The Mars Area girls know firsthand the struggles a third-place team faces in the WPIAL soccer playoffs.

So a second-place finish in the section was a goal the team established this season, but for Mars, a school that pales in size comparisons to its section rivals, that was easier said to done.

Even against tall odds, it was the Planets clinching a second-place finish in Section 2-AAA after a win at Knoch in the regular-season finale. Mars, a school that will graduate 206 seniors this year, competes in a section with seven other schools, six of whom compete in Class AAAA in football. Mars is a Class AAA team in football.

Next season the WPIAL is expected to add a Class A girls' classification, and Mars is expected to drop to Class AA. But while in Class AAA, the Planets still plan on making some noise.

Mars wrapped up its second season in Section 2-AAA with a 10-3-1 section record and an overall mark of 14-3-1.

"It is really hard because the other teams in our section are twice as big as us [size-wise]," senior defender Erin Resosky said. "Our team is not that deep but we are fortunate enough to have a lot of good skill players. It is really tough going into games because the girls are twice as big as us but winning is twice as great."

Last season, Mars had a similar record in the section, finishing 9-4-1 but that was only good for third place, behind Seneca Valley and North Allegheny. The third-place finish brought with it a tough seed that included a preliminary game that Mars won, and a first-round date with eventual WPIAL champion, Mt. Lebanon.

"We made the playoffs last year but we kind of sneaked in," said third-year girls' coach Blair Gerlach, who previously coached the Mars' boys.

"We had hoped to make the playoffs again this year. We said it would be great to make it in as a second-place team, a solid way to get in rather than by the skin of our teeth."

A playoff spot -- let alone a second-place finish -- seemed like a long shot after a 2-2 section start. But much like last season when Mars won six consecutive games to close out the regular season, the Planets caught fire at the right time once again winning their last seven regular-season games.

Before that stretch started, Mars lost a game to section champion Seneca Valley, but that loss may have been just as important as any win. Mars forced the unbeaten Raiders to overtime on the road before losing, 2-1. Then four days later in a critical section game with second place up for grabs, Mars rebounded from an earlier loss to North Allegheny with a 3-0 win against the Tigers.

"I think right now the confidence is high," Gerlach said. "They feel really good about their chances."

Although Mars has the smallest female enrollment in the section, it does boast a roster of 32 girls, 24 of whom play soccer year-round on various club teams. Gerlach, a coach for the Northern Steel club team, knows the dedication it takes to compete in soccer throughout the year.

"A lot of our players put in more than your average amount of time and energy," Gerlach said. "They were excited about the challenge to play in this section. It is good soccer everyday. Every game you play is going to be a one- or two-goal game. You don't have any blowouts."

If this is Mars' last season in Class AAA, it picked a good group with which to go through the season. The Planets are one of the more experienced teams in the WPIAL with nine returning starters from a year ago. In addition to the nine returning starters, Gerlach also has the "good problem" of underclassmen challenging for starting spots.

Senior forward Lexi Mastro leads the team with 10 goals and a sophomore forward, Kristen McKenzie is second on the team with eight goals. McKenzie is the younger sister of the Mars' boys leading scorer, Ryan McKenzie.

Another sophomore, Crysta Gantar, has also scored eight goals. The offensive outburst from Gantar may have been unexpected a year ago as she was only a part-time starter, but it was evident almost immediately that she would be an offensive force this season.

Gantar scored five of her team's first seven goals this season.

"Crysta all of a sudden came out and started the season on fire," Gerlach said. "She is aggressive, good in the air and tenacious. She is constantly on the ball and she has been an impact player this year. We have some offensive power in our sophomore class."

The offensive firepower has been there consistently but the defense has also shut out seven opponents. Three returning starters returned from the back four.

"Our defense is the best it has been in a really long time," Resosky said.

Erica Sullivan, Sarah Williams and Resosky started last season together on the defense and have been playing together since they were 10. Freshman Jordyn White joins the senior trio on defense.

Junior Meghan Kelly has held the goalkeeper position since taking over midway through her freshman year.

Mars Area's Erica Sullivan, right, has been a stalwart on defense for the Planets for the past two seasons. Here, she battles Mt. Lebanon's Audrey Cillo for a loose ball in a match last year.

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