Mars girls lacrosse continues regular-season dominance with blowout win over Moon

March 27, 2026 Last Updated: March 27, 2026 10:07 PM Sports

Mars’ Jenna Smith (12) and Tess McGrath (28) battle for possession of the ball from Moon in a girls lacrosse game Friday, March 27, 2026, at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

ADAMS TWP — The Mars Planets didn’t sweat.

In the regular season, players on the girls lacrosse team rarely do.

Aside from it being chilly and windy at its home stadium, Mars’ Tess McGrath dented the scoreboard just 9 seconds into Friday night’s non-conference clash with Moon. The three-time defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Planets never looked back as Katie Blake netted a team-best five goals, Lucy Balazs another four and McGrath three in a 14-1 win.

“We haven’t seen Moon in a couple of years, so we just really wanted to keep the momentum and really use all the depth that we have, move the ball really quickly because they were kinda sitting on the eights,” Mars coach Abby Latona said afterward. “So we really just wanted to use all of our sets, our plays and be able to execute it.”

The Planets (3-0) have won their first three games — including another home fixture against Peters Township and away at Sewickley Academy — by a combined 62-6 count.

“We haven’t lost anyone from last year, so our team chemistry is really good,” said Blake, a junior. “I just think our quick ball movement and our knowledge of what we all like to do helps us a ton. We all know who likes to drive, who likes cuts, who likes all that kinda stuff — and that’s what really gets us open.”

Mars' Tess McGrath (28) passes the ball to a teammate against Moon in a girls lacrosse game 14-1 Friday, March 27, 2026, at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Mars is 52-4-1 in regular season competition since the beginning of the 2023 season.

“We really treat every practice as a way to get better and compete and push each other,” Latona said. “And I think, when you do that on a daily basis, we come into games confident in our skill and can bring it to other teams.”

“When we know that we have a game the next day, we’re still going 100% because we’re getting some of the best competition just out of our own teammates,” Blake said. “That’s how we push each other.”

McGrath polished off her hat trick with 9:28 remaining in the second frame. Blake joined in on the fun 3:14 later on a free position opportunity.

“I feel like I was connecting a little bit more on cuts than I normally do, so that really helped,” Blake said. “The first quarter wasn’t the best for me, so the second quarter I realized that my speed could have helped me. That’s when I started to pick it up.”

Junior Hailey Long had the Planets’ other two scores. Blake added three assists. The visiting Tigers (1-2) didn’t score until a minute remained in the contest.

Mars’ Jenna Smith (12) and Tess McGrath (28) battle for possession of the ball from Moon in a girls lacrosse game Friday, March 27, 2026, at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Mars Katie Blake (6) picks up a loose ball in a girls lacrosse game against Moon Friday, March 27, 2026, at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw

Mar’s Katie Blake (6) looks for an opening to pass the ball against Moon in a girls lacrosse game Friday, March 27, 2026, at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Rob McGraw