Opposing girls' soccer teams have been seeing triple when they play Penn-Trafford this season.

The PIAA Class AAA runners-up from a year ago returned three starters from last year's team, including forward Bethany Smyda. A junior, she is in the starting lineup along with her triplet sisters, Christy and Ashley. While they might be alike off the field, the three Smyda's all play drastically different positions on the field.

With Bethany up top at forward, Christy Smyda starts on defense at center fullback and Ashley Smyda is the goalkeeper. Playing together since they were 4 years old in different positions, the sisters never had to compete for positions against each other.

So far the Smyda triplets and the rest of the Warriors have fought through the adversity of high expectations, a plethora of early-season injuries, a season-opening loss and the loss of eight starters.

Penn-Trafford took a 10-0 Section 1-AAA record (11-3 overall) into yesterday's home match against Greater Latrobe.

Bethany Smyda scored the lone goal in a critical section game against Norwin on Sept. 22 that gave Penn-Trafford sole possession of first place in the section heading into the second half of the schedule.

"Definitely this season has been a real challenge," Christy Smyda said. "Everyone is out to get us because we went to states last year and a couple of our key players are injured right now.

"I think we can definitely make it back to the state playoffs. If we really pick it up and if we really want it, we can make it."

Junior forward Tricia Meehan and senior defender Courtney Ludwig are the other returning starters. Ludwig along with Christy Smyda anchored the defense before Ludwig dislocated her kneecap in a non-section game against top-ranked Moon Area on Sept. 11. She is out for at least a few weeks.

Junior midfielder Lindsey Doebler has also been battling injuries this year but she continues to contribute.

"We are going to need a couple more weeks to regroup and get back in shape," coach Achilles Vassilicos said.

"I am not alarmed yet; it is just midseason. My expectations were to reload, regroup and rebuild this team. I feel that I have a lot of talent here and I knew most of my starters would be younger players.

"We did a lot of work in the offseason and I was confident these players would do well and build a lot of experience."

Meehan, junior Jess Adams and Stephanie Smyda are the three strikers in Vassilicos' 4-3-3 formation. The scoring has not just been coming from the forwards, however.

Six different players scored goals in a 10-0 win against Derry Area and eight different players scored in a 10-0 win against Hempfield.

The defense, led by Ludwig and Christy Smyda playing in front of goalkeeper Ashley Smyda, had shut out seven opponents through 11 games.

Vassilicos scheduled games against Class AAA powers Peters Township, Moon and Seneca Valley. The deciding goal in the 1-0 loss to Seneca Valley came on a penalty kick awarded near the end of the game.

"We want to get as much experience as possible and that is why we schedule games against Moon and Seneca Valley," Vassilicos said.

"I think we are defensively solid, because we are a young team. Our size is a little bit on the small side but I am very pleased with the way we have played in our non-section games."

Last season, the Warriors bounced back from an 0-2 start and went unbeaten the rest of the regular season. They advanced to the WPIAL semifinals and then won three consecutive games in seven days to reach the PIAA Class AAA title game in Hersheypark where they lost to Conestoga, 2-0.

"Absolutely, teams are giving us all they got. We definitely have a target on our backs," Vassilicos said. "These teams are coming in and trying to handle us physically. They get up for these games. They get hyped up playing us and I consider that a positive thing.

"It gives us the opportunity to play tough games and get that experience."