Chasing a Title
HAMPTON TWP — The Mars girls lacrosse team has its eyes on the prize — a WPIAL championship.
Three wins will earn the crown for the Planets and they had no problem getting the first Thursday night.
Sophomore midfielder Charlotte Stamper scored eight goals as Mars rolled past Aquinas Academy, 19-5, in a Class 2A quarterfinal at Hampton's Fridley Field.
The Planets (11-3) received a first-round bye and entered the playoffs after losing their final two games of the regular season at the hands of Mt. Lebanon and Shady Side Academy.
“Both of those teams are Triple-A and that prepared us,” said Mars coach Monica Ewansik. “The girls are ready to play, hungry for a WPIAL playoff run. We want to take it all.”
Mars will face Hampton, a 17-10 winner over Quaker Valley, in a semifinal Monday.
The Planets built a 6-1 lead less than 12 minutes into the game, with three of the scores coming from Stamper.
Aquinas answered with back-to-back goals from Patricia Blume to cut its deficit to 6-3, but the next 10 goals, which were scored in a span that lasted five minutes into the second half, belonged to the Planets.
“We've progressed this year on being patient, when to go to the net,” Stamper said. “Our settling and cutting were really good tonight.”
Despite being an underclassman, Mars' offense has relied heavily on Stamper.
“She lost her freshman season last spring, but is coming out of her shell,” Ewansik said.
Zoey Krock scored three goals in the victory. Teammates McKenna Merritt and Lydia Toparli scored two apiece.
Mars goalie Alaina Metal stopped eight shots, including two after the Crusaders were awarded free position.
Jules Tambellini had four saves for the Crusaders, who had defeated South Fayette, 13-9, in a first-round playoff Tuesday.
Ewansik said she is confident with Metal in net and referred to senior Carly Kern as “the keystone” of the team's defense. She also lauded the play of defender Mackenzie Newman.
“The team chemistry is very strong,” Stamper said. “We all know what each other is doing and what's coming next.”
Also scoring for the Planets were Mya Cote, Grace Wu, Kellen Fletcher and Kelsie Patterson.
Isabella Hite joined Blume in scoring twice for Aquinas.
