Good boxers hit hard.

Championship boxers hit hardest after getting hit.

The personality of the Upper St. Clair boys' soccer team matches the latter description in more ways than one.

After yielding a second-half goal that tied the WPIAL Class AAA final, Upper St. Clair collected itself, shook off the blow and delivered one of its own 1:08 later to grab the lead. Upper St. Clair tacked on an insurance goal and went on win, 3-1, and capture the fifth WPIAL title in school history. It remained perfect, as well, improving to 23-0.

While opportunities against the Panthers don't arise often, Chartiers Valley capitalized on one with 35:27 remaining in the second half, scoring the first goal against the Panthers in the postseason to make it 1-1. After Adam Gazda's direct kick glanced off a wall of Panthers defenders, the Colts' Brian Braithwaite knocked in the rebound, and the Panthers found themselves in an uncharacteristic second-half tie.

The Upper St. Clair counterpunch came quickly, as Scott Dillie scored the winner -- his 13th goal of the season -- on a free kick from 31 yards away.

"I just tried to hit it low and hard and found the corner," Dillie said. "That was my biggest goal of the year. I wasn't trying to pass the ball, I was shooting it. I was trying to put it in because we needed a goal, and I felt like I had to step up and get it."

Mitch Minerd added an insurance goal with 11:56 remaining to push the score to 3-1.

The Colts fell short while trying to achieve the monumental task of defeating three unbeaten teams in the same week. Having knocked off previously unbeaten Hampton and Baldwin in its past two games, Chartiers Valley could not add a third victim to the list. Then again, no one has been able to beat Upper St. Clair this season.

Ranked No. 1 in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas poll, the Panthers have given up just eight goals all season.

"There's no argument they're a very good team," Colts coach Mike Blatz said. "Our guys did things to frustrate them. But, for Upper St. Clair to come back like that is a big to-do. It really is."

The Panthers will begin their quest toward a second consecutive PIAA title when they play Allderdice in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Tuesday. Chartiers Valley also is part of the PIAA field and will play State College Tuesday.