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Total Team Effort

Mars girls soccer united in perfect regular season

ADAMS TWP — A collective unselfish attitude has led to Mars’ decorated past in girls soccer. With the hopes for this year’s team resting on the shoulders of players in new roles, it has served the Planets well again.

A 14-0 record in the regular season earned for Mars the No. 1 seed in the WPIAL Class 3A playoff. The Planets host Laurel Highlands (8-8) in a first-round game at 7 p.m. Monday.

Mars has won eight district titles and four state crowns.

“We don’t have a player this year who does everything. It’s been a full team effort,” said Mars coach Blair Gerlach. “Everyone has to count on the players beside them.

“Nobody cares who scores the goals, all they are concerned with is the end result. That’s carried over from previous years.”

The Planets have allowed just one goal the entire season. It came against Hampton in late August. Since then, Mars goalies Kate McEnroe and Lily Goodworth have combined for 12 shutouts.

Rosie Pellegrino joins Ella Pierce, Julia Lishia and Meredith Ashbaugh as starters on defense.

“If a team doesn’t have the ball, it can’t score and we have the ball most of the time,” said Gerlach. “So it comes down to being safe with our distribution and we make teams play defense when they don’t want to play defense.

“When our defense is tested, we’ve done a good job of being group-oriented and organized. Kate is very good at being vocal and Lily has been solid when she’s in there.”

Seniors Addison Girdwood and Pellegrino have scored 14 and 12 goals, respectively, to lead the offense. Ashbaugh has added eight goals while Brynn Ramsey and Lily Wolf both have seven. Girdwood has totaled 20 assists.

Mars’ depth will certainly play a role in how far the Planets can go. Gerlach said in a tight game, he can call on up to 18 players to contribute.

“There’s not a big drop-off between our starters and top reserves,” he allowed.

Other players who were integral to the Planets’ unbeaten regular season include midfielders Ainsley Ray, Kayleigh Clark, Maeve O’Leary, Breanna Goerl and forward Jenna Caringola.

The other high seeds in the tournament include No. 2 Plum, No. 3 Moon and No. 4 Thomas Jefferson.

Moon defeated the Planets in last year’s WPIAL final and in the state semifinals.

“There’s a lot more parity than in years past,” Gerlach said. “South Fayette and Montour have very good teams, too. There will be a lot of matchups where, no matter who wins, it won’t be considered an upset.”

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