes a shot toward the shins of the goalie.

The ball skids off the turf at Seneca Valley's NexTier Stadium and into the back of the net.

Struss throws her arms in the air and runs, her knees flying high, toward her teammates in celebration.

"I've scored a ton of goals," Struss says. "But every one feels great."

Struss has had plenty of opportunities to celebrate this season for the Raiders (16-3), who are coming off a win over perennial power Peters Township and will face Mount Lebanon at 7:30 p.m. today at North Hills in the WPIAL Division I semifinals.

Struss has scored 79 goals this season and is among the most proficient offensive players in the WPIAL. She also is one of the main reasons why the Raiders have rebounded from a 5-10 season in 2009 to get back to the semifinals.

"Sam probably has as many goals as a few of our players combined," said Seneca Valley coach Dina Hughes.

It's by no accident that Struss is so lethal with a crosse in her hands.

The junior, who transferred from North Hills to Seneca Valley this year, practices her craft every chance she gets. She plays on a Pittsburgh traveling team and had plenty of experience beating difficult goalies growing up.

Her older brother, Corey, also is a goalie at Seton Hill University.

"You can't just be the average shooter," Struss said. "I spent hours and hours and hours working on my shot."

It didn't take long for Struss to win over her new teammates at Seneca Valley — some of whom played with her on the Pittsburgh traveling cup team.

Paige Corathers, a potent scorer in her own right, said she knew right away that Struss was going to be something special.

"She won't say it, but I will. She's amazing," Corathers said. "I think, growing up with her brother, she had to develop her shot so much and shoot so hard that it has helped her now."

Struss and Corathers have formed quite a potent duo for the Raiders.

Struss's game is built more on strength and hard, precision shots in front of the net. Corathers' game is more about pure speed.

"My speed helps me a lot," Corathers said. "I'm not amazing like Sam is with her stick work.

"Sam gets marked a lot," she added. "So I have learned to get open."

Corathers, though, has found it difficult at times to stay on the field because of a troublesome right knee.

Last season, the knee began popping out of place during games. This year, Corathers has continued to have problems with the joint.

Against Peters Township, Corathers had to leave the field twice because of her knee. She returned both times and scored four goals, including a spectacular one in which she flung the ball across her body from 15 yards out while sprinting at full speed.

"Whenever I land on it funny, it bothers me," Corathers said of her balky knee. "You just deal with it."