The decision was made in May, but the games are what the Seneca Valley girls lacrosse team have been waiting for.

The Raiders are one of 23 teams that will take part in the first high school lacrosse season under WPIAL jurisdiction.

"Obviously, the decision went over very well with the team," said Seneca coach Karyn Brooks. "The girls will support the team this season with fund-raisers. Beginning next year, all financial responsibility regarding the team will move to the school."

The Raiders are coming off a winning season, but Brooks has even higher hopes for the upcoming campaign.

"We'd like to end up in the top six in the WPIAL," said Brooks. "To do that, we'd have to reach the second round of the playoffs."

The team lost its leading goal scorer from last year in Jen Eyerman, but a trio of seniors will be counted upon to pick up the slack.

Attackers Mandy Hajduk, Julie Quail and Julie Muckle will be the main threats in the offensive end.

"Mandy's got great speed and stick skills," said Brooks. "And (Quail and Muckle) both have a no-fear type of playing style. They both played soccer and see the field very well."

The Raiders will also have to replace a stalwart on defense with the departure of Mary Katherine Moravek.

Senior Christina Kratz, junior Megan Powell and freshman Pam Marlowe will be the leaders on defense this season.

Goaltender will be in good hands with the return of senior Becky Stern.

"The strength of this team is that we don't have a standout player," Brooks said. "The team is strong in every aspect and the girls are a tight-knit group."

Part of that closeness came from a good deed the team performed in December.

"We took the girls down and served meals to the homeless in East Liberty," said Brooks. "We did that last year as well. It's something my family and I have done for years through our church in Murrysville."

Seneca will be competing in Section 1. with Fox Chapel, Hampton, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, Shaler and Vincentian Academy.

"Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley are the best teams in our section," said Brooks.

The Raiders open the regular season Tuesday at Shady Side Academy.

Seneca's boys are coming off a Western Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association Division III championship and will play at the Division II level this year.

"Our goal last season was to win the division, which we did," said coach Wayne Jaeckle. "And this season our goal is to win Division II. I think we have a chance to go undefeated in the division."

A quick glance at the Raiders' talent supports Jaeckle's lofty expectations.

Returning is junior attacker Peet

Poillon, who tallied 82 goals and 43 assists a season ago. Senior attacker Chad Melberg scored 71 goals along with 48 assists. Both garnered Division III First Team honors.

Alex Renton, a first-team defender, also returns, along with sophomore phenom Michael Johnson.

At 6-feet-2 and 180 pounds, Johnson has impressed Jaeckle.

"I believe he has the chance to be one of the best defenders ever in Western Pennsylvania," Jaeckle said. "He's got the size, and I've already received calls from college coaches about him."

Junior Rob Beauseignuer will return as the Raiders goaltender.

Seneca dropped a 9-7 decision to Peters Township to open league play. The Raiders will travel to Detroit this weekend for two games before battling Allderdice Monday.

The Butler boys will be under the direction of a new coach in Chaz Bolte, who previously assisted at Winchester-Thurston and Seneca Valley.Butler was an associate member of the WPSLA last year and went 1-3 in official games. The Golden Tornado make the jump to Division III this season.Bolte's goal is clear."We want to win Division III," said Bolte. "If we win, we'll move up to Division II next year."Bolte will have a senior-laden team to work with.Of the 25 players on the squad, 10 are seniors.Included in that group are attackers B.J. Tipton and Bucky Holt, a duo that should grab most of Butler's goals.Midfielder Luke Werner and defenders Tom McPherson and Cory Mashuda will be counted on for solid play as well.Senior George Stutz Jr. will man the net for the Golden Tornado.Butler lost its first game of the season to Hampton 12-3, but will look to rebound Monday against Quaker Valley.The Butler girls will not be competing in the WPIAL, and this fact might cause problems for the Golden Tornado down the road."We have a full schedule this season," said coach Julie Baccanti. "But starting next year, teams may elect not to play us because it doesn't count toward their record since we're not in the WPIAL. Scheduling games in the future is going to be very difficult."Still, the 20 girls who comprise the varsity squad are ready to improve on the team's four victories last year."At least for this season, the girls still feel they are part of it all," said Baccanti. "We're playing a full schedule and the girls just love to play the game."Leading the team will be junior attacker Jane Resnick.Summer Doctor will start in goal, trying to build on her experience last season."I thought she did well last season, considering it was her first year," said Baccanti. "I think how much she improves will depend on how much our defense improves."That defense will be led by senior defender Sara Pelusi.Butler opens the season today at Latrobe.