Two-time defending champion Mars was picked as the favorite to win another WPIAL girls lacrosse title in playoff brackets revealed Thursday.
Mars (15-1) received the No. 1 seed in Class 2A, and Pine-Richland (15-2) drew the top spot in 3A. The playoffs start Monday and Tuesday with first round games, leading to finals May 21-22 at Upper St. Clair.
Joining Mars as top seeds in the Class 2A bracket were No. 2 Seton LaSalle (14-1), No. 3 Chartiers Valley (13-3) and No. 4 Blackhawk (12-2). In Class 3A, Upper St. Clair (16-1) was second, Mt. Lebanon (12-2) was third and Moon (12-4) was fourth.
The top four seeds in both brackets earned first-round byes.
In last year’s 2A final, Mars defeated Chartiers Valley, 14-6, to win its second consecutive title and third in four years (2024, ‘23, ’21). Mt. Lebanon won the Class 3A title in a 16-11 victory over Pine-Richland last year.
Class 3A
First round
All games Tuesday
1-Pine-Richland – bye
9-Bethel Park at 8-Shady Side Academy, 7 p.m.
4-Moon – bye
12-Norwin at 5-Fox Chapel, 7 p.m.
2-Upper St. Clair – bye
10-Butler at 7-Penn-Trafford, 6 p.m.
3-Mt. Lebanon – bye
11-North Allegheny at 6-Peters Township, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
First round
All games Monday
1-Mars – bye
9-Franklin Regional vs. 8-Oakland Catholic at Norwin, 7 p.m.
4-Blackhawk – bye
12-Trinity at 5-Hampton, 7 p.m.
2-Seton LaSalle – bye
10-Indiana at 7-Quaker Valley, 7 p.m.
3-Chartiers Valley – bye
11-Sewickley Academy at 6-South Fayette, 7 p.m.