Mars boys soccer coach chris knauff celebrates 300th win thanks to keeper's first career goal

Mars' Frank Knezovich celebrates with AJ Montes after scoring the game-tying goal Tuesday at Biles Field. The Planets won 2-1 to help coach Chris Knauff earn his 300th victory as coach. Josh Rizzo/Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges

SHALER TWP - Mars boys soccer coach Chris Knauff smiled big when huddling with his team under three balloons indicating he had hit the 300-win mark Tuesday night at Biles Field.

Knauff, who is in his final season as coach, will only have to worry about preparing for the matches ahead of him in the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs and not anything else.

By beating Shaler 2-1 in a Section 1-3A match, Knauff became the second Planet soccer coach to hit a win milestone this fall.
Blair Gerlach, the Planets’ girls coach, hit his 400th win early this season.

“It was nice to hit that milestone during the regular season and not be thinking about it in the playoffs,” Knauff said. “We’ve got a good program on both sides. It’s fun to be a part of.”

The Planets (11-5-2, 9-1-2) won the match in unique fashion. Senior keeper Eli Stasiowski scored his first career goal.
Stasiowski launched a free kick from near midfield that took a large leap off the turf, went through Shaler keeper Brian Hegerty’s hands and landed in the back of the net.

“As soon as I saw it go through his hands, if this goes in, I was telling my guys at halftime ‘Hey, we just gotta put some pressure on this keeper and see what happens’” Stasiowski said. “And there it was, it was kind of like I told you so moment. It was amazing to see the ball go in.”

It wasn’t something he was eager to celebrate.

Stasiowski wouldn’t have wanted to be in that position himself.

“I can’t celebrate on the other keepers when they slip up,” Stasiowski said. “It doesn’t feel right.”

Not much was in Mars’ favor in the first half. The Planets had a goal waved off for offside. Shaler (12-4, 8-3) ended up taking the lead in the 36th minute when Anthony Tylenda launched a shot from well outside the box that found its way in.

“I thought we played well tonight,” Titans coach Tyler Schultz said. “At the beginning of the season, people probably didn’t expect us to be here. We’ll see what cards are dealt tomorrow and whatever the fallout is of this game and we’ll see where we stand.”

Mars came out in the second half eager to cut into the deficit.

The Planets evened the match when Frank Knezovich was able to get on the end of the cross and guide the ball into the net on the back post.

“We knew we needed to press them and they came with a lot of energy,” Knauff said. 

Stasiowski’s goal allowed Mars to lock up second place in the section.

When the WPIAL playoff brackets are released Tuesday, the Planets will likely be awarded a home game.

“It’s incredible, especially during my senior season in the last section match of my career to end on a win,” Stasiowski said. “I got my first goal and the coach got his 300th win. It’s amazing to be a part of.”

Josh Rizzo is the editor and publisher of Pittsburgh Preps and Colleges. Story ideas can be submitted to [email protected] or on X @J_oshRizzo.​