After a postseason of sneaking under the radar and surprising some teams last season, Mars finds itself front and center on everyone's radar this year.

The defending WPIAL champions headed into these playoffs as the top overall seed, section champions and the Post-Gazette's No. 1-ranked Class AA team.

Mars started the playoffs much like it closed out the regular season. It shut out Indiana, 4-0, Monday and advanced to the second round to take on Southmoreland (14-3-1) at 3 p.m. tomorrow at Mt. Lebanon.

A year ago, the Planets were in a much different position. A second-place finish in the section was followed by a No. 6 seed. On top of that Mars had never won a WPIAL title before.

What some people might consider pressure, Mars' coach Chris Knauff hopes is actually confidence.

"I don't think the pressure is there," he said. "I think this is a confident group. They kind of go into every game expecting to play well and that they are going to win."

And they have won all but one game. Mars finished the regular season 17-1, the lone setback was a 2-0 loss to Class AAA power Upper St. Clair at the Pine-Richland tournament, Mars' fourth game of the season.

The Planets responded with 15 consecutive wins, only three of which were decided by fewer than three goals.

With the dominating stretch to close the season, Mars actually might become a victim of its own success. Close games have not been on the agenda for this regular season. Last season in the postseason, the Planets played four consecutive one-goal games to close out the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs.

"It does worry me," Knauff said of the repeated blowouts.

"I think that last year we were a little bit better prepared. We had done all the close games and saw the excellent competition. This year I am still not sure if we are just playing that well or if our opponents are a little bit weaker. I am sure we will have some close games in the playoffs and we are not used to that."

With the way Mars has played lately, it is tough to imagine it being involved in a close game. In its last eight regular-season games, Mars outscored its opponents, 52-1.

"I was especially happy with the last half of the season," Knauff said. "We just were more dominant. I think we played better defensively. All around we played more complete games the second half of the season."

Senior forward Ryan McKenzie has been one of the top goal scorers in the WPIAL during his career. He led the team with 30 regular-season goals.

It is the defense, though, that has most impressed Knauff. Senior four-year starter Jack Leslie has been the top defender for the Planets.

"He is an amazing defender and he really controls the field in front of him," Knauff said.

"As a defense we are giving up very few shots. We are not letting the opponent get into our third of the field. We are playing most of the games in the offensive half and really limiting shots."

Leslie started at left back his freshman year before moving to center back. Leslie and senior Tanner Panza are the most experienced defenders. They are two of the eight senior starters who have as much postseason experience as any players in the WPIAL.

"[Playoff experience] is a huge advantage," Leslie said. "We know what it's like to be in a playoff atmosphere, and how important every minute of the game is."

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