A lack of consistency hampered the Penn-Trafford High School boys' soccer team this season.

Despite making its ninth consecutive WPIAL postseason appearance Tuesday night, the Warriors lost a 3-0 decision to No. 3-ranked Peters Township in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs.

It was the third consecutive year Penn-Trafford lost in the initial round.

The regular season, however, wasn't a complete disappointment for the Warriors.

Penn-Trafford (12-6-1) entered the playoffs after one of its best performances against Baldwin in a non-section meeting. The Warriors outlasted the Highlanders in overtime to secure a 5-4 decision.

"We had a tremendous result against Baldwin," coach Derek Cuthbert said. "When we play hungry, we play very well."

But his team's inability to clean its plate on the pitch is what Cuthbert believes impaired Penn-Trafford from dominating its competition.

"We haven't worked as hard as I would have liked. I'm tough and I know we could have played better at times," said Cuthbert, a 10th-grade social studies teacher at Penn-Trafford, who completed his sixth season as the boys' coach after a year as the girls' coach.

Penn-Trafford finished 6-4 in Section 1-AAA behind No. 7 Norwin and No. 8 Kiski Area. The Warriors began the season with an impressive 6-0-1 start, playing Shaler to a 1-1 tie in the second game of the season.

Besides a non-section loss to Seneca Valley, Penn-Trafford continued to plug along during the regular season but suffered four section losses, two each to Norwin and Kiski.

Three of those matches were 2-1 decisions, however.

"Norwin should have won the section [title] and did because they are one of the best teams," Cuthbert said.

"We should have beaten Kiski and Norwin, but you always want to reflect on those games after the fact. But you have to move on."

Junior forward Mike Wilkie led the Warriors' offense with 23 goals. Senior midfielder Scott Seiber followed with 13.

"They both are captains and played very well," Cuthbert said. "The key to our success is that we had fun and enjoyed playing the game.

"Having fun out there [on the field] along with playing consistent each game [resulted in winning games]."

Cuthbert also was pleased with the play he witnessed from defenders Jeff Kelly, a sophomore, and Jeremy Levy, a senior.

Entering the playoffs, the Warriors had outscored opponents, 68-31.

"I think when you look at some of our games, we played a lot better than the final score indicated," Cuthbert said. "When the consistency was there -- by the entire team -- the quality of play was shown."

Senior goalkeeper Adam Ernette was another key to Penn-Trafford's regular-season success.

"He played very well, and even in our 4-0 loss [Sept. 29] to Norwin, he stopped about eight one-on-one opportunities," Cuthbert said. "He stopped a lot of breakaways and stopped a lot of good shots.

"The goals he allowed were good goals. There was no lapse of play on his part. He didn't have many mental breakdowns and kept his head in the game."

Penn-Trafford completed its regular-season schedule by winning five of its last seven matches, which included section wins against Connellsville, Hempfield and Latrobe.

"It goes back to that consistency and hunger," Cuthbert said. "When we played like we did against Baldwin, I'd put us up against anyone any day. You have to be there and ready each and every game.

"It comes down to that passion and drive. We have to score goals to be successful. And it comes down to who wants it more."

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