KITTANNING - On the losing side of double-digit scores, constantly fishing pucks out of your own net.

That's not the way a hockey goaltender wants to begin a varsity high school career - especially if that goalie is a girl trying to succeed on a boys team.

Such is the case for Butler junior Kim Antonetti, who took losses of 12-2 and 11-1 to Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon, respectively, in her high school debuts.

"It's been pretty rough," Antonetti said, managing a smile.

"It's almost been unfair," Butler coach Leo Cancilla admitted. "Kim had to begin against two of the best teams in the state. But we're rotating goalies right now and we have a tough early schedule."

The 5-foot-3 Antonetti surrendered 10 of the 12 goals against Bethel Park and gave up seven goals on 21 shots before being pulled against Mt. Lebanon.

"She gave up a couple of bad goals there, but made some good stops, too," Cancilla said. "I don't want to shake the confidence of either of our young goalies this early."

Antonetti is splitting time in goal with sophomore Kris Rhodaberger. They are replacing veteran netminder Bucky Holt, who is now playing at St. Vincent College.

"If one of us gives up more than three goals, that person doesn't start the next game," Antonetti said.

Butler gave up 41 goals in its first four games this season.

Antonetti isn't exactly a newcomer to the sport. She's been playing hockey for more than 10 years and played on the Amateur Penguins' first girls under-19 traveling team last year.

Antonetti had a 2.30 goals-against average in 25 games with the Amateur Penguins last year. She is playing with that team again this season.

"Right now, Kim's having trouble adjusting to the speed of the boys game," Cancilla said. "It will probably take her a full year to get comfortable with it."

"The overall play is a lot faster and the puck comes at you a lot harder," Antonetti said. "I've played against a few girls who can blast it pretty good, but not as consistently as in this league."

Antonetti is believed to be the only female goalie in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League's Class AAA division this year.

"I know she's the only one in Triple-A in Western Pennsylvania," Cancilla said.

Antonetti's older brother, Nick, used to play hockey and she got interested in the sport through watching his games. Her brother stopped playing during his sophomore year at Seneca Valley.

The family moved into the Butler school district this summer. Antonetti played youth hockey with the Beaver Badgers and was originally a defenseman.

"Nobody wanted to play goalie, so our coach started rotating us there when we were 9 or 10," she said. "I just took a liking to it."

Through youth hockey, Antonetti befriended Butler senior defenseman Mike Guentner years ago.

"I wasn't planning on going out for the boys team," she said. "But through Mike, I got to know some of the guys on the team and they were looking for another goalie. It was worth giving a try.

"I think it's kind of cool being the only girl doing this. I'm proud of that, but I want to prove my worth, too. I want to help the team," she added.

This is Antonetti's first year of playing high school hockey on an all-boys team.

"I'm thrilled she came out," Cancilla said. "Male or female, we needed another goalie. And Kim can play. She reads plays very well and she's excellent at stopping breakaways."

Antonetti stretched some knee ligaments in preseason and said she "has to work on my side-to-side movements. I'm still a little slow there."

She does have the support of her parents, who foot the bill for her ice time and goaltending equipment.

"I used to play soccer and basketball, too, but once I reached seventh grade, my parents made me choose one," Antonetti said. "And I love hockey.

"My mother has always been behind me in everything and my step-father used to play hockey at Butler, so he was all for it.

"They wouldn't have a problem if I quit, but I'm not going to. I'm hoping to play women's hockey at Penn State some day. If this experience helps get me some scholarship money, so be it," she added.