HOLLIDAYSBURG — Players on the Mars boys soccer team must feel like they had to beat Susquehannock twice on Tuesday night.

But with their ticket to the state title game now punched, nobody's complaining.

The Planets withstood a goal by the Warriors late in regulation before Tim Frigot's goal two minutes into the second overtime gave Mars a 2-1 win in the PIAA Class AA semifinals at Hollidaysburg High School.

The Planets (21-3-1) will face Palmyra (23-4) for the state championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium.

Frigot's score came after a melee in front of the Warriors' goal.

Susquehannock goalkeeper Jesse Derksen made an initial save, but his teammates were unable to clear the rebound, and Frigot, a junior forward, finished with the shot that sent the Planets to Hershey.

"It's the greatest feeling of my life," Frigot said.

But the Planets never thought they would have needed overtime to close the deal, not after leading 1-0 entering the final minute of play.

It appeared as though Jack Leslie's goal with 14:50 left in the first half was going to stand up. But with 26 seconds left in regulation, the clock was stopped and the Warriors were awarded a free kick 70 yards from the Planets' net after an infraction was called against Mars.

Derksen, who has the strongest leg on the team, came out of his own goal to take the kick, which sailed high into the air and came down just 10 yards from Mars' net and goalkeeper Joe Haefner.

A battle for possession ensued, which resulted in Susquehannock defender Nick Amberman getting a clear shot.

The sophomore made good on his attempt and the game was tied at one with 19 seconds remaining in the second half.

The Planets suddenly had an opponent with renewed hope on their hands.

"I felt very good about our chances going into overtime," said Warriors coach Ben Kettlewell. "Our players were very energetic."

Even Mars coach Chris Knauff had to admit after the game, "(Susquehannock) had all of the momentum heading into overtime."

That, coupled with the fact that the Warriors are a veteran team with 12 seniors and Mars is relatively young, and the Planets could have folded.

But they didn't.

"We just tried to keep calm, keep it simple and wear them down," said Frigot of his team's mind-set entering overtime. "And that's what happened."

Haefner made two saves in the first overtime period, which lasted 15 minutes, and Derksen made one.

The Warriors (17-6-2) had outscored their first two opponents in the state playoffs, District 5 champ Bedford and WPIAL champ Steel Valley, by a combined score of 7-0.

Along with Haefner's 11 saves Tuesday night, Mars' defense was largely responsible for keeping Susquehannock off the scoreboard until late.

"Our defense has played well throughout the playoffs," said Knauff. "I think our guys did a good job of making their attackers go the long way around to get scoring opportunities."

"I think we had a lot of missed opportunities," Kettlewell said. "But give credit to Mars."

Notes: Derksen tallied 10 saves. ... Palmyra will have a short trip to the state title game, as the school is located four miles east of Hershey.