Mars boys soccer knocks out Penn-Trafford in WPIAL first round on Max Davis' 'incredible goal' years in the making
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The Mars soccer team celebrates after scoring a goal in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Mars soccer team celebrates their win as a Penn-Trafford goalkeeper sprawls on the field in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars forward Max Davis (30) celebrates after scoring a goal in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars midfielder Jacob Nymberg (7) attempts a shot on the goal in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars midfielder Frank Knezovich (26) chases the ball upfield in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars midfielder AJ Montes (12) passes the ball forward in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars forward Max Davis (30) reacts to a call by the referee in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars wins out over Penn-Trafford with a final score of 2-1 in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer game Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, at Mars Athletic Complex. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
ADAMS TWP — Mars’ Max Davis admitted he was so nervous it made him sick before Saturday afternoon’s WPIAL Class 3A first-round boys soccer playoff game.
He left with a highlight-reel goal that helped the No. 7 Planets beat No. 10 Penn-Trafford 2-1 and vault into the quarterfinals, where they’ll meet No. 2 Bethel Park on Wednesday at a site and time to be determined.
Logan Coone headed the ball toward Davis, who bicycle-kicked to deposit the team’s first goal of the day in the 38th minute.
“Maybe the best high school goal I’ve ever seen,” Mars coach Chris Knauff said afterward. “That was an incredible goal. He’s a player that he likes the flair. He’s gone for a couple of those this year and just missed. I’m happy that he was able to pull one off.”
It was a goal four years in the making. Davis said he’d “come so close so many times. A defender got in the way, a keeper saved it (or) it went over, it went wide.”
“I’ve been trying (in) so many games, and it finally happened in a playoff game,” Davis said. “It felt so nice. I was trying to go for a header, but I saw it was a little behind me, had to twist the body. Next thing I knew, I was in the corner celebrating. ... I’m gonna be watching that back so many times.”
Knauff admitted his high praise for the score was in part because it keeps his Mars coaching tenure going for at least one more match. He’s slated to call resign at the end of this season after recently picking up his 300th career victory.
“This is it — for now,” Knauff said. “I’m gonna step away for a little bit. ... There’s been some classics, but that is definitely one that I’ll remember.”
Penn-Trafford’s Lucas Slacker scored on a Dominick Daykon throw-in four minutes earlier, bringing up a play-from-behind situation Knauff knew was a possibility.
“A lot of nerves coming into this game, I think, because Penn-Trafford is a really good team,” Knauff said. “And 7-10 (matchups) are primed for upsets.”
“My coach says, ‘Bad players make excuses, and good players find a way,’” Davis said. “(We) had to find a way and brought it back.”
Davis connected with Coone for the go-ahead marker in the 51st minute.
“He played me the feed and he wanted it back,” Davis said. “I kinda took a bad touch, but I had to go around the guy. But I saw him running through, and I knew he doesn’t miss those.”
The Planets’ next opponent, Bethel Park, beat No. 15 Knoch 6-0 Saturday. The Black Hawks have scored a WPIAL Class 3A-high 72 goals this season.
