WPIAL lacrosse: Mars girls, led by Katie Blake’s 4 goals, pops Blackhawk to get back to Class 2A final
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Mars celebrates after beating Blackhawk in a WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' goalie Ella Roach (35) celebrates with Katie Blake (6) after beating Blackhawk in a WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Katie Blake (6) takes a penalty shot against Blackhawk in a WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' goal Ella Roach (35) stops a shot by Blackhawk's Tori Ceriani (11) in a WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Hailey Long (3) shows her excitement after scoring a goal against Blackhawk in a WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' coaches, from left, Todd Fuller, Abby Latona and Mara Fuller, shout in celebration after beating Blackhawk in a WPIAL Class 2A girls lacrosse semifinal game Monday, May 19, 2025, at North Hills High School. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
WEST VIEW — Playing for a WPIAL championship has become a habit for Mars girls lacrosse. The mentality that comes with such consistency undoubtedly played a role in the Planets getting back to the district final for a fifth straight season.
Mars earned an early lead — Hailey Long scored just 42 seconds into the game — and the Planets never trailed in defeating Blackhawk 13-8 in Monday’s Class 2A semifinal at Martorelli Stadium.
Mars stymied the Cougars’ momentum a number of times during the game.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy game. We relied on our poise and skill, tried to take time off the clock after we got a decent lead,” Mars coach Abby Latona said.
The Planets (18-1) gave themselves valuable breathing room by outscoring Blackhawk 4-0 in the second quarter and led 9-3 at halftime.
Sophomore midfielder Katie Blake began the run with a score 2:16 into the period. She scored twice more before the half and finished the game with four goals.
“We brought more energy in that quarter,” Blake said. “It was a changed attitude. We knew we had to open up a gap, that’s how we win games.”
Anna McGrath added a goal late in the second quarter.
“It started with winning draws,” Latona said. “You get a lot of momentum from that.”
The Cougars responded with three goals in the third — two from Andrea Kinger and one from Ava Pagani — but none came consecutively. Sisters Tess McGrath and Anna McGrath scored in between Blackhawk’s tallies.
Mars goalie Ella Roach made three of her eight saves in the fourth quarter.
“She did a great job of tracking balls and is the backbone of our defense,” Latona said. “I’m so proud of her.”
Anna McGrath joined Blake in scoring four times. Long and Tess McGrath scored twice, and Lucy Balazs found the net once.
Pagani scored four goals to pace Blackhawk while Emily Gawley had three saves in net.
The Planets will face Chartiers Valley, which beat Quaker Valley 10-8, for the district title either Wednesday or Thursday at Upper St. Clair High School. Mars will be playing for its third straight WPIAL title and fourth in five years.
“We know what to expect from our coaches,” Blake said. “We’re a team with a lot of sophomores, so we have a new look, but the coaches have our backs.”
