BUTLER TWP — Success breeds success.

That statement has never been more true than with the Butler Junior High boys soccer team.

The eighth-graders on that squad — Jacob Campbell, Luke Garcia, Tyler Gillis, Austin Goepfert, Louis Hortert, Ian Llewellyn, AJ Ruperto, Bryce Schoettker and Jordan Stutz — have been part of a two-year run that saw the Golden Tornado produce a 27-1-4 record.

“That makes them some of the most successful boys soccer players at Butler over a two-year span, ever,” coach Mike Zirpoli said.

During those two seasons, the Tornado have outscored the opposition 127 to 9, including 66 to 8 this year.

“It's all the kids,” Zirpoli said. “They are so much more developed skill-wise at this level than in years past.

“When I started coaching seven years ago, we had maybe five or six kids who were playing club soccer. This year, of our 15 seventh-graders, 12 are playing club soccer.”

One of those seventh-graders, Luca Fusca, led Butler with 24 goals this season. Schoettker tallied 13 and seventh-grader Landon Mohney — son of Butler varsity boys soccer coach Troy Mohney — had five goals and 21 assists.

The only team standing in Butler's way the past two seasons has been Mars. The Tornado played the Planets to three scoreless ties and dropped a 2-0 decision to Mars this year.

Peyton Seibert was a stellar goalkeeper for Butler a year ago. Goepfert took over in goal this year.

“He's a very athletic goalie, but our defensive group has been particularly strong,” Zirpoli said. “Evan Fetter is a seventh-grade center-back who plays for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Youth Academy. He's been playing against national competition.

“Evan's team is going to Bradenton, Fla., in December to play for a national championship. That's the type of experience some of these kids are getting.”

Cory Werth, a Butler graduate who also played soccer at the University of Pittsburgh, co-coaches the junior high team with Zirpoli.

“These kids play together as a team. They're fun to work with that way,” Werth said. “There are no individuals on that field.

“This is the most fun I've had teaching these kids. I still play Sunday league stuff in soccer, but it's not competitive. I'm coaching as if I'm out there playing in the game.”

Werth said he enjoys being “hands on, jumping in and demonstrating what we want done” on the field.

“Cory is invaluable that way. I'm 54 ... I can't do that anymore,” Zirpoli said.

Both coaches see future success at the junior highlevel — and see it filtering on up to the varsity.

“There's another large group of sixth-graders coming up who are playing club soccer,” Zirpoli said.

Other players on this year's team included Jack Beneigh, Guiness Brown, Jonah Doerr, Noah Gladde, Griffin Holcombe, Carson Knight, Philip Lehman, Aden Llewellyn, Evan Lubinsky, Tyler Robinson, Cade Savochka, Aidan Soley, Gavin Varner and Noah Wolford.

“I don't see this stopping anytime soon,” Werth said.