Two seasons ago, the Belle Vernon Area girls' soccer team won a section title for the first time in the program's history, according to coach Paul Sasko.

Last season, the Leopards won the school's first WPIAL girls' soccer playoff game.

"That was big," said Sasko, in his third year as coach. "Now it's time to take it a step further."

Should Belle Vernon follow its upward progression during Sasko's tenure, the Leopards have a few more "firsts" that might be attainable this fall.

At 7-1 and undefeated in Section 6-AAA play after a 4-0 win against Yough Wednesday, Belle Vernon appears well on its way to again breaking new barriers for the program.

"The past two years we won the section [title], so to win our third in a row, that's our first goal," Sasko said. "Even though we won our first playoff game last season, I'd like to take it a little further and win at least a couple playoff games, which then means we could make the [PIAA] playoffs, a goal we'd like to achieve.

"The first goal is to win the section, that's always the big thing. But once we get into the playoffs, we want to go deeper this year."

Belle Vernon was riding a seven-game winning streak and had only given up one goal in that time heading into Thursday's section match at Laurel Highlands. They were also scheduled to play a non-section match yesterday at home against Penn-Trafford.

That air-tight defense starts with junior goalkeeper Ashley Magruda, who has been an all-section selection in each of her varsity seasons.

"She's got offers from [Division I] schools already," Sasko said. "She's really exceptional."

She is aided by twin senior defenders Jenna and Jessica Biddle and senior Rachel Wurm-linger.

The Leopards have also displayed a strong offense, scoring an average of more than six goals per game during their seven-game winning streak. Cori Ashley led the WPIAL in goals last season as a sophomore and Sasko said she also has Division I colleges interested. After scoring 46 goals last season, Stark had four multiple-goal games already through Wednesday.

"She's an exceptional soccer player with great skills," Sasko said.

But Stark is not the only elite scorer the Leopards boast. Senior Aimee Radic had 25 goals last season and has earned all-section honors in each of her three varsity seasons.

"It's nice having big scorers and having a top goalkeeper," Sasko said. "Ashley's playing great. The whole team is playing well."

The only "downer" through eight games in terms of wins and losses came in the opener, when Peters Township, the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked team in WPIAL Class AAA, beat Belle Vernon, 6-1, on Aug. 31.

But instead of letting that loss demoralize it, Belle Vernon rebounded the next day for a 4-0 win against Chartiers Valley and had outscored their next seven opponents by a combined 43-1."

The Leopards have undergone a change in alignment and strategy this season. The Belle Vernon coaching staff switched from a 4-4-2 with a sweeper and stopper to a "flat 4" structure "about halfway through the Peters game," Sasko said.

"Especially with the personnel we have, this is probably our best chance at competing with the top teams in the playoffs," Sasko said.