Payback time
HAMPTON TWP — There are two sides to payback.
Mars was on the rewarding end of it Tuesday night.
The Planets' girls soccer team scored a goal in both halves to defeat Mercyhurst Prep 2-0 in a PIAA Class AA first-round playoff at Hampton High School's Fridley Field.
The Lakers were the defending state champions and accounted for Mars' lone loss in 2010, a 3-0 decision in the PIAA semifinals last November.
“We were definitely thinking about last year's game,” said Mars senior midfielder Mani Brueckner, who scored the Planets' first goal Tuesday in the 17th minute of play. “Revenge was in the back of everybody's mind. We didn't want to get knocked out by the same team two years in a row.”
Mars (22-0-1) will face Forest Hills, a 2-1 winner over Clearfield, in a quarterfinal clash Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
The Planets pelted Lakers' goalkeeper Jessica Armagost with 13 shots Tuesday, including the two goals.
“Mars seemed more poised and more determined this year,” said Mercyhurst Prep coach Pedro Argaez. “We knew they would bring a lot of pressure and we were prepared to defend. But there's only so much you can do.
“They are a tough team to play, I can tell you that,” he added.
Brueckner's tally came with an assist from teammate Trish Glavin and sailed to the right of Armagost.
Meanwhile, the Lakers, like every other one of Mars' opponents, found the going rough on offense.
In the first 40 minutes, Mercyhurst earned two corner kicks, two free kicks and three throws deep in Mars' zone, but the Lakers were not able to challenge goalkeeper Sarah Dailey.
And in the second half, Mercyhurst's chances became even more scarce.
“They're a team that likes to play everything through their center midfielder,” Mars coach Blair Gerlach said of the Lakers. “We tried to force them wide and not let them go through their bread and butter.”
Sophomore forward Karli Paracca made it 2-0 with a shot from the left of the goal in the 64th minute, putting a cap on the scoring.
The Lakers (16-5-1) averaged 4.6 goals per game before running into the Planets, who needed just one save from Dailey.
“I'm excited about the fact that we played an offensively dangerous team and still put up a shutout,” said Gerlach. “The thing I'm most proud of is that our girls don't have a cocky attitude. They roll up their sleeves and just go to work.
“They're confident, but not ahead of themselves,” he added. “Hopefully, we can keep this going.”
