BUTLER TWP — He didn't come away with a WPIAL championship or the Butler goals and assists records.

Tate Mohney, a senior forward, did establish his own soccer legacy with the Golden Tornado — and is coming away with the 2018 Butler Eagle Boys Soccer Player of the Year honor.

“You could make the argument that Tate is the best boys soccer player in the history of this program,” said Troy Mohney, his father and Butler's varsity boys soccer coach.

He would know. Troy Mohney, a 1995 graduate, owns the Butler boys record of 62 goals scored in a career. His high school teammate, Greg Ohl, holds the Tornado career assists record of 46.

“We played 94 games in high school, Tate played 74,,” Coach Mohney said. “Tate wound up with 50 goals and 37 assists in his career here, an average of .666 goals and .50 assists per game.

“Project that out to a 94-game career and he would have scored 63 goals and gotten 47 assists, beating both of our records by one. To have a player tally goals and assists at a pace like that, at this level, is impressive.”

Tate Mohney scored 21 goals and had seven assists this season, leading Butler to an 11-5-2 record and an appearance in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals for the second successive year.

He had a hand in 28 of his team's 39 goals.

“Soccer is a team game and I took pride in being a team player,” Tate said. “Getting to the playoffs as a team was more important than anything individual for me. I used to ride my dad pretty good, telling him I was going after his record, but winning meant a lot more.

“My teammates worked hard to set me up for my goals and I worked hard to help set them up for some of theirs. You have to work together in this game.”

Karns City sophomore forward Dakota King — who scored 34 goals — and Seneca Valley senior goalkeeper Will Gallagher were also considered for Player of the Year honors. Gallagher had 10 shutouts and 181 saves this season.

In the end, it was Tate Mohney's prowess on the pitch that won out.

“He grew up around the game,” Coach Mohney said. “I run Family Sports Center and the boys division of Northern Steel soccer. Tate started playing soccer when he was 3.

“When a kid has that many years to work on his craft, he's gonna get pretty good at it.”

Tate became an all-state player and a Regional All-American. He has participated in the Olympic Development program and has played soccer in Scotland and Iceland as a result.

A four-year starter at Butler, Tate helped the Tornado post a 43-25-6 record during that time, including WPIAL playoff trips his junior and senior year.

“I played baseball and basketball until ninth grade,” he said. “At that point, I knew soccer would take me farther than those two sports, so I decided to concentrate more on it.

“I love the game. It's my passion. I hope to make a career of it somehow.”

Still undecided as to attending college and playing soccer or pursuing playing possibilities overseas, Tate said he would study forensic science if he does further his education.

“I've had to get my grades up and they've been pretty good the past couple of semesters,” he said. “I'm certainly not ruling out playing in college.”

Troy Mohney said that “I have enough contacts in soccer through my years in the sport that I know people willing to give Tate a try-out overseas if he opts to try professional soccer.”

Tate knows he has a decision to make.

“I could go to school for four years, come back and work with my father at Family Sports Center, maybe take things over there when he retires,” Tate said. “That's another thing I've thought about.”

Either way, he plans to remain in the game.

“I know how much he loves it,” Coach Mohney said. “With Northern Steel, he won three State Cups. His team went to the regional semifinals one year.

“He's played and succeeded against the best. I know he can succeed in this sport. What direction he chooses to go is up to him.”

2017 Joe Kearney (North Catholic)2016 Matt Happ (Seneca Valley)2015 Matt Saluga (Seneca Valley)/Adam Mascio (Seneca Valley)2014 Matt Saluga (Seneca Valley)2013 Spenser Myers (Karns City)2012 Spencer Posey (Mars)2011 Justin Ryan (Karns City)2010 Kory Wood (Knoch)2009 Ryan McKenzie (Mars)2008 Ryan McKenzie (Mars)