Mars boys lacrosse shows off balanced offense behind Jack Tirch’s big night to pop North Catholic
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Mars' David Renner (14) makes a save as the Adams Twp. Fire Department hangs a flag over the About the Warrior Foundation game as Mars plays North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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The Adams Twp. Fire department hangs a flag over the About the Warrior Foundation game as Mars plays North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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The Adams Twp. Fire Department hangs a flag over the About the Warrior Foundation game as Mars plays North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars players along with their family members who served in the military were recognized at halftime during the About the Warrior Foundation game as Mars plays North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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People donate to the About the Warrior Foundation before Mars plays North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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People donate to the About the Warrior Foundation before Mars plays North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Josh Wilburn (15) gets past North Catholic's David Sommers (33) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Josh Wilburn (15) gets past North Catholic's David Sommers (33) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Henry Saver (16) fights for a loose ball with North Catholic's Eric Proie (22) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Bowser (1) tries to get the ball from North Catholic's Mark Evans (30) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Bowser (1) tries to get the ball from North Catholic's Mark Evans (30) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Carter Yokum (23) wins the ball over North Catholic's David Sommers (33) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars' Ben Bowser (1) looks to pass the ball against North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Mars Mike Duffy (10) catch the ball against North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Mars Jack Tirch (22) shoots and scores against North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Mars Reed Fuller (34) celebrates with teammates after scoring against North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Mars players listen on to the national anthem before playing North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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North Catholic Sebastian Kelm (20) reacts getting the ball stolen by Mars in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Mars Ben Bowser (1) gets checked by North Catholic Beckett Dunn (18) in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Mars Isaac McMicheals (4) celebrates a goal with Jack Tirch (22) against North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
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Mars players listen on to the national anthem before playing North Catholic in a boys lacrosse game Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Mars High School. (Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle)
ADAMS TWP — Mars boys lacrosse entered this season with more question marks than in recent years, but coach Bob Marcoux likes what he has seen through 12 games.
The Planets improved their record to 10-2 and 6-0 in WPIAL Section 2-2A with a 22-1 victory at home Tuesday against North Catholic.
“One thing we needed this year was to have the goals more spread out,” Marcoux said. “Last year, so much of the offense ran through Enzo (Grieco, now playing at Penn State). We are sharing the ball more. Jack Tirch is scoring a lot for us, he’s a finisher. Ian Coulter and Henry Saver, too, but the goals have been spread out and that’s important.”
Those three players led the charge Tuesday, with Tirch scoring seven goals and Coulter and Saver both finding the net three times.
“Defensively, we had some inexperience coming in, but have done well so far,” Marcoux said.
It helps that the Planets have a goalie with a wealth of experience in senior Luke Spreng. He was the starter for most of his freshman season due to an injury to Jonathan Grieco, helping Mars win WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2022.
He’s been in net since Grieco’s graduation in 2023.
“When I was a freshman, our defense was very good and they helped me,” Spreng said. “Since then, I’ve developed my skills and can help the defense more now.
“Clearing the ball was a little rough for us at the start, but now we’re getting it out about 80 to 90% of the time.”
Senior Jack Mueller, one of six starters back from last year, has been a stabilizing force on defense.
“We are communicating on that end of the field, and we have a tremendous amount of confidence in Luke,” Marcoux said. “He is vocal and is a leader for the entire defense.”
Coulter, a senior attackman, has played in the last three state championship games, starting the last two. He knows what it takes to succeed when the postseason arrives.
“One of the biggest things is team chemistry,” he said. “The last few years, we were a very close group and worked so well together. I tell the younger players that we need that to go far.”
Mars’ two losses this season have come against Class 3A teams — Mt. Lebanon (14-4) and Upper St. Clair (11-6).
“Those teams are, size-wise, the biggest ones we’ve faced this season,” Marcoux said. “When we face teams like that, we have to use our speed because we don’t have that kind of size.”
The Planets have set an incredibly high standard for the program, winning eight straight WPIAL titles and playing in four consecutive state finals.
“This is a brand new team, but they want to uphold the standard,” Marcoux said. “They realize that this is their team and their opportunity.”
