All business
ADAMS TWP — Mars sophomore Tori Kopchak is ready to start preparing for the playoffs.
The Planets capped their fifth straight unbeaten Section 2-AA campaign with a 3-1 win over Knoch Wednesday night at the Mars Athletic Complex.
“It was a good practice game for the playoffs,” Kopchak said. “Knoch is a very good team and they bring a lot of aggressiveness toward us.”
While Mars (14-3, 12-0) had already clinched the section crown Monday, coach Blair Gerlach expected the Planets to be ready to win.
“I think it’s important for momentum,” Gerlach said. “Knowing we can score a couple of goals every time we step on the field is a good feeling for them. It’s a confidence-builder.”
Sabrina Edwards put Mars ahead nine minutes in, lobbing a shot from around 15 yards out over Knights’ keeper Bailey Gizienski. Kopchak scored the second off a header with 11 minutes left in the first half.
“We had to shut No. 3 (Edwards) and No. 7 (Kopchak) down, their two most dangerous players and we didn’t do that,” Knights coach Rich Kenzie said. “After Bailey went down, I think it rallied us a little bit. I thought we had a balance of the play after that.”
Gizienski was injured after she played a shot in the box. She was down on the field for several minutes before an ambulance was called in to take her to the hospital.
Kenzie said they aren’t 100 percent sure what the injury is.
“She’s alert and sitting up, so she’s OK,” Kenzie said.
In the second half, the Planets continued to attack.
Judy Kahn connected inside the box to give Mars a 3-0 lead.
“We put good passes and through balls together,” Kopchak said. “I thought we played well tonight.”
Knoch (11-6, 8-4) scored with 12:18 remaining. Kaelyn Oskin scored after Maddie Abriatis had a shot parried away.
“We just kept pressuring them and try to play to feet,” Kenzie said. “Finally, we got through. In the past, we had one or two shots on goal. Tonight, we had four good shots on goal.”
Oskin also hit a solid free kick in the 88th minute that had to be turned away.
Gerlach said he was looking to get some rest for his team in the second half.
“The wheels kind of fell off the last 10 minutes when we made a couple of subs to rest the players at 3-0,” Gerlach said. “We ended up giving up a goal, fair enough. Our big focus is making sure we’re healthy entering the playoffs.”
Both teams have qualified for the playoffs and have non-section opponents left before the playoffs start.
While the game wouldn’t have impacted Mars in the standings, Kopchak wanted the Planets to approach it like a playoff game.
“It was really important for us to get out of section with no losses,” Kopchak said.
