Sometimes, the only advantage teams receive by winning their section is the chance to host a game.

That's what some Butler County soccer teams found out as they prepare for the upcoming WPIAL playoffs.

The Seneca Valley girls team won the Section 2-AAA title but will host a Class AAA first-round game against Belle Vernon (12-7) at 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Mars boys team went 14-0 in Section 2-AA, 14-4-1 overall, for its first-ever section title. The Planets received the No. 6 seed and will host No. 11 McGuffey (10-6-1) in a Class AA tilt either Monday or Tuesday at a time to be determined.

"I don't know if playing Saturday was a surprise. We really didn't have that good of an overall record," said Seneca Valley coach Dave Sylvester. "I am surprised at who we'll have to face in our next game if we win (Mt. Lebanon, 14-3-3).

"I don't understand the reasoning on how they do that, but I figured we have to play it," Sylvester added.

The Raiders haven't played since last Saturday's 4-1 win over Quaker Valley in the Hampton Tournament.

They had been scheduled to play Schenley Tuesday, but that game was cancelled. Still, having a week between games isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"I think it's good," said Sylvester. "Let's get it going. We can get a game under our belt.

"I know a little about Belle Vernon's section. They were the third-place team in their section (behind Elizabeth-Forward and Ringgold). I'm going to try and find out what I can about them. We don't want to take anyone for granted."

The Planets finished ahead of Knoch (12-4, 11-3) and Highlands (11-7, 9-5).

"I think we're playing real well," said Mars coach Blair Gerlach. "We're young and inexperienced, but, fortunately for us, our mistakes haven't cost us.

"We scrimmaged Vincentian, which is a good Class A team and beat them 4-0. We're playing well and we're under the radar."

McGuffey finished second behind Section 5-AA winner South Park.

"It'll be nice to have a home game, but unfortunately, it's not that much of an advantage because we're one of the few games not playing on a turf surface." said Gerlach.

The following three games will be played either Monday or Tuesday at a time to be determined.

The Knoch girls will make their first playoff appearance since 1996 by traveling to Norwin (17-1-2), the Section 1-AAA champion.

The only game Norwin dropped this year was a 1-0 decision to perennial power Penn-Trafford.

"We don't know much about them," said Knoch coach Amy Travis.

But Travis does know what ingredients have gone into her team's success.

"We've got a very dedicated group of girls," she said. "They play year-round and that really helps."

Knoch is led by freshman forward Amanda Sharbaugh, who has scored 16 goals.

The Seneca Valley boys couldn't have asked for a stiffer test than a road game at Baldwin.

Champions of Section 4-AAA, the Highlanders surrendered just seven goals in 18 games while posting a 16-0-2 record.

The Raiders (9-6-1), who finished third in Section 2-AAA behind Hampton and Pine-Richland, are making their first playoff appearance since 2000.

The Knoch boys tallied as many section wins this season (11) as they did in the last seven years combined.

They will travel to Southmoreland to take on the co-champs from Section 1-AA.

The Scotties (13-2-1) have given up just six goals in 16 games.