They have been through plenty together, the 13 seniors on the Pine-Richland boys' soccer team.

As their time together winds down, they want to go out on top.

Typically, the Rams start eight seniors, and their contributions are as big a reason as anything why the team led Section 2-AAA going into the section finale last night.

Pine-Richland played Shaler Area last night and were in position to clinch the section title outright with a win or tie. A loss means the Rams would share the title with the Titans.

"There's leadership coming from all of the seniors," said defender Nick Scioscia, one of the team's captains. "It helps when there's so many guys who have been through it all. As sophomores with how far we made it and then being knocked out in the first round last year. We learned from both."

In 2007, the Rams were WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA semifinalists, but last season they went 1-3-1 in their final five games, including a 1-0 loss to Fox Chapel in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

This season, Pine-Richland seems to be going in the opposite direction as the postseason approaches. The Rams were unbeaten in their previous nine games (8-0-1) before last night.

"Things are starting to click for us at the right time," Scioscia said.

The team's other co-captains are goalkeeper Nick Donnelly and midfielder Steve Trempus. Donnelly is in his third season as a starter, and Trempus and Scioscia are both in their second season as starters.

Other seniors who start are defenders Trevor Ditmore and Brett Boyle, midfielder Martin Hoberman and forwards Josh Rogers, Josh Dee and Brian Jones.

Goal prevention has been Pine-Richland's strong point. The team had allowed only nine goals in its 14 games before last night -- more than one in a contest only twice -- and had seven shutouts.

Five of the Rams' nine victories have been by 1-0 scores.

"We've really done a great job defensively, not letting up many goals," Rams coach Jon Conner said. "We also haven't scored that many. But, if you defend well and don't give up any, you only need one goal. We've been good at winning that way throughout the year."

Conner said Ditmore has stepped into the back line and done an admirable job. Boyle is in his first season with the team after transferring from a school in Michigan and has been a strong addition.

Donnelly provides a steadying veteran influence as goalkeeper.

Key contributors among the underclassmen have been midfielders Mike Rios and Mark Leibensberger and freshman Mike Jones, Brian's younger brother who had a recent game-winning goal.

Rios has been a force from the midfield.

"His work rate and his passion for the game are just amazing," Conner said.

"He just looks like he's having a whole lot of fun every time he plays a soccer game. He works hard; he's a workhorse for us."

Pine-Richland, in effect, added a high-caliber performer to its lineup last week.

Sophomore midfielder Drew Klingenberg had not played all season due to injury. He is the brother of Meghan Klingenberg, one of the top WPIAL girls' soccer players of all time who now plays at the University of North Carolina.

The Rams are ranked No. 7 by the Post-Gazette in WPIAL Class AAA and see themselves as a contender for the WPIAL title.

"One of our goals was to be in contention at the end of the year," Conner said.

"We're in a position where we're not comfortable, but, instead, we want to keep that edge and the mental focus through to the end of the year, which is going to help us into the playoffs."

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