Mars boys soccer breaks Indiana’s defense in crucial WPIAL win, keeps Planets in thick of section race

October 01, 2024 Last Updated: October 01, 2024 11:10 PM Sports

Mars Zack Angoff kicks the ball past Indiana’s Samuel Knepper to score his second of two goals to clinch a 3-1 win in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars’ Sean Scanlon heads the ball during a boys soccer game on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars’ Zack Angoff (14) and Luca Duerring (11) celebrate after Angoff scores his second goal against Indiana to clinch a 3-1 win in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle

Mars’ Sean Scanlon heads the ball during a boys soccer game on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle

Mars Zack Angoff kicks the ball past Indiana’s Samuel Knepper to score his second of two goals to clinch a 3-1 win in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Sean Scanlon heads the ball during a boys soccer game on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Zack Angoff (14) and Luca Duerring (11) celebrate after Angoff scores his second goal against Indiana to clinch a 3-1 win in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Sean Scanlon heads the ball during a boys soccer game on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars Zack Angoff kicks the ball past Indiana’s Samuel Knepper to score his second of two goals to clinch a 3-1 win in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars’ Zack Angoff (14) and Luca Duerring (11) celebrate after Angoff scores his second goal against Indiana to clinch a 3-1 win in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle
Mars defeated Indiana 3-1 in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at Mars Athletic Complex. Photog/Butler Eagle

ADAMS TWP — Indiana has proved to be a very tough out in the WPIAL boys soccer circuit this season — unbeatable, in fact, except when it has faced Mars.

The Planets scored the final three goals Tuesday to defeat the Little Indians 3-1 at Mars Athletic Complex. The only other loss for Indiana (11-2, 8-2) was a 3-2 double overtime defeat to Mars in early September. The two teams are currently the best Section 1-3A has to offer.

“They’re a good team with dangerous forwards,” Mars coach Chris Knauff said of the Indians. “We were able to keep possession for much of the game. Indiana was forcing us into a lot of shots from a distance. They were playing a bend-but-don’t-break defense and it worked in the first half.”

Second half, not so much.

Clinging to a 1-0 lead after Russell Crane’s goal in the 38th minute, the Indians surrendered three goals in the span of 14 minutes, 20 seconds of the second half.

Mars senior forward Zack Angoff tallied his team’s first goal when Indiana was unable to clear the ball past a line of Planet players 30 yards from the net. His shot sailed past Indiana goalie Charlie Manzi in the 56th minute.

Three minutes later, it was Miles Frazier putting the hosts up 2-1.

Mars’ persistence had paid off. In the first half, the Planets forced Manzi to make nine saves, but only two of them required him to leave his feet.

The scoring was capped when Angoff beat Manzi on a breakaway in the 70th minute.

“We knew they were going to play a 4-4-2 and we had to go right at them and attack it,” Angoff said.

Manzi stopped 11 shots in all. His counterpart, Mars’ Eli Stasiowski, had six saves.

Indiana was awarded four corner kicks in the second half, but each was gobbled up by Stasiowski or the host of Planets in front of the net.

The Planets improved to 9-1-3 overall and 7-1-2 in section play.

“We haven’t scored as much as we’d like to,” Knauff said. “We’ve given up only (five) goals all season and have relied a lot on our defense.”

Mars entered the WPIAL playoffs last year as the No. 6 seed before falling to Franklin Regional in the first round. The Planets are seeking a longer stay in the postseason in 2024.

“We are moving the ball well in the midfield, but we need to do a better job of finishing when we get scoring opportunities,” Angoff said.

Mars hosts Obama Academy on Thursday.