JACKSON TWP — With a depleted lineup and facing a rival that has been a thorn in its side for years, the Mars girls lacrosse team was giving Hampton everything it could handle early on.

After sophomore Jaden Pasquinelli found the net 11 minutes into the game, the Planets and Talbots were tied 3-3.

“It was a run for the money in the first 10 minutes or so,” said Hampton coach Kelsey Viets.

But then Hampton started winning draws and scoring at the other end. That tie game quickly turned into an 11-3 Talbot advantage at the half and Mars eventually fell 17-7 in the WPIAL Class AA semifinals at NexTier Stadium Monday night.

“Hampton for us is always our biggest competition and our toughest games,” said Mars coach Cara DuMont. “They are a great team and they have a great coach — Kelsey's awesome. It just wasn't our night.”

It was the third time Hampton has defeated Mars this season.

Mars (7-6) came into this meeting missing a slew of starters.

Senior Kailey Grill didn't play because she was on her way home from Shreveport, La., where she competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant over the weekend.

Peyton Edinger, Sydney Weiss and Landri Shannan were also out with injuries.

Sophomore Elle Werner filled in for Weiss in goal and played well, stopping nine shots.

“She's very young,” DuMont said. “She's only been playing lacrosse for two years.”

Mars didn't have a senior in the starting lineup against Hampton and had seven sophomores and two freshmen take the field for the opening draw.

“I have a very young team and I'm so excited for them and for years to come,” DuMont said. “I'm so proud of them. I thought they still worked hard and hung with it. They always had their heads up.”

That wasn't an easy task after Hampton began to dominate the draw and the game.

The Talbots (17-2) scored 12 consecutive goals after the early deadlock.

The first eight goals scored by Hampton came off the crosse of eight different players.

It's that kind of balance that has served Hampton well this season as it gets set to play Quaker Valley Thursday at Robert Morris University for the WPIAL Class AA title.

“That's been the coolest thing as a coach,” Viets said. “To see the depth we have.”

The game was won and lost in the draw circle.

“Their draws are amazing,” DuMont said. “You can tell they work hard at it. We did not have possession. They had possession. That's the rule of lacrosse.”

Viets said she tinkered with her lineup in the last few weeks to accentuate her team's strength on the draw.

“Possession wins the game,” Viets said. “Draw control is absolutely key.”

When Mars did win the draw, it usually scored.

Mars' Fuller and Emily Grieco each scored a pair of goals for the Planets. Paige Seles and Gianna Buzzelli were also goal scorers for Mars.

Despite the loss, Mars' season is not over.

The Planets will play Franklin Regional at a site and time to be determined Thursday in a consolation game. The winner advances to the PIAA Class AA playoffs.

“The girls are still pumped,” DuMont said. “It's not over yet.”