Seneca Valley girls golf coach Lynn Wagner was optimistic about her team in late August.

The squad has spent the last five weeks showing people why.

The team is on the verge of posting the best record in the program's five-year history.

After a 207-240 win over Ambridge Thursday, the Raiders are 8-3 overall with four matches to go.

The previous best effort came with last year's 10-7 mark.

"I couldn't ask for a nicer group of girls to work with," said Wagner. "I had to cancel a practice last week and they were disappointed because they love to practice. How many coaches can say that about their team?"

SV is also in contention for its first-ever section title, as the Raiders currently are 8-2 in Section 2, and their first WPIAL playoff appearance.

"We've still got two matches with Center, one with North Allegheny and Pine-Richland," said Wagner. "It's all going to be settled with those matches."

The Raiders field two seniors this season: Lauren Torso and Whitney Wilkinson.

The two girls have come from opposite directions to help lead the Raiders.

Torso has been playing golf for eight years. Her first instructor was her father, Gary, who is the boys golf coach at Pine-Richland.

She currently takes lessons from Don Sargent, the golf pro at Totteridge Golf Club.

"Three years ago, I would say the biggest improvement I needed to make in my game was distance," said Torso. "Since then, I've gained about 20 yards on my drives."

"Lauren has been in the top four in every one of our matches this season," said Wagner of her team's captain. "She plays in tournaments throughout the year and understands the rules and what needs to happen on the course.

"It's almost as if she's an assistant coach out there and that's why I chose her as captain."

Torso finished in eighth place at sectionals and will compete in the district individual championships Oct. 11 at Nemacolin Woodlands.

The story of how Wilkinson became a member of the team is an interesting one.

"Two years ago, we had only six players at the start of the season," said Wagner. "I was giving (Torso) a ride home after a practice and we came to Whitney's house and Lauren pointed her out to me. I stopped the car and asked, 'Are you Whitney?'

"She said yes and I said, 'You're going to play golf for me.'"

That's how Wilkinson's high school golfing days began. And it didn't take her long to learn the game.

"Before I joined the team, I had never picked up a golf club in my life," Wilkinson said. "But since I was starting from scratch, I didn't have to worry about bad habits affecting my game. I learned to play the right way from the start."

"I'm not surprised at all at the progress she has made," said Wagner.

The team's success is due in part to a strong chemistry among the players.

"We're all good friends and have a real good time with each other," said Torso. "This is the best all-around team I've been on."

"Nobody gets left out," said Wilkinson. "It's a close group."

Other team members include juniors Ashley Arrington and Kayla Belack, sophomores Chelsie Schade, Jill Branby, Samantha Craig and Emily Campbell, and freshmen Jordin Belack and Shannon O'Halloran.

"Ashley and Shannon have really stepped up their game to become part of our scoring team this season," said Wagner.

Torso said the infusion of young talent should lead to a string of success.

"The younger players are getting some good experience and that will help keep the team going over the next few years," she said.

"I think it all began with Stacy (Wagner) during our first season of 2000," said Wagner of her daughter, who graduated in 2003. "She showed the girls that it wasn't good enough just to come out and play golf; you should play it well. That attitude rubbed off on Lauren and she is now passing it on."

Seneca Valley will host Pine-Richland Monday at Connoquenessing Country Club.