DUBOIS - Mars boys soccer coach Chris Knauff believed his team had put its WPIAL title game loss behind it.

It didn't take the Planets long to prove him right.

Mars tallied three goals in the first 19 minutes and went on to dominate District 9 champ Bradford, 6-0, in the first round of the PIAA Class AA playoffs Tuesday night at DuBois High.

The Planets (15-6-2) will face Palmyra, a 3-2 winner over Bedford, in the quarterfinals Saturday at a site and time to be determined.

Tuesday's victory came just three days after Mars lost to section rival Hampton, 4-1, in the WPIAL finals.

“We did have a talk with the players before the game, but they're a self-motivated group,” said Knauff. “They realize the WPIAL playoffs are over with and this is a whole new tournament.”

Mars drew first blood in the second minute when senior forward Yulian Lutsiv put a shot on goal from the left of the net.

Bradford goalie Devin Zelko got a piece of the ball, deflecting it out of play.

Luke Sowers turned the following corner kick into a goal 87 seconds into the game.

Two minutes later, it was Lutsiv's chance to turn a corner kick into a goal, as he blasted his 10th tally of the season past Zelko.

It was Lutsiv's first game back after receiving a red card in the WPIAL semifinal win over South Park. He was forced to sit out the title game against Hampton.

“Just getting back out onto the field, it was amazing,” he said. “When we're all out there, we can accomplish anything.”

Junior defender Ryan Gralish put the Planets up 3-0 with another goal off a corner kick in the 19th minute.

“It was more a lack of execution on our part,” said Bradford coach Wes Lohrman. “We knew if we gave (the Planets) the opportunities with corner kicks, they would capitalize on them.

“We worked on it in practice, but they owned the air tonight,” he added. “It's hard when you fall behind early.”

The Owls (14-6) simply were unable to match the pressure the Mars attack brings.

“Bradford is a good team, but I don't think they're used to the pace of play that we played at tonight,” said Knauff. “We were able to knock the ball around and get some give-and-goes, and that created opportunities for us.”

Nick Luce scored on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute while Zack Hudac and Matt White scored in the second half.

“We communicated a lot tonight, and that was the key,” said Lutsiv.

Zelko made six saves while Garrett Gabriel had two and Joe Kelly had one for the Planets.

Note: Mars has now made it to at least the quarterfinal round of the PIAA playoffs in four consecutive seasons.