Sections and playoff scenarios are different. One thing remains the same when it comes to Butler County area girls soccer.

Optimism abounds.

Plenty of experience and skill return to most teams. New coaches — Mark Perry at Seneca Valley, Kevin Wood at Knoch, Emily Karr at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic — appear at three.

Butler is now in Class 4A and coach Steve Perri likes how the numbers work out.

“Last year, we had seven teams in our league with three making the (WPIAL) playoffs,” Perri said. “This year, we have six teams in our league and four make it. We’ve been finishing fourth in recent years.

“We’re aiming for a much higher finish in the section this season, regardless.”

Perri enters his fifth year as coach of the Golden Tornado. Butler returns two productive forwards in junior Brittnie Spithaler and senior Hannah Hays. They combined for 21 goals a year ago.

“Our whole team is experienced,” Perri said. “Those two have been starting since they were freshmen. We’ve had freshmen playing key roles on this team and now that experience is going to count.”

Rachel Woessner and Maddie Glew on defense, Kelly Kriley and Abby Boyle at midfield are some of the players the coach referred to. Butler recently surprised state-ranked Fox Chapel in a scrimmage.

“We came out of our two scrimmages with our heads held high,” Perri said. “I feel like this is the year our program takes a big step forward.”

He’s not the only coach who feels that way:

Freeport has nine starters returning — and Mars not returning to its section — this fall. The Yellowjackets have been bounced in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs three straight years.

“This could be the year we break though and take a run at the section,” third-year coach Brittni Grenninger said. “We’ve got seven seniors and plenty of experience coming back. “

Top returnees include goalkeeper Cassie Suran, defender Kim Mixon and midfielder Olivia Gaspersic. Leading scorer Cameron Lindsay (six goals, six assists) also returns.

“We didn’t score a lot last year,” Grenninger said. “We moved Cameron to forward for the final seven games of the season. In a 0-0 tie with Greensburg Salem, we had 32 shots on goal and allowed one.

“We need to finish those plays this year.”

Karns City finished plenty of plays last year, going 20-2 and reaching the PIAA Class A semifinals.

“Now we’re in Class 2A and that’s a whole new challenge,” third-year coach Tracy Dailey said. “We have to get past the likes of Punxsutawney and Clearfield to win our district.”

The Gremlins have won District 9 championships in 18 of the past 21 years. Forwards Megan McCartney (29 goals-19 assists) and Haley Scherer (19-11) return this year, along with midfielder Hunter Dittman (4-2).

“Our strength is our experience,” Dailey said. “We’ve got three goalkeepers we can use in Alison Boltz, Cambree Powers and Olivia Mourer, and senior Collette Stahlman is a versatile player we can put anywhere.”

Perry takes over for Dave Sylvester at Seneca Valley. The Raiders finished 17-5 and lost in the WPIAL semifinals a year ago — the first time in four years SV didn’t reach the finals.

Perry is 519-118-27 in 29 years of coaching high school soccer at Hampton, Fiox Chapel, Center and Central Valley.

“We will be very young, but I think we’ll surprise people,” Perry said. “I want to see if I can maintain the high level of play that’s been at Seneca Valley.”

Perry has 38 players on the roster, but only one senior — Delaney Lisco. Juniors Jessica Pollaci and Isabella DeFabbo saw playing time last year, as did junior defender Mary Finan. Lauren Sileo scored six goals as a freshman last year.

Mars won the WPIAL Class AA title last year, but is in Class 3A this season with section foes Knoch, Hampton, Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport and Indiana.

“We have section foes we’ve never played before and Knoch is always a nemesis,” 11th-year coach Blair Gerlach said. “The new challenges are exciting, invigorating to us.”

Senior forward Tori Kopchak, a 37-goal scorer, returns, as does goalkeeper Sammy Papik and her 13 shutouts. Another stellar senior, Kaitlyn McKenzie, is back after missing last year with a torn ACL.

Knoch has nine seniors on its roster “with a good supporting class behind them,” first-year coach Wood said. “We’ve got outstanding senior leadership.

“We don’t have a deep varsity squad, so we have to stay away from injuries.”

Top players include senior center-defender Ali Gore, forward Maddi Abritias, midfielder Lauren Betts and sophomore forward Lindsey Galbreath.

The Knights finished 5-9 last year, 5-7 in section play.

“We’ve got a lot of motivated kids and we’re chasing a playoff spot this year,” Wood said.

Grove City suffered just two losses in region play a year ago and returns its entire lineup.

“Team unity is our biggest strength,” fourth-year coach Les Smith said. “If we stay healthy, we can do some big things.”

Senior forwards Alexis Smith (13 goals) and Anna Williams (14 goals), goalkeeper Abby Fulkerson, defender Brittany Mattson (13 goals at forward last year) and junior defender Ashley McNabb are among the Eagles’ top players.

Melanie Roczko returns for her fourth year at Slippery Rock, hoping steady improvement continues.

“We missed the playoffs my first year, lost our first playoff game the next year, then won a playoff game last year,” she said. “Now we want to go farther.”

Senior captain Bailey Boyd (11 goals-12 assists) and sophomore Samantha Harriett (8 goals) lead the Rockets offensively. Emily Sarver is a sophomore captain on defense.

Senior Hannah Willison returns as goalkeeper after missing most of last season to a torn ACL.

“The way she can control the defense and keep the ball out ... Her presence will make a huge difference,” Roczko said.

Other top players returning in the county include CW North Catholic junior forward Ella Beidler (11 goals) and junior midfielder Emma Ivory.