WEST KITTANNING - Just when Butler looked like it had control, Seneca Valley seized it back.

In Wednesday night's hockey matchup at the Belmont Ice Complex, the Tornado's David Schultz's cross shot slipped past Raiders goalie Jeff Reed with 2:31 left in regulation to tie the game at 3.

But when John Raymus scored in front of the net just 48 seconds later, Seneca Valley took a 4-3 victory from Butler.

"The thing with this team, through the first seven games, is they never give up," said Seneca Valley coach Mike Schall. "They continue to work and continue to deliver, and that's big."

"If it wasn't for a breakdown in the defensive zone … " pondered Butler coach Leo Cancilla. "We had the momentum and we finally believed we had the win even though it was tied.

"I was definitely pleased with the effort. The game against Meadville Monday (a 4-3 loss) was much better, but the kids are starting to realize they can play like last year."

Butler fell to 0-7 after winning a school-record 17 games a year ago. After a scoreless first period, it was the Tornado who struck first when Sean Colonna took a crossing pass from David Schultz with 12:03 left in the second period to give Butler the lead.

Butler had missed a pair of breakaway opportunities early in the second period, including an empty-net shot.

Reed charged out of the net in an attempt to knock away the puck as Butler's Spencer Crouse bore down on him.

Reed hit the puck but it deflected off Crouse and headed to the net. Crouse quickly fired a shot, but it was wide.

It took a while, but the Raiders (4-3) finally broke through when Brent Tranter scored the equalizer just 48 seconds later, assisted by Caleb Hudspath and Dan Nelson.

Seneca Valley added another score with 8:17 left in the period when Raymus connected unassisted.

The Tornado, however, quickly answered just 34 seconds later when Fletcher Crouse found the back of the net, thanks to assists from Greg Rogerson and Spencer Crouse.

"After we came out of the locker room (after the second period), I told the kids to focus on what they had to do right and what they did wrong," said Schall.

"I said, 'Hey, we've got 15 minutes left. Let's bring this game back,'" Schall added.

The Raiders re-took the lead with 13:05 left in the game when Matt Jarrett took a pass from Hudspath and scored past Butler goalie Kris Rhodaberger.

Butler remained undeterred, and, after capitalizing on a couple of opportunities, tied the game with 2:31 left on Schultz's goal.

It didn't take long before Raymus's heroics gave the Raiders the win, but not without Butler peppering Reed with a barrage of shots in the closing minute.

"If you look at our scores this year, we won't win any blowouts," said Schall. "We just win through hard work. That's what I'm trying to start here."

The goalies played solid games in net, with Reed making 25 saves and Rhodaberger 19 saves.

""Our goalie has stepped it up some," said Cancilla. "He's allowed four goals against Meadville and four goals against Seneca Valley. It's better than earlier this year."

"(Reed) definitely gives us the opportunity to win," said Schall. "He made the saves he had to make and made some big saves too."

Notes:

Butler had been outscored 50-10 in its first five games. … The game saw only three penalties. … Tranter and Travis Sharrar assisted on Raymus' game-winning goal. … Raymus was a junior varsity call-up for the game.