Most WPIAL boys' soccer teams took note of who ranked where in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's preseason rankings.

The Mars Area boys were no exception.

The defending Class AA champion Planets were ranked No. 2 in their respective classification behind South Park.

"They weren't too happy about that," third-year Mars coach Chris Knauff said. "They are well aware of that type of stuff [rankings] and they use it as motivation.

"They want to be the top team and they also want to prove that they earned being the top team."

After going 8-2-2 in Section 2-AA last season, the Planets cruised through the Class AA playoffs and beat South Park, 3-2, in the WPIAL championship match. Mars finished the year with an 18-3-2 mark after losing to Susquehannock in a PIAA quarterfinal match.

South Park went 16-6-2 last season, finishing third in the WPIAL and lost to Thomas Jefferson in the PIAA quarterfinals.

"Last year wasn't that much of a surprise, especially since we made it to the state semifinal the year before," said Knauff, whose team went 21-4-1 in 2007 and finished third in the WPIAL before losing to Palmyra in the state championship game during his first season as the Planets' coach. "I knew we had the talent and the players last season.

"We had a lot of team chemistry and the guys played with confidence. I remember before that state playoff game, I walked over to the sideline and guys were joking around and having fun. They were like that all year; they were loose."

The Planets got off to the right start Saturday night by defeating Southmoreland in a 4-0 non-section victory. Senior forward/midfielder Ryan McKenzie netted a pair of goals for the Planets. Junior forward Yulian Lutsiv and junior defender/midfielder Tanner Panza also scored goals. Mars defeated Hampton, 5-3, Tuesday.

"At this point, we still have to figure out each person's role," Knauff said. "We have to see who goes where. We know we have talent, but we have to build up that chemistry we had last season.

"We also have to stay healthy. I'm not sure we have the same type of depth that we had last year."

McKenzie leads a crew of seven returning starters. He scored 20 goals last season and earned Post-Gazette All-North honors.

"He's a dynamic player," Knauff said. "He's certainly going to cause problems for a lot of teams who try to defend against him."

The Planets, though, are more than a one-man team.

Knauff returns a plethora of experience in Panza, senior All-WPIAL defender Jack Leslie, senior forward/midfielder Mike Page, junior midfielder Alex Perri and senior midfielder Chris Karns.

"We have some sturdy guys who are confident with the ball," said Knauff, a former player and Mars graduate who teaches business and computer technology at the high school. "They have some skill and quickness with the ball and play with confidence."

And Knauff certainly knows how far confidence can carry his team.

"They're a confident group," he said. "That's a good thing to have in your players. We have had talks about playing with confidence compared to playing arrogant.

"They know we have a long way to go and we have to earn our way into the playoffs and earn each win along the way. They're willing to put in the work."

That work will begin in Section 2-AA.

"There are a couple strong teams in the section," Knauff said. "It's always going to be a battle and we know that.

"Hampton, Knoch and Freeport should be solid, so it's going to be interesting this year."

Besides a solid section schedule, the Planets also will meet a pair of Class AAA opponents in Upper St. Clair and District 10's Erie Cathedral Prep during the Pine-Richland tournament starting tomorrow night at Pine-Richland.

Still, Knauff understands all of Class AA will be on the look out to knock off the defending WPIAL champions.

"Sure there's a target [on our backs]," he said. "We expect teams to be coming at us.

"They're going to come out playing physical with guns blazing, but we know we have to play to the best of our ability and give teams our best effort."