Making it to the state finals two years ago with a relatively young lineup, Moon Area was expected to be one of the top teams in WPIAL Class AAA girls' soccer last season.

However, injuries set the team back as the Tigers finished with a disappointing third-place section finish and a first-round exit from the WPIAL playoffs.

With a few of the players remaining from the dream season of two years ago, Moon re-emerged as one of the top teams, proving it with their recent run in the PIAA playoffs.

Moon lost, 2-0, to Downingtown West in the PIAA finals last Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium, the same team it lost to in the state title game in 2004.

However, long-time head coach Bill Pfeifer said he is proud of his team and the way it came back strong after last season's disappointments. Unlike two years ago when Moon was clearly outplayed, the Tigers got the better of the play this time against the Whippets despite arriving at the same disappointing result.

"We hit the cross-bar once and the post once and [the Whippets] scored on their first shot [25 minutes into the game]," Pfeifer said. "We outshot them and we led in corner kicks, 8-2. We had four or five [shots] cleared off the line by defenders. We played well enough to win. I just told our girls, it wasn't meant to be.

"Against Mt. Lebanon [a 1-0 PIAA semifinals win over the Blue Devils on Nov. 14], the breaks went our way. It's a funny game.

"Maybe we just used up all of our luck that game."

Moon finished the season 22-2-2 as the champions of the toughest section (4-AAA) in the WPIAL. The section produced three of the six PIAA qualifiers from the district in Moon, Mt. Lebanon and Hopewell.

Moon also brought home silver trophies for its second-place finish in the PIAA and the WPIAL. District 7 had 54 teams competing in Class AAA this year, by far the largest district for girls' fall soccer in the state.

"Going into the season, everybody was talking about Pine-Richland, Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon and nobody was really saying much about us, which was fine," Pfeifer said.

"We were an afterthought. We were mentioned [as a dark-horse contender] because of some of the kids we had back, but I don't think anybody expected much from us, WPIAL-wise and state-wise."

Pfeifer must say good-bye to high-caliber players who are graduating, led by midfielder Kathleen Caggiano (a Robert Morris recruit) and forward Megan Mischler (a West Virginia recruit).

Caggiano was Moon's top goal-scorer the past two seasons, finishing with 32 this year and 54 in her career. Caggiano did not go out for the team as a freshman.

Mischler was the top overall point-getter with 26 goals and 30 assists. She is also the Tigers' all-time leading goal-scorer, with 91. Both players earned all-state honors.

Also graduating will be midfielder Gracie Palucis, a Division I basketball recruit at Delaware. Palucis was a four-year soccer starter.

The other seniors leaving the program include forward Katie Michalski, defender Dawn Iams and Tayler Bolea and midfielders Kyra Hricik and Rachel Fasone.

Pfeifer said Moon could make another push for the PIAA final. The pieces are in place for the Tigers to be a top WPIAL contender for at least the next three seasons because of their strong freshman class.

This class is headed by forward Caroline Keefer who netted 10 goals and Mara Kricik, who started in goal as a ninth-grader.

The defense should be solid next season, led by juniors who started in the back: Alexis Miazgowicz and Jaimie Morsillo. Also playing solid defense were freshman Angela DeBlassio and sophomore Brittany Bizilla.

"From being at the state finals twice now, I know it takes a lot of kids coming together and not getting hurt," Pfeifer.

"To make it to the state championship game, there aren't too many teams that do that.

"I told our kids that Upper St. Clair had a run of four WPIAL titles in five years [1998 through 2002] and yet they never got to the state finals. We played a lot of good teams to get to the state finals.

"We didn't skip anybody once the WPIAL [playoffs] got started. Until you really look at it closely, I don't think too many people realize what a great job our kids did."