JACKSON TWP — The 2013 season has already been one to remember for the Seneca Valley girls cross country team.

But the Raiders aren’t done just yet.

The squad went a perfect 8-0 in Section 3-AAA meets, capturing the program’s first section title since 2000.

“The section championship is a small step toward our ultimate goals, but it did build confidence within the team,” said first-year SV coach Steve Strelick.

The section slate included a 25-32 win over rival North Allegheny Oct. 8. The Tigers finished runner-up in the standings and, ironically, are still ranked in the top 10 in the state while the Raiders have been left out. That’s fine with Strelick.

“We are under the radar and that’s the way I like it,” he said. “I want to keep the pressure off of the girls.”

Aside from dual and tri-meets, the Raiders have also performed well at invitationals. They took first place at the Slippery Rock event Sept. 14, placing five runners in the top 10. Sophomore Mariah Mack led the way with an individual title.

Last Thursday, SV finished second out of 61 teams at the Tri-State Invite.

Seneca Valley’s current focus is the WPIAL Championship, which will be held Thursday at Cooper’s Lake.

“Seneca Valley is usually on the outside looking in when it comes to competing for a WPIAL title,” said Strelick, “but now we feel that we are in the mix.

“Mount Lebanon (ranked No. 2 in the state) and North Allegheny will be our top competition.”

While being crowned WPIAL champions is on the mind of all SV runners, they also want to advance to the state championship meet. Placing in the top three on Thursday would get them there.

Senior Becky Paine, who has been on the varsity team since her freshman season, is not taking the chance to extend her team’s season lightly.

“Getting to states would mean the world to me and I want to do whatever it takes to help us get there,” she said. “We know that the only way we move on as a team is if we compete as a team.”

Strelick has seen that attitude blossom this fall.

“I knew we had some talented kids returning,” said Strelick, who served as an assistant under head coach Jim Nagle in 2012 when the Raiders placed sixth in the WPIAL. “The biggest reason for our improvement has been senior leadership. Cross country is a very competitive sport, not only between teams, but also within a team. But our seniors have set the tone this year. Everybody’s in this for the team.”

Team success Thursday will require each individual doing her part. Senior Angela Mignanelli is prepared for that challenge.

“I know myself better as a runner this year,” said Mignanelli, who placed 56th overall at the WPIAL meet as a junior. “I feel I am more prepared to run a better race. You can’t start out too fast, you just have to stay consistent.

“I am very familiar with the course at Cooper’s Lake,” she added. “It’s all right there in front of you and you can see everybody.”

Much like track and field, cross country is a sport with few cheers.

“It’s a self-motivating sport,” said Paine. “You have to have the ability to drive yourself. That’s something some athletes in other sports don’t have.”

Other current members of the varsity team include junior Maty Zeckzer, sophomores Emma Sledge and Lauren Sauer and freshmen Rachel Hensler and Isabelle Biase.