WPIAL girls lacrosse: Mars extends ‘legacy,’ steamrolls Quaker Valley to 4th straight Class 2A crown
UPPER ST. CLAIR — Make it four straight WPIAL crowns for Abby Latona’s Mars girls lacrosse team.
No current Planet knows what it’s like not to be tops in the district after downing Quaker Valley in the Class 2A title game 19-5 Thursday night at Upper St. Clair High School, proving, as Latona said the team’s motto was entering the game: “It’s not luck, it’s legacy.’”
“We don’t wanna know what it feels like to not (be champions),” Latona said.
Junior Katie Blake had a hat trick for top-seeded Mars before the first frame was through. She finished with a game-high six. She was motivated stepping on the field, feeling like she “didn’t do too well” on the stage last year.
“I came into this game thinking about that game and that feeling that I felt afterwards,” Blake said. “And I knew I didn’t wanna feel that way, so I came into this game ready to go. ... I might’ve scored one (last year). I don’t know. I just remember it was a rough game for me.”
“Watching her really just come into this championship game so focused, ready to go (was) huge,” Latona said. “She scored her 150th (career) goal with that first one. Huge accomplishment.”
Other goals by Hailey Long, Tess McGrath, Lola Seideneck and Lucy Balasz provided a 7-0 advantage before the second period got underway.
Jenna Smith joined the scoring fray 3:25 into the second quarter before No. 3 Quaker Valley finally got on the scoreboard a minute and a half later.
With 5:24 to go in the first half, Blake notched her fourth, and then Blake and Seideneck stretched it to a double-digit lead late late in the second stanza.
The Quakers wouldn’t come close the rest of the way as Mars’ onslaught continued.
Balasz posted four and Seideneck and Long three. Anna McGrath netted two.
The Planets move on to the PIAA tournament, aiming to make a run at a state title, as well. The PIAA will announced the brackets before June 1.
Mars was eliminated in the first round by District 3 third-place finisher Twin Valley last season, but Latona has a good feeling about her group’s chances this time around.
“We talked about goals all season,” Latona said. “This was part of our goal track, and we have more goals after this. It’s just keeping focus on those. … This team has the ability to go further than any Mars team has before.”
“I think something that we have on this team is super special,” Blake said. “I think our chemistry, our unity, just our motto every single day — our culture — is gonna drive us so much farther than we’ve ever been. No matter if we have a bad game or if our sticks aren’t the best, our team chemistry and just our togetherness is gonna push us.”
-
Mars players celebrate a goal against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Lucy Balazs (5) steals the ball from Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Tess McGrath (28) fights for the ball with Quaker Valley's Alexa Westwood (14) in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Hailey Long (3) fights for the ball with Quaker Valley's Lucy Roig (24) in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Lucy Balazs (5) and Lola Seideneck celebrate a goal against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Katie Blake (6) gets hit by Quaker Valley's Meredith Fallgren (8) in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Hailey Long (3) celebrates a goal against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Katie Blake (6) shoots and scores against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars' Katie Blake (6) shoots and scores against Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars celebrates with championship trophy after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars celebrates with championship trophy after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars celebrates with championship trophy after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars head coach Abby Latona celebrates after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars celebrates after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars celebrates with championship trophy after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
-
Mars celebrates with championship trophy after defeating Quaker Valley in the WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse championship game Thursday, May 21, 2026, at Upper St. Clair High School.Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
