Mars' Aly Cooper (21) pushes past South Fayette's Cami Feltz during a girls soccer game this season. The unbeaten Planets are chasing their third consecutive WPIAL and PIAA titles this season.

A winning culture can go a long way in helping a high school sports program sustain success.

It has undoubtedly had an impact on the Seneca Valley boys and Mars girls soccer teams this fall.

Both defending WPIAL and PIAA champions, the Raiders and Planets earned the top seed in their respective brackets in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs despite heavy losses to graduation last spring.

The pairings were released Wednesday afternoon.

SV (15-0-1), which recently wrapped up its fourth straight section title, brought back just one returning starter from its 2020 squad in junior midfielder Beaux Lizewski.

“We lost a lot of great players and doing as well as we have is surprising to some level,” said Raiders' coach George Williams. “We knew we had a lot of talent returning, but not the most experience.“Credit to the players. They have been able to perform very well.”Williams said that six returning lettermen from last year aided the team's undefeated regular season. They include goalkeeper Ryan Krumenacker, defender Caiden Oros, midfielders Luke Simpson, Connor Oros, Max Marcotte and forward Nathan Prex.Krumenacker has been stellar, allowing just five goals all season and earning 12 shutouts. Prex leads the team with 31 goals.The Raiders received a Class 4A first-round bye and will play Oct. 30 at NexTier Stadium against the winner of Tuesday's game between Mt. Lebanon and Taylor Allderdice.“Once you hit the playoffs, everything, including the intensity, ramps up,” said Williams.Mars (12-0-1) has won the last two Class 3A WPIAL and PIAA crowns. Since losing a state quarterfinal playoff to Blue Mountain that ended their 2018 season, the Planets are unbeaten in 55 games, going 53-0-2 in that span.The only game Mars did not win in the regular season this year was a scoreless tie with Seneca Valley, a very strong Class 4A team.The Planets, who returned just four starters from 2020, have continued to play at a high level, even while playing with a fluid strategy.“We're not a plug-and-play team this year ... we don't play with a set formation and simply find players to fill the positions,” said veteran Mars coach Blair Gerlach. “We've used multiple formations and different starting lineups and try to play to our players' strengths.”Players who returned as starters this season include defender Gwen Howell and midfielders Aly Cooper, Piper Coffield and Leana Cuzzocrea.Coffield played on the back line last year. She and Cooper lead the Planets with 12 goals apiece.“In the public eye, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for us,” said Gerlach. “But for younger players who have been part of our special playoff runs, this season is their turn. It's exciting for them and they want to keep (the winning) going.”Mars plays two goalies — senior Megan Boddy and sophomore Kate McEnroe.“They push each other and both have proved to be reliable,” Gerlach said.Mars opens the postseason with a home game against Penn Hills Monday at 6:30 p.m.Following are the seeds and matchups involving Butler County teams in the upcoming WPIAL soccer playoffs.GirlsClass 4ANo. 13 Penn-Trafford (6-10) at No. 4 Seneca Valley (12-3-2), 6:30 p.m., MondayNo. 10 Mt. Lebanon (9-6-2) at No. 7 Butler (12-2-2), 6:30 p.m., MondayClass 3ANo. 16 Penn Hills (8-7-1) at No. 1 Mars (12-0-1), 6:30 p.m., MondayClass 2ANo. 14 Freeport (4-10-1) at No. 3 South Park (11-3-4), 8 p.m., TuesdayNote: North Catholic (14-1), the defending WPIAL champion and state runner-up, earned the No. 1 seed and will play at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Mars Athletic Complex against the winner of Saturday's game between McGuffey and Waynesburg Central.BoysClass 4ANo. 10 Butler (13-5) vs. No. 7 Central Catholic (8-5-1), 6 p.m., Tuesday at North AlleghenyNote: Seneca Valley (15-0-1), the defending WPIAL and state champion, is the No. 1 seed and received a bye into the quarterfinal round. The Raiders will next be in action Oct. 30 when they host the winner of Tuesday's game between Mt. Lebanon and Taylor Allderdice.Class 3ANo. 9 Belle Vernon (13-4) at No. 8 Mars (12-4-2), 2 p.m., SaturdayNote: Mars is the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion.Class 2ANo. 9 North Catholic (8-7) at No. 8 McGuffey (9-4-2), 6:30 p.m., Monday

Seneca Valley striker Ayla Ward celebrates a goal with teammate Emma Maloberti (11) in a game against North Hills this season.Butler Eagle File Photo