It is hard to tell what made the bigger difference -- 365 days or 10 minutes.

Last season as a freshman, Tyler Graziani started some games and scored six goals.

This year as a sophomore, Graziani does not start but rather, coach Kevin Amos usually inserts him into the game around the 10- or 15-minute mark. A sophomore forward, he scored 25 regular-season goals. He paced the team and ranked ninth in the WPIAL in goals scored during the regular season.

"The stats speak for themselves," Graziani said. "The game plan has worked."

That game plan, the unselfish nature of the entire team including Graziani and a multitude of scoring options are the main reasons why West Allegheny went from no playoffs a year ago to the WPIAL semifinals and possibly the PIAA playoffs this season.

The Indians had a 16-1-1 regular season record, including a 12-1-1 mark in Section 5-AA to win the section crown. In the playoffs West Allegheny blew past Belle Vernon Area, 4-1, in the first round and edged Center, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. They dropped a tough 2-1 decision to Hampton in a shootout (3-2) Tuesday night in the semifinals.

West Allegheny plays Chartiers Valley at 7:45 p.m. today at Shaler High School with a spot in the PIAA playoffs on the line.

Not every team has the luxury of being able to keep its leading goal scorer on the bench for an extended period of time at the beginning of the game. But Amos has a stable of players more than capable of starting and putting the ball in the back of the net.

The Indians three-headed scoring monster includes Graziani, Corey Cleric with 17 goals and Nick Kolarac with 20 goals and 30 assists.

"You want the other teams to key on Tyler because that will open up the other two," Amos said. "They are a lethal threesome. You really can't focus on one because it will open up the other two."

Senior Scott Stawiarski is also in the rotation up top with Graziani, Cleric and Kolarac. His play is a big reason Amos decides to start him before bringing on the younger Graziani. Stawiarski has also reached double figures in goals this season with 12.

"I am on a bunch of teams and usually it is just one guy who scores a bunch of goals," Kolarac said. "We have all these guys in double digits and that is huge."

The individual goal totals are not the only numbers inflated this year. As a team, the Indians more than doubled the entire scoring output from a year ago. After scoring 43 goals last season, West Allegheny exploded for 105 regular-season goals this autumn. Last season Kolarac was the leading goal-scorer with 15. That number would rank fourth best on the team this season.

"We have a nice opportunity to put players in and switch guys out," Graziani said. "We keep that fresh look because we always have new players out there."

During games sometimes Graziani has only had to wait five minutes to get in, sometimes it has been 20 minutes. He patiently waits on the bench but is always prepared when his name gets called.

"Tyler is a great talent and sometimes just to focus him a little more we keep him on the bench," Amos explained. "It is kind of like releasing a race horse."

West Allegheny's thoroughbred has thrived in his role, although he does admit it takes a little bit of patience.

"It requires patience but you get used to it," Graziani said. "Its patience but it is also understanding."

As hard as it may be to sit on the sidelines watching his team, Graziani knows the advantage he has when he takes the field with fresh legs.

"When you are not on for the first 15 minutes and the other defense was on for those 15 minutes, sometimes that is all it takes to beat someone and set up a goal or put the ball in the net," Graziani said.

"And then there are all the midfielders and the defense has been outstanding, we got a bunch of guys who can do damage."

Mike White's "High School Sports Edition" videos are featured exclusively on PG+, a members-only web site from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.