SV's sudden start
BUTLER TWP — The homecoming hair appointments could wait.
Seneca Valley's girls soccer team had some business to take care of first.
The Lady Raiders scored four goals in the first 10 minutes — including two only 21 seconds apart — in defeating Butler, 6-1, Saturday and spoiling the Golden Tornado's Senior Day.
"It's homecoming weekend for us and I was worried about how focused our girls would be out here today,"Raiders coach Dave Sylvester said. "They have other things on their minds. They're all getting their hair done later today.
"I was pleased with the way we came out and attacked in this game."
Seneca Valley (13-3-1, 9-2-1) will finish second in Section 2-AAA. The Raiders close the regular season Tuesday at Hempfield before entering the WPIALplayoffs for the seventh consecutive year.
Butler (6-10-1, 4-8-0) closes its season tonight, hosting Mars.
"Giving up four goals that quickly ... Our girls clearly didn't come to play today,"Golden Tornado coach Nicole Hilderbrand said. "I don't know if it was the Senior Day stuff or what. I have no answer for that."
Seneca Valley scored on four of its first five shots. Tornado goalkeeper Chelsea Rice had to leave the game due to injury after colliding with a Raiders player while going for a loose ball late in the first half.
Rice made a solid save on a Katie Kelly shot early in the game, but the rebound came to SV's Karisa Fernandez, who drilled it into the open net for her team-leading 15th goal less than three minutes into the game.
Just 21 seconds later, Kelly got behind the Butler defense and rolled a shot past Rice. The Raider sophomore added another goal three minutes later, lofting a shot just under the crossbar from 18 yards out.
Barb Rohm completed the early onslaught with a high arching shot from the right sideline, 20 yards out, that Rice had trouble handling as it bounced into the net with 30:20 left in the half.
Jennifer Jergel and Kelly added goals late in the half as Seneca Valley had a 6-0 lead at intermission. Kelly has 13 goals on the campaign.
Amanda Malecky had Butler's best scoring chance of the half, but her point-blank shot from in front of the net was snuffed by SVfreshman goalkeeper Keara Lydon.
"Playing with a big lead, we lost a bit of our offensive fire in the second half,"Sylvester admitted. "It was a shame, losing the shutout, but stuff like that happens.
"We stress defense. We always have. Keep the other team off the board and eventually you'll get a bounce thatgoes your way."
Seneca Valley has allowed only 17 goals all season. Ashley Oluschak ruined the shutout when she scored from a tough angle to the right of the net with 32 seconds left in the game.
The goal was only Butler's 16th of the season.
"Yeah, that was a nice shot by Ash,"Hilderbrand said. "No doubt, we have to find people who can put the ball in the net. That has to be our main priority going into next year."
Butler outshot the Raiders 6-1 in the second half. Seneca Valley defeated Butler earlier this season, 3-1.
Tornado senior girls honored after the game were Rebecca Crissman, Alex DiMartino, Aubrey Fields, Jessie Gade, Stephanie Harrison, MacKenzie Houk, Kara Knechtel and Malecky.
