VALENCIA — Falling behind is something that has plagued the Butler hockey team all season.

It was something that would haunt the team Monday.

Hempfield took a 4-0 lead in the first period and scored the first five goals of the game, but an inspired third period from the Tornado wasn't enough in an 8-3 defeat to the Spartans at the Ice Connection.

Spearheading the Hempfield charge was the play of Clay Plyler, who had a hand in all eight scores, including six goals.

“We've been missing offense all year,” Hempfield coach Lawrence Hendrick said. “We had more room than we thought and found our shots.”

Austin Williams opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game before Plyler sandwiched goals around a Justin Bartus score for a 4-0 lead with 3:17 left in the first period.

“When you give up that first goal, it plays with the psyche of the players,” said Butler coach Mike Guentner.

“That first goal made us relaxed,” Hendrick said. “That makes a big difference. Getting the first goal of the game is a pretty good feeling.”

Plyler added a power-play goal with 8:53 left in the second period before the Tornado (1-20) broke through when Joe Dimartino pushed the puck past Spartans goalie Alex Androkites off assists credited to Tanner Gilliland and Justin Wehrli.

Plyler, however, answered with an unassisted goal with 2:15 left in the frame when Butler defenseman C.J. Campbell couldn't clear the puck from the goalmouth. Plyler then tacked on another with 52 seconds left.

Butler came back from intermission with a burst of energy, using a goal from Troy Double just 14 seconds in, then Brett Sybert trimmed the deficit to 7-3 with 10:05 remaining in regulation.

Butler goalie Logan Rothbauer made several sterling saves to turn back the Spartans (4-17), but Androkites did likewise to hold off the Tornado.

Plyler closed the scoring on a power-play chance with 3:04 to play.

Butler was outshot by a 26-14 margin through two periods, but trimmed that margin down to four (27-23) late in the contest.

“After the game, I was careful not to give the guys too much credit,” Guentner said. “We outnumbered them. We had more bodies and they had a very good cushion early.

“We took advantage of a tired team, but you can see what we can do when we click and get some momentum. The problem all year is we get a goal, then we give up a goal. We have to capture that momentum and keep it,” Guentner added.

Notes: Plyler (31) and Williams (23) have accounted for 54 of the Spartans' 73 goals this season. ... Hempfield was 2-for-5 on the power play, while Butler had no power-play opportunities. ... Androkites and Rothbauer each finished with 22 saves. Hempfield outshot the Tornado 30-25. ... Gilliland added another assist while Corey Chuba and Mack Walters also added helpers for Butler. ... Butler will wrap up the season at 6 p.m. Friday at Norwin.