McKinney

ADAMS TWP — The Mars boys soccer team isn't just making noise in the WPIAL's Section 2-AA this season, it's three games away from making history.

Entering today's game at Knoch, Mars (14-0, 11-0) needs three more victories to complete the first unbeaten and untied regular season in the program's history.

Coach Blair Gerlach led the Planets to four playoff appearances in his first four years entering 2006.

The Planets already have clinched a postseason berth this year and are on the verge of securing their second section title in three seasons.

But all Gerlach knew back in August was that his team would be young.

Mars starts three freshmen and two sophomores.

"We talked at the beginning of the season about if we didn't make the playoffs, we could deal with that just because of all the young players that we'd be playing," said Gerlach.

"But then we got through the first half of section play and said, 'Hey, we've got a chance to do something here.'"

Gerlach admits that anything short of a section title would be disappointing after the team's great start to the season.

A big reason for that success has been the play of sophomore goalkeeper Joe Haefner, who is in his first year as a starter. He has given up five goals in 14 games and has played all but 30 minutes.Haefner plays on a club team for Northern Steel and he said that has helped him immensely."My club team has went to nationals the last two summers," said Haefner. "The competition there is so intense that, when you get to the high school level, you're ready for that level of play.""He's used to playing in big games," added Gerlach "He's not playing like a sophomore. We might as well have a senior out there in goal for us."Of course, Haefner isn't the only one making sure the Planets' net stays empty.Senior sweeper Mark Dressel leads a defense that has frustrated opponents all season.And Haefner appreciates every bit of it."Mark is the best sweeper in the section, if not all of the WPIAL," said the goalkeeper. "And we have Jack Leslie and Nathan Ganter playing well on the outside."Dressel is playing sweeper for the first time in his high school career, but has he mastered the position."It's more knowledge than skill," he said. "You have to read the other team's offense and what they're running. Then, you attack their weaknesses."On offense, the Planets don't lean on only one standout player to score. Instead, Mars fields three players with 20 goals among them.Senior midfielder Bob McKinney leads the team with eight goals. He is followed by senior midfielder Nick Perri and junior forward Drew Glavin, who each have seven."When we play teams with one star player scoring the goals, we man-mark him," said Gerlach. "If a team wants to man-mark one of our players, they can go right ahead because we know we've got other guys who can step up and score for us."With three players vying for the team lead in goals, there's bound to be a bit of competition."There's sort of a competition between us," said Perri. "But no selfishness ... whatever is best for the team."The Planets' 11 section wins have come by a combined score of 40-6."We've only trailed during a game once the entire season," said Gerlach. "We were down 1-0 to Freeport before winning the game."With so much success, it could be easy for a high school team to lose its focus."Our three captains (McKinney, Perri and Dressel) try to keep things lighthearted off the field," said Gerlach. "But they know when its time to work and everybody follows them."As for the rest of the season, the sky seems to be the limit for the Planets."I'd love to make states," said Perri. "And to go deep in the WPIAL playoffs. That's not out of the question for this team."

Haefner