Butler soccer standout Mohney joining Dukes next year
BUTLER TWP — When it comes to soccer, Tate and Landon Mohney have done a lot together.
Tate, a 2019 Butler graduate, scored 50 goals and had 37 assists in his boys soccer career with the Golden Tornado. His younger brother, Landon, will graduate this spring and broke their father’s school career goal-scoring record by netting 69. He added 36 assists.
Their father, Troy Mohney, is Butler’s boys soccer coach. Both boys earned Butler Eagle Boys Soccer Player of the Year honors during their prep careers.
Now both will be teammates at Duquesne University.
“This is a big step for both of these guys,” Troy Mohney said. “Duquesne’s program has arrivee as an Atlantic 10 contender. There’s plenty of talent on that team and they play a different formation that Tate and Landon are used to playing.
“They’re in for an adjustment. They’ll have to earn their playing time, that’s for sure.”
Tate played for Division III Elizabethtown in 2019, scoring three goals and adding a team-leading seven assists. He did not play the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He transferred to Duquesne and is on the Dukes’ spring roster now.
Landon had a number of offers, including one from Pitt, before recently signing a letter-of-intent to continue his academic and soccer career at Duquesne.
“My brother’s there and that played a factor,” Landon said. “I’ve watched the team, I’ve kept up with those guys. I like the direction the program is going.”
Duquesne finished 10-7-2 overall last season — its first winning season since 2016 — and dropped a 2-1 decision to Saint Louis in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game. Chase Brooks is entering his 10th year as coach of the team.
“They could play together for the next three or four years,” Coach Mohney said. “When they were done playing high school soccer, their soccer options were their own. They could have gone anywhere in the country, maybe even play overseas, we weren’t going to hold them back at all.
“The fact they’ll be college teammates, playing only an hour away from here, is very exciting for myself and our family.”
Landon is planning to major in business.
“The play is going to be so much faster there,” he said of Duquesne. “I’m training harder, doing more lifting. I know I have to elevate my physical skills.
“I just want to keep getting better overall. Hopefully, I’ll get on the field my freshman year and be a starter by my sophomore season. That’s what I’m shooting for.”
He and his brother are both hopeful of playing at the next level after college.
“You never quit learning in this game,” Landon said. “We want to be part of a team that does something at the national level.”
While both played forward in high school, Duquesne’s formation includes five defenders, a midfielder, two attacking midfielders and two forwards.
Coach Mohney said his sons will have to adapt to new roles within that style of play.
“If they listen to their coaches, continue to work hard ... they’ll be fine,” he said.
