WEST VIEW — Don't call it the WPIAL hangover.

The Seneca Valley girls soccer team entered the PIAA Class AAA playoffs Tuesday night sky high after a district run that resulted in a WPIAL title.

But the Raiders ran into a Mt. Lebanon team eager to prove it was the district's best.

The Blue Devils proved, at least on this frigid night at North Hills' Martorelli Stadium, that they were a bit quicker and a bit more opportunistic in a 2-0 win.

"They are a very good team, and I tried to convey that to the girls," said Seneca Valley coach Dave Sylvester. "But it's hard sometimes. This is high school. They were like, 'Hey. We won the WPIAL.'

"But I don't know if it was that. We played on Saturday, gave them Sunday off and had one day to prepare for the state playoffs on Monday. I wasn't happy with the way we practiced on Monday."

The coach wasn't happy with the first half, either.

Mt. Lebanon (17-2-2) scored the first goal of the night just 15 minutes into the match when Sarah Sharbaugh booted a shot that curled into the top right corner of the net from 25 yards out.

Less than five minutes later, Jillian Kochanek scored on a header off a perfectly placed corner kick from Hannah Sharbaugh to give Mt. Lebanon a two-goal lead.

The Blue Devils spent the rest of the night thwarting the few good scoring chances Seneca Valley could create.

"One goal might have jump started us a little bit," Sylvester said. "But, hey, that's the way it goes."

The Raiders (17-4-1), who came into the state playoffs with 11 goals in its four WPIAL tournament wins, had only 12 shots against a Mt. Lebanon team determined to be just as physical as its opponent.

"That was the most physical team we played all season, and I'd like to say we gave it right back," said first-year Mt. Lebanon coach Jeff Holliday. "As I was doing all my Google searches on Seneca Valley, I found a lot of people said that was their style, and we were going to be outmuscled. If there was one thing, I didn't want to walk away tonight saying we were physically outplayed."

Mt. Lebanon had several near misses to pad its lead even more in the second half.

Samantha Kovarik hit the cross bar on a shot that deflected off the outstretched hand of Seneca Valley goalkeeper Keara Lydon. Later, SarahSharbaugh had a shot clank off the right post.

Seneca Valley wasn't without its chances.

The Raiders had three early corner kicks that resulted in only one clean shot. They had other opportunities in the second half that misfired.

Lydon kept the Raiders in the game with 11 saves.

Mt. Lebanon appeared more rested. The Blue Devils hadn't played since Oct. 25 after losing to Upper St.Clair in the second round of the WPIAL playoffs.

Getting back into the state playoffs was a rebirth for the Blue Devils, Holliday said.

"They deserve to be where they are right now," Holliday said. "They deserve this."

The abrupt end to Seneca Valley's season left several Raiders in tears.

But Sylvester had a simple message for his team.

"We won the WPIAL. You have a gold medal," the coach said. "No one can take that away from you."