Either Mars or Serra Catholic is about to experience something foreign to both: a loss.

Both teams bring lengthy winning streaks into the Class A Penguins Cup championship game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Mellon Arena.

The defending champion Planets (22-2) have won nine straight games while the Eagles (20-4) have reeled off 15 consecutive victories.

"We take pride in our consistency over the years, despite having small numbers (of players) much of the time," Serra Catholic coach Brian Boehm said. "This is the youngest team I've had in my four years as head coach."

Serra Catholic has been to the Penguins Cup semifinals nine times in the past 10 years. The Eagles have won three titles, the last in 2004. They also own three state titles, the last in 2002.

The Eagles were 5-4 at one point this season. Their last loss was a 3-2 overtime decision to Westmont Hilltop, which came on the heels of a 5-4 loss to Mars. Serra Catholic defeated the Planets 5-3 in their rematch.

"I thought we played better in our loss to Mars than when we beat them," Boehm said. "We did a lot of growing up in that game. It convinced our kids we could compete with the best."

Mars coach Steve Meyers said his team wasn't at full strength in either of the two regular season matchups.

"We were missing a few key guys," he said. "I'm not saying we would have won both games, but it will be nice to be at full strength."

After winning its final four regular-season games over South Park, Quaker Valley, South Fayette and Center by a combined 29-1 score, Serra Catholic edged Hampton 6-5 and upended No. 2 seed Kittanning 5-3 to reach the title game.

"A lot of people thought Kittanning would crush us, not just beat us," Boehm said.

Erik Manetta (32 goals, 84 points) has led PIHL Class A in scoring in each of the past two years. Jarrett Ruchka has scored 29 goals and 66 points for the Eagles.

Jay Leppo has 22 goals, Tyler Speis 19 and Garner Kraemer 14 for Serra Catholic.

"I believe Manetta and Ruchka are the best two forwards in all of Class A," Boehm said.

The Planets probably would beg to differ.

Sophomore forward Elliot Tisdale scored 23 goals and 55 points during the regular season and recorded hat tricks in Mars' 7-2 and 7-3 playoff wins over Quaker Valley and Bishop McCort.

"We knew he was something special as a freshman last year," Meyers said. "He was such a fluid skater with a lot of speed. Not many freshmen could skate like that."

Tisdale is one of 10 Mars players with 10 or more goals. Nick Blaney has 20, followed by Blake Friday with 16, Mike Mazzotta and Robert Sigurdsson with 15 each, Tyler Whiteford and Austin Heakins with 12 each, Russ Miller with 11, Tyler Thomas and C.J. Thibault 10 each.

Tyler Stepke has a 1.27 goals-against average for Mars, Garrett Hudson a 2.31 GAA for Serra Catholic.

"We have quick, fast skaters — a lethal tradition that way," Boehm said. "What concerns me about Mars is their style of play is similar that way and they've got more depth."

Serra Catholic has only 13 skaters, but they are well-conditioned.

"I'll put up our conditioning against anybody's," he said. "We create strength and endurance. Our kids have to be able to run five miles in 25 minutes before we even start the season.

"Our guys have to double shift, Manetta and Ruchka even triple shift. We have to be in shape."

Ruchka broke a leg in three places 14 months ago after violently sliding into the boards on a play against Deer Lakes.

"I didn't think he'd ever play again," Boehm said. "That kid worked incredibly hard to get back. That's how much our kids love to play this game."