The task is a tall one, but Rich Kenzie feels his players are ready for the challenge.

Knoch's girls soccer coach will lead the seventh-seeded Knights into a WPIAL Class AA first-round playoff against defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Central Valley at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mars Athletic Complex.

“They are going to be a tough opponent,” Kenzie said. “They play a similar style to Mars. Our last few practices have been good and the girls are playoff-ready. We'll give it our best shot.”

Central Valley went a perfect 23-0 in capturing a district and state title a season ago, but the Warriors hit a few bumps in the road this season while compiling an 11-4-2 record. They placed third in Section 3 behind Montour and Hopewell and enter the postseason as the No. 10 seed.

“The regular season was a little disappointing for us,” admitted Central Valley coach Mark Perry, “but we've been playing well the last few weeks.

“We thought we might draw Knoch in the first round and we had somebody scout them for us,” he added. “They have some good players.”

That group includes junior forwards Kaelyn Oskin and Marley Gordon, who have combined to score 31 goals this season to pace the Knights' attack.

Oskin leads the team with 18 goals and Gordon has added 13.

Senior Sage Robertson and sophomore Lauren Betts were just named All-Section defenders.

Kenzie plans on starting freshman Becca Stockert in net.

“She was out for about three weeks with a sprained ankle and (freshman) Bailey Gizienski played well in her place,” he said. “Becca has a little more experience and that's why we're going with her.”

After scoring 40 goals as a freshman last year, Central Valley midfielder Carolina Lucci has been hampered by injuries and has totaled just 14 scores.

“But she's getting healthy,” said Perry. “Her speed and ability to score are incredible. Having her back makes us a much more dangerous team.”

As Kenzie sees it, containing Lucci is the key to advancing to the quarterfinals.

“Teams have had success against them when they are able to shut her down,” he said.

Injuries have also caused a rotation in goal for the Warriors. Juniors Lauren Hamilton and Robyn Hampe and freshman Jackie Smith have all seen time in net.

“All three are healthy now and it's going to be a game-time decision as to who starts,” related Perry, who said that Hamilton was the starter in the WPIAL and PIAA title games last year.

The Warriors returned eight starters from their decorated 2013 campaign and Perry believes that gives his team an advantage.

“We played eight playoff games last season,” he said. “Especially in the next couple of rounds where if you lose, you're done, we've faced that pressure.”

Following are preview capsules for the seven other WPIAL soccer playoff teams in Butler County:

<B>Class AAA</B>Connellsville (10-7) at Seneca Valley (15-2)8 p.m., MondayStanding: Connellsville finished in a third-place tie in Section 1 with Latrobe and Hempfield with a 4-6 record; Seneca Valley won its second straight Section 2 crown with a record of 11-1.Streaks: Connellsville's boys soccer program dates back to the late 1990s. This is the Falcons' first-ever playoff appearance. They enter the postseason on a four-game winning streak; Seneca Valley has now qualified for the playoffs seven straight seasons.Butler (10-6-2) at Penn-Trafford (12-2-1)8 p.m., MondayStanding: Butler tied for third place in Section 2 with North Hills with a 6-5-1 record; Penn-Trafford won Section 1 with a mark of 9-0-1.Stats: Butler — Anthony Werth 15 goals, 10 assists; Paul James 7 goals, 3 assists; Adam Voelker 9 shutouts in goalStreaks: Butler's late-season three-game section winning streak against Pine-Richland, Shaler and North Hills vaulted it into the playoffs; The Warriors began the season 11-0 before going 1-2-1 in their last four contests.Speaking: “Our first meeting with Seneca Valley (a 5-0 loss Sept. 20), we got our butts handed to us,” said Butler coach Troy Mohney. “Since then, the guys have really picked things up and have played well.”<B>Class AA</B>Trinity (12-3-3) vs. Knoch (12-5)at Mars6 p.m., MondayStanding: Trinity placed second in Section 6 at 8-1-3; Knoch was 10-4 in Section 2 and tied for second place with Shady Side Academy.Stats: Knoch — Ben Andrews 20 goals, 7 assists; Val Panger 11 goals, 3 assists; Kristofer Matus 7 goals, 2 assists; Caleb Robb 6 goals, 2 assists; Goalkeeper Stephen Grumski 52 saves and 10 shutouts.Streaks: The Hillers went 8-0-1 during a nine-game stretch in September; Knoch's six-game winning streak earlier this season saw the Knights out-score their opponents 25-0.Mars (17-1) vs. TBDThe Planets won Section 2 with a perfect 14-0 record. They will host the winner of Saturday's game between Quaker Valley (9-7-2) and Beaver (12-5) at 8 p.m. Monday.Stats: Mars — Noah Hudac 21 goals; Goalkeepers Dale Glavin and Palmer Holcomb have combined for 11 shutouts.Streaks: The Planets were 17-0 before dropping a 1-0 decision to Pine-Richland on Monday.Speaking: “The key is to improve and we continue to get better,” said Planets' coach Chris Knauff.

<B>Class AAA</B>Seneca Valley (18-0) vs. TBDThe Raiders cruised to the Section 2 championship with a 12-0 mark. SV will host the winner of Saturday's game between Hempfield (8-7) and Oakland Catholic (9-8) at 6 p.m. Monday.Stats: SV — Sarah Anderson 14 goals, 8 assists; Emily Cekella 13 goals; Kelsey O'Connor 11 goals, 9 assists; Cassidy Testa 10 goals; Caroline Miller 8 goals, 7 assists; Alicia Hart 6 goals, 12 assists; Megan Majeski 4 goals, 14 assists; Goalkeeper Jess Neill 14 shutouts.Streaks: Dating back to last year, the Raiders are now 29-0-1 in their last 30 games against WPIAL opponents. Their last defeat was a 1-0 setback to North Allegheny Sept. 21, 2013.Speaking: “Our starters on defense are Lexus Lambert, Alicia Hart, Claire Kocur and Paige Montrose,” said Raiders' coach Dave Sylvester. “They're pretty solid. I wouldn't want to face them.”<B>Class AA</B>G'burg Salem (10-6-1) at Mars (15-3)4 p.m., SaturdayStanding: The Golden Lions placed third in Section 1 with a record of 6-3-1; Mars was crowned champion of Section 2 with a 12-0 record.Streaks: Since a three-game winning streak in early September, Greensburg Salem has not won more than two games in a row; Mars reeled off 11 straight wins in September.Freeport (10-5-2) at Montour (16-2)3 p.m., SaturdayStanding: Freeport finished 7-3-2 and placed third in Section 2; Montour won Section 3 by going 11-1.Stats: The Spartans defeated Freeport 9-0 Sept. 25.Streaks: The Yellowjackets went on a four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1) in section play in September; Montour enters the playoffs on a 13-game winning streak.