WPIAL girls lacrosse: Mars erupts in 4th quarter to pull away from Chartiers Valley for Class 2A title
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Mars celebrates after beating Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Jenna Seith (12) looks to pass over Chartiers Valley Kaiya Morrison (39) in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ella Roach (35) makes a save against Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ella DePaoli scores on a penalty shot against Chartiers Valley High School in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Captain Ella Roach (35) holds the trophy in the air and celebrates with her team after beating Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Lucy Balazs (5) celebrates after scoring the first goal against Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Captain Ella Roach (35) kisses the trophy and celebrates with her team after beating Chartiers Valley High School in the WPIAL Class 2A Girls Lacrosse Championship game Friday, May 23, 2025, at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars wins 15-6. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
UPPER ST. CLAIR — Mars had a lead through three quarters, but it wasn't enough.
By the end of the fourth, the Planets had their fill.
Taking an 8-4 lead into the final period, the top-seeded Planets (18-1) exploded for seven goals to polish off a 15-6 victory over third-seeded Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Friday night at Upper St. Clair.
Mars had a 6-4 lead at halftime before securing its third straight district title and second in a row over the Colts (15-4). It’s Mars’ fourth title in five years.
"It was a matter of getting possession of the ball, executing plays and finishing our shots," Mars coach Abby Latona said. "Once we did that, it was our game."
The Planets claimed this year's title despite having only one senior — goalkeeper Ella Roach — in their lineup.
"This team has been working since September to get back to this moment," Latona said. "I am so proud to be coaching these girls."
Tess McGrath scored four goals and added three assists for the Planets. Her twin sister, junior Anna McGrath, contributed four goals and an assist.
The pair moved from California into Mars Area School District prior to their freshmen year.
"We've been playing together since sixth grade," Tess said. "As a team, we knew we could get this done if we worked hard enough.
"Show up and shell out. That's what we do. We lost a great senior class, and no one thought we could get back here. But here we are."
Anna agreed.
"We came together and played together," she said.
Hailey Long added two goals and three assists for Mars. Lucy Balazs had two goals and an assist.
Scoring single tallies were Ella DePaoli, Katie Blake and Reanna Kolarcik-Schmitt.
The Planets had a 27-13 edge in shots on goal, 16-5 in the second half.
Megan Witte, a senior, scored four goals for the Colts.
"We didn't maximize our opportunities or minimize our mistakes," Chartiers Valley coach Melissa Moran said. "I felt we could play with them. We just didn't play well enough for a long enough period of time."
Chartiers Valley held a 2-1 lead after the first period.
Both teams advance to the PIAA tournament.
