JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley junior midfielder Emily Cekella constantly brings energy. Coming off the bench, Cekella wants to maintain the same level of intensity everyone else brings.

But that changed her emotional approach.

Everyone on the Raiders' girls soccer team tries to stay even keel. They use an expression coach Dave Sylvester thinks he heard from Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. Before every game Sylvester asks his team, “The game what?”

“The game doesn't know it's important,” Cekella said. “We just go with the flow.”

So far, no one has been able to knock Seneca Valley out of its flow.

The Raiders (11-0, 9-0), who are the defending WPIAL Class AAA champions, have outscored their opponents 57-3 this season.

Cekella has a team-high 12 goals, followed by Sarah Anderson (10), Cassidy Testa (eight) and Kelsey O'Connor (seven).

“We're pretty good at crashing the net and getting shots on goal and making opportunities for each other,” Anderson said.

Focusing on the next challenge helps his team stay focused, Sylvester said.

“Last year was last year. Nobody cares,” Sylvester said. “Half of the teams probably don't even remember. This is this year and goals are obviously the same. We don't talk about winning when we prepare. We prepare to play the game.”

It helps that Sylvester can employ one of the most potent line changes in the WPIAL.

First, he hits teams with long stretches of attacking forwards Anderson and O'Connor.

Then he brings in the versatile Cekella to spell them.

“Having Emily off the bench is huge,” Sylvester said. “When you have Sarah running at you for 20 minutes, then have fresh legs with Emily. It's the same thing on the other side with Kelsey O'Connor.”

Cekella seldom plays in the same spot during her time at Seneca Valley.

“I've actually learned to play all the positions except goalie,” Cekella said.

That's come in handy.

Freshman year, she played defense.

For the past two years, Cekella's landing spot has put her primarily in the midfield.

One game this season, Sylvester asked Cekella to play forward.

She's always ready, because disappointing her teammates isn't an option.

“I'm just going in there to do my best, work my hardest and not let them down,” Cekella said. “I want to keep it all going. I go in for Sarah Anderson and I know she works hard before me.”

No one would complain with her energy this season.

“She understands the game is coachable and wants to play and be a part of the process,” Sylvester said.

Seneca Valley hopes that it can repeat last season's WPIAL title run.

The Raiders are hoping their mindset will push them toward Hershey.

“It's true. The game doesn't know we are playing a rival team,” senior midfielder Emily Wagner said. “It calms us down and we just play.”