JACKSON TWP — When Seneca Valley scored a goal this season, there was a good chance Luke Rupert had a foot in it.

The Seneca Valley senior forward scored 19 goals and added eight assists for the Raiders — figuring in on roughly half of his team's 55 goals — and has been named Butler Eagle Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

Rupert had been named all-section, all-WPIAL, all-state and WPIAL player of the Year before this latest honor.

“I wasn't thinking of any individual awards when the season started,” Rupert said. “All I was thinking about was winning a WPIAL championship.

“Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Now that the season's over and these awards are coming my way, I'm honored. It's been really nice.”

Seneca Valley finished 14-4-1 this season, bowing out in the WPIAL semifinals.

Also considered for the Eagle's Player of the Year honor were Slippery Rock senior forward and 24-goal scorer Ryan Davey, Mars senior forward and 28-goal scorer Austin Rocke, Karns City senior midfielder Nate Rondinelli and junior forward Dakota King (40 and 49 goals, respectively).

“There were a lot of great players in this area and for Luke to receive this honor is quite an achievement,” Raiders coach George Williams said.

“He's the first player in our program ever named WPIAL player of the year and his 19 goals are the most one player has scored in my 25 years with Seneca Valley boys soccer.”

Rupert scored one goal his sophomore season. He had six goals and seven assists during his junior campaign.

“I could see him coming on a bit toward the end of that junior season,” Williams said.

Rupert made sure his senior year was his breakout year.

“I got together with a bunch of buddies after last season and we just started working out,” he said. “I hit the weights hard, got stronger and in better condition.

“My stamina definitely picked up. I became more of a physical threat and that helped my ability to score goals.”

Williams said Rupert's added strength was easily noticeable.

“I can think of one game where he fought off two defenders by himself and passed the ball to an open teammate for the winning goal,” the coach said. “It was a fantastic play.

“I love the way seniors mature physically, intellectually and on the field. Luke was a prime example of that. He became a leader we could always count on.

“One of our assistant coaches called him 'a gamer' because of the way he always rose to the occasion,” Williams added.

Rupert also played basketball at Seneca Valley, but is not playing this year. He handled kickoff duties for the Raider football team this fall.

Rupert had not played football before this year.

“A lot of my friends were on the team and I wanted to be part of it,” he said of football. “My main focus was on soccer, of course, but I'd go over to football practice two days a week, kick the ball around, then play on Friday nights.”

Carrying a 3.6 grade point average, Rupert plans to major in business in college. He is unsure what school he'll be attending.

He is also unsure of whether he'll be playing soccer at the next level.

“After the season I had, I'm hearing from a few schools,” Rupert said. “I'm looking at Division II and Division I schools. If I go to a bigger school, I may look into playing club soccer.

“Being involved in a goal, either scoring or assisting, is such a great feeling. If I decide not to play soccer next year, I know I'll really miss it.”

Just like Seneca Valley will surely miss him.

Here is the 2019 Butler Eagle Boys Soccer Honor Roll, selected by the Butler Eagle sports staff with recommendations from area coaches:

Luke Rupert (Seneca Valley), Sr. forward, 19 goals and 8 assists, WPIAL Class 4A Player of the Year, All-State

Ryan Augustine (North Catholic), Sr., 39 goals, All-WPIALDane Beller (Mars), Jr., 20 goals and 12 assists, All-SectionOwen Collwell (Karns City), Jr., 23 goals and 19 assists, All-LeagueRyan Davey (Slippery Rock), Sr., 24 goals and 7 assists, All-District 10Emery Douthett (Butler), Sr., 12 goals and 7 assistsHunter Hardin (Freeport), Sr., 19 goals, All-SectionJoe Kearney (North Catholic), Sr., 35 goalsDakota King (Karns City), Jr., 49 goals and 13 assists, All-LeagueZack LaValle (Seneca Valley), Jr., 3 goals and 6 assistsLarry Leasure (Knoch), Sr., 5 goals, All-SectionDan Olean (Knoch), Jr., 7 goals and 4 assistsAustin Rocke (Mars), Sr., 28 goals and 12 assists, All-StateIsaac Wetzel (Freeport), Fr., 16 goals

Ian Balquist (Slippery Rock), Sr., 14 goals and 6 assists, All-RegionBen Francis (Seneca Valley), Sr., 8 goals and 11 assists, All-WPIALBryce Kopchak (North Catholic), Sr., 9 goals and 10 assists, All-SectionLandon Mohney (Butler), So., 10 goals and 9 assists, All-WPIALSteve Papik (Mars), Sr., 16 goals and 10 assists, All-WPIALNate Rondinelli (Karns City), Sr., 40 goals and 18 assists, All-LeagueLuke Shook (Butler), Sr., 3 goals and 5 assists, All-WPIAL

Brayden Christie (Karns City), Jr., 4 goals and 7 assistsSeth Grady (Mars), Sr., 2 goals and 6 assistsJonathan Merli (Freeport), So.Stuart Milcic (Knoch), Jr., 3 goals and 1 assistRemy Pardo (Butler), Sr., 3 goals and 2 assistsKaden Scherer (Karns City), Jr., 4 goals and 7 assists, All-LeagueJustin Stopar (Seneca Valley), Sr., 1 goal and 2 assists, All-WPIALChase Thomas (Seneca Valley), Jr., 2 assists, All-SectionNathaniel Willison (Slippery Rock), Sr., 2 goals and 3 assists, All-District 10

Luke Heider (Freeport), Sr., 11 shutoutsDuncan McCoy (Slippery Rock), Sr., 9 shutouts and .85 GAA, All-RegionPeyton Seibert (Butler), Sr., 6 shutouts