Butler's Nico Cicco (31) tries to move around Seneca Valley's Adam Galovich (24) during lacrosse action at Art Bernardi Stadium on Tuesday.

BUTLER TWP — For Seneca Valley, patience truly was a virtue.

The Raiders overcame a stellar effort by Butler goaltender Owen Angerett and outlasted the Golden Tornado, 9-6, in a key boys lacrosse showdown Tuesday night at Art Bernardi Stadium.

The win lifted the Raiders (11-5) into the third-seed for the WPIAL playoffs out of the North Division. Butler (8-7) will be the fourth seed.

“We've faced a lot of zone defenses, so we're used to having to be patient offensively,” SV coach Peter Tumbas said. “Butler plays a good one.

“We took 19 shots in the first quarter or so. If a few more of those go in, we might have put the game away earlier.”

The Raiders managed a 6-4 lead by halftime, but the Tornado tied the game in the third period on goals by Nico Cicco and Nick Balestrino. SV took the lead for good on Dan Rupert's third tally of the night with 25 seconds left in the period.

Angerett made 12 saves in the game, a few from close range. Seneca Valley had 21 shots on goal to Butler's 11.

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