Is it defending champions that you want?

Section champions?

A top-ranked team?

Darkhorses?

Butler County features them all in the upcoming WPIAL soccer playoffs. The boys and girls teams from Butler, Seneca Valley, Mars, Freeport and North Catholic will all be vying for postseason glory.

Mars' girls (14-0-1) are the county's lone top seed and will open up the playoffs at 8 p.m. Monday at home in a Class 3A first-round game against the winner of Thursday's play-in matchup between Trinity and Laurel Highlands.

The Planets felt the sting of losing in the district final the last two years. Mars coach Blair Gerlach doesn't see those defeats having an effect, good or bad, on his current team.

“I don't think things like that carry over,” he said. “Getting to the WPIAL final proves you belong there. It's just a matter of completing the run once you get there.”

Seeds two through four include Plum, West Allegheny and Oakland Catholic, which defeated Mars for the title last year.

“Our section is strong, but I think there's a lot of parity throughout the whole league,” said Gerlach. “This time of the year, it comes down to a few things — weather, execution and who gets the bounce. If it goes against you, you have to fight back.”

Mars features a scoring duo most teams struggle against in forward Taylor Hamlett (25 goals) and midfielder Ellie Coffield (20).

Gracie Dunaway has added 10 goals while anchoring a strong defense.

Junior goalkeeper Courtney Lisman is in her first year as a starter, but has gained valuable experience outside of the high school team.

“She hasn't been all that busy,” Gerlach said, “but has been up to the test when asked.”

Mars' boys are also very capable of making a run. The second-seeded Planets (16-1-1) will face a familiar opponent in a 3A first-round game at 8 p.m. Saturday when Ambridge visits the Mars Athletic Complex.

The Planets defeated the Bridgers, 2-1 in overtime, in Tuesday's regular-season finale.

“You do the math and have a pretty good idea of who you might draw in the first round,” said Mars coach Chris Knauff. “I thought we might see them again.”

Ambridge (8-8-2) has struggled mightily since the calendar turned to October and is winless (0-4-2) in its last six games. But Knauff is not taking the Bridgers lightly.

“Overall, they're a solid team and have a couple guys with really good speed.”

The Planets have all the ingredients to still be playing in November.

“So far, so good,” said Knauff. “Our first goal every season is to win our section and we did that. But now it's time to forget that and focus on what's ahead of us.”

Seneca Valley's boys and girls are both defending WPIAL champions in Class 4A.

In the boys' case, coach George Williams is hoping a late-season swoon is behind his team.

The Raiders (13-3-1) went just 1-2-1 in their final four section games, though they were crowned section champions.

“We needed to score more and hopefully, our win over Bethel Park (8-0 non-section victory on Tuesday) got us back on track,” he said. “And we can't give up the sloppy goals.”

SV, seeded third, earned a bye and will play Wednesday against the Norwin/Baldwin winner.

Luke Rupert stars up front with 17 goals and eight assists. Justin Stopar leads a solid defense in front of goalie Adam Davies.

“In some ways, we do feel like the team to beat (after winning last year), but we are not perfect,” said Williams. “We've been successful, but it hasn't been easy.”

In a No. 5 vs. 12 matchup, SV's girls (11-3-2) will meet Canon-McMillan (12-6) at 8 p.m. Monday at NexTier Stadium.

“I'm a little surprised that's who we drew,” said SV coach Mark Perry. “They're a really good team from a really good section.

“(Class) 4A has so many quality teams, I think there's going to be a lot of close games.”

Perry is confident his team will be up to that challenge.

“We've been pretty balanced this year,” he said. “No one area of the team has had to carry us.”

Following are the other WPIAL soccer playoff matchups involving Butler County teams.

Class 4A

Boys — No. 10 Connellsville (12-6) at No. 7 Butler (12-5-1), 2 p.m., Saturday

Girls — No. 10 Connellsville (12-4) at No. 7 Butler (11-4-1), 8 p.m., Monday

Class 2A

Boys — No. 7 North Catholic (12-3-2) vs. No. 10 Elizabeth Forward (8-8-1), 2 p.m., Saturday at Norwin

No. 8 Keystone Oaks (11-1-1) vs. No. 9 Freeport (11-5-2), 6 p.m., Saturday at Mars

Girls — No. 8 Freeport (14-4) vs. No. 9 Waynesburg (10-6), 6 p.m., Monday at Plum

No. 2 North Catholic (11-4) received a bye into the quarterfinals and will next play Oct. 24 against the winner of Monday's game between Steel Valley and Brownsville.