For the first time since 2003, the WPIAL will be represented in all five PIAA soccer championship matches today at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey.

Here's a rundown for each classification (there is no Class A grouping for girls):

Class AAA boys

Peters Township has lost in the WPIAL championship match the past three years. In the previous two seasons, the Indians had a hard time putting the disappointing loss behind them and were unable to get past the quarterfinals in the PIAA tournament.

This year has been different. Peters coach Bob Dyer sees a resemblance to his 1998 team that advanced to the state final.

"Both teams had the ability to put the WPIAL loss behind them," Dyer said. "They rallied together, became a team again and focused on the state title rather than looking in the past."

In 1998, the Indians fell short of a state title against Downingtown, 1-0. Downingtown, which was a large school in the Philadelphia suburbs, has been split into East and West.

Peters will play Downingtown West at 7 p.m. in the final game today. Shane Pruitt and Patrick Russo lead a veteran Indians lineup.

Class AAA girls

In just his second year at Penn-Trafford High School, coach Achilles Vassilicos has his team in the state title game. The Warriors will play Conestoga (22-2-1), the District 1 champion at 5 p.m.

Vassilicos expects a defensive battle. Only twice this season has a team scored more than one goal against Penn-Trafford (21-3-1).

"There are so many games in a relatively short period of time, but, emotionally, we are ready. We are playing our best soccer right now," Vassilicos said.</p>

Class AA boys

It has been a long and interesting trip through the state tournament for Mars Area.

The Planets opened the PIAA bracket with a trip to Erie to play undefeated North East at Harborcreek High School. They came closer to home for a 1-0 overtime win against Center, the team that eliminated them from the WPIAL playoffs.

"That was the turning point when we beat North East. That was a very good team," Mars coach Chris Knauff said. "We were excited when the brackets came out because we were looking forward to getting another shot at Center.

"We didn't have our best game against them the first time and we thought they were beatable."

For the semifinals, Mars traveled to Hollidaysburg to face Susquehannock, a District 3 team.

The Planets now log their final miles to Hershey for a 2 p.m. game against another District 3 team, Palmyra (23-4). This will mark the first appearance in a state final for both.

Ryan McKenzie has led the Planets (21-3-1) with 17 goals. Their past six playoff games have all been decided by one goal.

"We've become accustomed to [the one-goal games] in the playoffs," Knauff said. "In a close game, we will find a way to win and we have so far."

Class AA girls

South Park (24-1-1) retained the WPIAL championship and is one game away from the school's first state title in girls' soccer. In the way is one of the most successful soccer programs in the state, Villa Joseph Maria (18-2-3). That school has seven state championships since 1996, including six wins in the state final over WPIAL teams.

Nicole Doria (32 goals), Brittany Pfaff (27) and Jessie Morgan (16) have been the Eagles' major scoring threats.

"I think it is important for us to set the tone of the match," Thropp said. "We need to continue to possess the ball. The speed of play will be important on that big field."

Class A boys

For Sewickley Academy (24-1-2), it seems strange to be playing a big match when the opposing team is not named Seton LaSalle.

The Panthers will face Camp Hill (21-5), the No. 1 seed out of District 3 at 10 a.m.

The Panthers last made it to the state finals in 2000, a 1-0 loss to Lewisburg, and they last won a state championship in 1997 as a Class AA school.