JEFFERSON TWP — It’s not how you start, but how you finish.

Butler’s girls lacrosse team was rewarded for believing in that adage Tuesday night.

In a game that saw the Golden Tornado fall behind 6-1, Butler outscored Knoch 8-3 in the final 19 minutes and 58 seconds of play to grab a 13-12 victory.

The result, coupled with Shaler’s defeat of North Hills, means both Butler and Knoch will compete in the upcoming WPIAL Division II playoffs. A Tornado loss would have eliminated Butler from contention.

“Our goal now every season is to make the playoffs,” said Butler coach Annie Tigano, who has guided the team to three straight postseason berths. “We are not satisfied with a year that doesn’t include the postseason. And to win like this just makes it more exciting for the girls.”

With the game tied at 12 and just 1:12 left in the fourth quarter, Butler senior Bailey Kraus won a crucial draw and raced deep into Knoch territory. She passed to teammate Reanna Everton before the ball ended up on the stick of Megan Crawford, who found the net for the sixth time in the game. The goal came with 54 seconds left.

After the ensuing draw did not result in possession for either team, Butler’s Lauren Miller snagged the all-important groundball and her team retained possession as the seconds ticked off the clock.

“Bailey has won a lot of draws for us,” Tigano said of the individual victory that led to the team’s win. “She’s a player who holds everything together for us.

“During the timeout (with 1:12 left), that was our main focus, win the draw,” she added. “After that, we just wanted to get down the field and get the ball to someone who was open.”

Kraus scored five goals in the contest, including one that gave Butler its first lead, 10-9 with 10:32 left in the game. But the late draw she controlled was just as important as any of her scores.

“With a minute left in the game, you have to get possession,” she said. “I handled draws before, but this is the first year I’ve done it consistently. It’s all about finesse.”

The ending was a bitter pill to swallow for the Knights, who had the Tornado on the ropes in the first half. Even after Butler had taken an 11-9 lead, Knoch stormed back with three straight goals from Mandi Boldy, Savannah Steffen and Kara Fitzpatrick for a 12-11 edge with 4:13 left to play.

However, it would be the last lead of the night for Knoch (6-8-1, 4-6) as Crawford scored the equalizer three minutes later, moments before her game-winning tally.

“Things can change so quickly in lacrosse, that’s what makes it such an exciting game,” said Knoch coach Garett Butler.

“Nobody can do it alone, it takes teamwork,” Kraus said of Butler’s resurgence. “You have to want it together and we did.”

The Knights owned the first 20 minutes of the game, as goals by Fitzpatrick (2), Kelsie Petit (2), Kelsey Kloes and Boldy gave the Knights their five-goal edge. Goalie Sarah Rager was also on the top of her game, stopping seven of eight shots in that span. She finished with 16 saves.

“Sarah played a good game overall, but she was great in that first half,” said Butler.

The Tornado (8-9, 4-6) did rebound late in the first half with two goals from Crawford and another from Kraus to cut Knoch’s lead to 7-4 by halftime.

Boldy and Fitzpatrick led Knoch with four goals apiece. Everton scored twice for Butler.

Butler goalie Kam Bernhard tallied nine saves.

The Knights live to fight another day. After closing the regular season at home Thursday against Moon, the team will compete in the playoffs for the first time in the program’s eight-year existence.

“I’ve told the girls all season that they’ve been making history here at Knoch,” Butler said. “They already have a lot of firsts and it’s great to add getting to the playoffs to that list.”