Franklin Regional girls lacrosse coach Anna Lauer was looking for improvement from her squad this season and another trip to the WPIAL playoffs.

She got it.

The Panthers closed the regular season with a 7-4 loss to Class 3A North Hills and enter the WPIAL playoffs as the No. 5 seed. This is the 10th consecutive season the team has qualified for the postseason.

Franklin Regional was scheduled to open the playoffs May 11 at home against Seton LaSalle, a team it defeated 17-7 in Section 1 action. The winner advanced to face No. 4 seed South Fayette on May 13.

The Panthers reached the WPIAL semifinals in 2017 and 2018, finishing fourth and third, respectively.

Lauer hoped the youth on the 2026 team could create a run toward a second WPIAL title.

The Panthers won the Class 3A title in 2010.

The Panthers (9-1, 11-5) finished second to Hampton in Section 1. The Talbots defeated the Panthers, 7-4.

They beat Indiana, Greensburg Salem, Greensburg Central Catholic, Trinity, Seton LaSalle, Yough, Oakland Catholic, Winchester Thurston and The Ellis School in the section. They also defeated Hempfield and Latrobe from Class 3A.

“Finishing second was a big improvement for the program,” Lauer said. “In the previous seasons, we either finished fourth or fifth.”

Franklin Regional lost to four Class 3A teams in North Hills, Penn-Trafford, Norwin and Plum.

“We were in every game except the Penn-Trafford match,” Lauer said. “The team found their groove this season and we played with more confidence.

“We were really good on defense and in goal. We were more aggressive, and a lot of players stepped up.”

Senior Lauren Gray was a stalwart in goal while the defensive standouts were Harper Lacey, Isabella Lucas and sophomore Ally Keefe.

“Harper stepped up and made everyone else better,” Lauer said. “Bella was strong and Ally was steady. The entire defense played well.”

Senior midfielder Leah Wagner and junior midfielder Emerson Funari also have played well, and senior attacker Isabella Ioannou led the team in scoring.

She recently surpassed 100 career goals and entered the postseason with 107.

Junior Eva Rogers was also a strong attacker on offense for the team.

“The program has made a huge jump this season,” Lauer said. “The team surprised themselves. They grabbed a hold of the system and are running with it.

“We are playing with more confidence and are trusting each other. We were hoping to be a fourth seed.”

Lauer said she was looking forward to seeing how the team performed in the playoffs.

“I want us to play our game and put it all together,” said Lauer, who added that the team chemistry has been great and that it was fun to watch the team grow together. “We would like to win it all, but if we play with energy and do what they were taught, I will be happy win or lose.”