Better late than never.

That adage proved true Monday night when the Butler Area School Board approved girls lacrosse as a varsity sport.

The Golden Tornado competed last spring as a club team while the vast majority of area schools had taken advantage of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League's decision in May 2003 to accept the sport under its umbrella.

To be a member of the WPIAL, a team must be sponsored by its school, a relationship that did not exist between girls lacrosse and Butler High School - until now.

"(Butler Superintendent) Dr. (Ed) Fink recommended to the board that it approve girls lacrosse as a varsity sport," said Butler athletic director Tim O'Malley. "It's a PIAA-sponsored sport and also is recognized now by the WPIAL. He felt it was a good time to make this decision."

The school board will allocate $8,500 to the team for the upcoming school year.

"Before, each girl had to pay for her own equipment and just to be part of the team," said Julie Baccanti, who served as the team's coach the last two seasons. "I think that kept a lot of girls from coming out.

"Now, the players won't be responsible for supporting the team financially, and hopefully that will mean more girls coming out for the team," she added.

While the sport is now officially recognized at Butler High, a few details must be addressed before it is the newest member of the WPIAL.

"I will petition the WPIAL for admittance of our girls lacrosse team," said O'Malley. "Basically, it's just a lot of paperwork that has to be completed. But Butler will have a girls lacrosse team playing in the WPIAL next spring."

The Golden Tornado had a full slate of games scheduled in 2004, but after the WPIAL released its own schedule for its member teams, Butler had several games canceled because some schools were unwilling to play a game that would be ignored in the league standings.

"That's another reason this had to be brought before the board before long: the scheduling," said O'Malley. "The WPIAL will be coming out with its 2005 schedule in a few months. The board had to make a decision by the deadline in late October."

Next up for the team is to find a new head coach.

"I've coached it the last two years," said Baccanti. "I think it's time I step aside and become a spectator.

"But this was a big night for the program," added Baccanti. "A lot of girls are involved in lacrosse at Butler and I think that influenced the board's decision."