Golden Moment
BUTLER TWP — Elation.
That was the word second-year head coach Jeff Myers used to describe the feelings of his Butler County Special Olympics soccer team following the Fall Festival at Villanova University over the weekend.
The Butler County squad captured the gold medal with a 3-1 victory over Montgomery County in the championship match.
“Elation is definitely the word,” Myers said. “They were so pumped up. They've worked, they've strived, they've pushed hard, they've fought.
“To make it out there (Villanova), then to win it all ... It is the cream of the crop and they earned it.”
Butler County played eight games in the tournament. It went 1-2-1 in preliminary games, then won all three of its divisional games against teams from central and eastern Pa. before claiming the title.
It marked Butler County Special Olympics' first Fall Festival coed soccer championship since 2014. Players ages ranged from 10 to 48.
Chuck Losser, 32, scored “10 to 12 goals in our last four games,” Myers said. He also lauded the play of forwards Cory Brunck, 16, and Gabby Boyle, 10.
“This was Cory's first year with the team,” Myers said. “Gabby was the talk of the tournament. Given her size and age, no one could believe how good a player she was.”
Myers' own daughter, 23-year-old Stephanie, is also on the team.
“My daughter is not a highly developed athlete, but she was all smiles when we won this,” the coach said. “The smile on her face was incredible.”
Other players on the 10-person roster were Nicole McKinnis (age 24), Melissa McKinnis (26), Clint Atkinson (48), Jesse Wenck (29), Austin Sellner (20) band Greg Carpenter (23).
Prior to becoming head coach, Myers was an assistant to the BCSO soccer program for 10 years.
“I never played the sport in my life,” he said. “My assistant, Gabriella Lloyd, was a tremendous help this year.”
Lloyd, a senior at Butler High School, plays club soccer for the Hot Spurs in the Fox Chapel area. She plans on playing for Chatham University next year as she studies to become a physician's assistant.
Lloyd joined the BCSO soccer staff after officiating Special Olympic Tournament games at Slippery Rock University.
“I saw they were looking for officials to work that tournament,” she recalled. “I officiated games there my freshman and junior years and fell in love with those players and how hard they worked.
“I was able to track down Diane (Jeff's wife) and asked if I could help out with their team.”
Lloyd also lauded the efforts of Diane Myers.
“She does a lot for that program,” Lloyd said. “She does all of the paperwork, makes sure everyone is where they need to be, even cleans the uniforms and has them ready for every game.
“Jeff has done a great job teaching the athletes respect, how to have respect for him, themselves and other players. That team has come such a long way.”
The team began practicing in August. It placed second at the Slippery Rock tournament to qualify for the Fall Festival.
“It's easy to see how they won this,” Coach Myers said. “They worked as a team and played as a team. It all just came together this year.”
