Adversity sometimes comes from getting outplayed on the field.

For Knoch's boys soccer team, the heaviest dose of it this season came from injuries, most notably to three seniors and returning starters.

Goalkeeper Andy Pipes, defender Coleman Brands and forward Caleb Robb each missed significant time. Brands, a centerback, is out for the season after suffering a broken collarbone early last month.

“The other two have been in and out,” said Knoch coach Malcolm Cook. “We've had some other minor injuries and have had to do a lot of shuffling around.”

The Knights found the right mix within their lineup more often than not. In fact, they enter the upcoming WPIAL Class 3A playoffs as co-Section 1 champions along with rival Mars. Both teams finished the section slate with a 10-1-1 mark, but the Knights (No. 3) received a better seed after beating the Planets (No. 7) once and tying them in the second meeting.

It is Knoch's first section title since 2008.

Junior forward Jeremiah Smith leads the Knights with 15 goals. Despite missing about half the season, Robb has still managed 10 goals. According to Cook, he and Pipes should be ready for the playoffs.

“A lot of players have stepped in for us this year,” said Cook. “They have worked hard for each other. If there is a lapse in one area, others have picked things up.

Mars' boys aren't used to slow starts to a season, but that's what the Planets were dealing with in early September.

After four games, the team was 0-3-1.

“We played some good non-section teams to start (North Allegheny, Pine-Richland and State College),” said Mars coach Chris Knauff. “Then we lost our section opener to Knoch. We lost our entire back four to graduation and it took us a while to get the right people in the right places, get the guys playing the right system. I like the way our season has progressed.”

After losing to State College Sept. 9, the Planets went 10-1-1 in their next 12 games.

Corey Heim paces the Planets with 11 goals and five assists. Senior Cory Ferguson, last year's co-Section Player of the Year, has seven goals and five assists.

Mars uses a very rare three-player rotation at goalkeeper — Tom Hayward, Ross Byers and Jake Gareis.

Section Perfection

Earning a section title with an undefeated record is a notable feat, but there are teams that accomplish it every season.

Mars' girls raised the bar even higher this year, winning the Section 1-3A championship by outscoring their opponents 44-0.

The Planets have allowed just six goals overall, two of them coming in a 3-2 win over Pine-Richland, a one-loss Class 4A team.

Mars (14-1-1) has done all of this while starting four freshmen.

“Everybody plays a similar system year round,” said Planet coach Blair Gerlach of his lineup. “The freshmen's ability to adjust speaks about them as soccer players. Everybody on the team is excited to be here and they're happy to have a role. It's been business as usual.”

Senior forward Maggie Williams leads the team with 15 goals. Freshman Caroline Wroblewski (12) and sophomore Taylor Hamlett (10) have added punch to the team's attack, with Hamlett dishing out 15 assists.

Defenders Erin Rodgers and Gracie Dunaway and midfielder Ellie Coffield are the other freshmen in the starting lineup.

Junior goalkeeper Claire Valentine has answered the call when needed.

“She hasn't faced a ton of shots, but when she has been tested, she has come up big for us,” said Gerlach. “She's confident in all situations.”

New and Improved

Freeport's girls reached the WPIAL Class AA final last season, only to fall to Freedom, 4-1.

“We have more scoring power now, more than we've had the last three years,” said Freeport coach Brittni Grenninger. “I think that will spark the team now that we're in the playoffs.”

The Yellowjackets (15-2-1 overall) will head there as Section 2 champions, following an 11-0-1 record. Kaylee Comperatore has scored 31 goals, Sidney Shemanski has 19 and Carli Giori has contributed 10.

Jenna Manke, a senior, came out for soccer for the first time this season and has become a reliable goalkeeper.

“We have a better offense this year, three of our top defenders are back. With 14 seniors, we have leadership and experience, but we needed someone to step up in goal,” Grenninger said. “Jenna has been a game-changer for us.”

CWNC tops the field

Both the boys and girls teams at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic won Section 3-1A titles this season, the boys with a perfect 14-0 record while the girls (9-1) avenged their only section loss of the season by defeating Vincentian Academy Oct. 12.

CWNC boys coach Aaron Kelly took over a team that fell to Sewickley Academy in last year's WPIAL final. He knew he had talent, but has seen intangibles, including a desire to improve, spark this season's impressive run.

“It's a testament to the team and all the hard work they've put in,” said Kelly. “This is my first year, so a lot of credit goes to the players and the previous coaches.”

The Trojans enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed with an overall record of 16-1. Their only loss came in a 1-0 decision last Saturday against Pine-Richland, a Class 4A program. CWNC has outscored its opponents 118-6.

“We have two goalkeepers, Keaton Jennings (nine shutouts) and Nathan Paras (two). Keaton is our starter, but we trust both of them and they're both getting quality playing time.”

A pair of sophomore forwards have scorched opposing nets this season. Joe Kearney has scored 44 goals while Ryan Augustine has 16 goals and 17 assists.

“Overall, we're pretty balanced,” said Kelly. “We score a lot and we don't give up many goals.”

The Trojans have won 13 games this year by at least four goals. Despite dominating most of their opponents, the players' attention to detail has remained strong.

“The kids motivate each other,” said Kelly. “They know in every practice, they need to get better. We also have a strong bench and there's a lot of fighting for playing time.”

CWNC's girls claimed a section championship in the program's fourth season of existence.

The Trojanettes bowed from last year's WPIAL playoffs in the first round, but coach Emily Karr is looking for a longer stay this time around.

“I saw us grow during the course of the season,” she said. “We still have some things to work on, but we are very close to playing our best soccer.

“We have a lot of experience in the back and a lot of talent up front.”

That firepower is led by freshman forward Tori Michalski, who has 16 goals. Senior forward Ella Beidler and junior midfielder Regina Torchia both have 11 goals.

In net is freshman Andrea Bean, who has eight shutouts.

“She has no major areas of weakness,” Karr said, “and is a source of confidence for the whole team.”