BUTLER TWP — A work in progress, to be sure.

But the work of the Butler varsity girls soccer program is far from finished.

“When I was a freshman, we were just hoping to make the playoffs,” senior defender Alison Altman said. “Now we expect so much more.”

The Golden Tornado are 9-1 on the season, will host a first-round WPIAL Class 4A playoff game Thursday and have won the program's first section championship since 2003.

That 2003 team finished 21-3-2 and reached the state championship game, dropping a 1-0 decision to Owen J. Roberts.

“That's not where the program was when I got here,” said Butler coach Steve Perri, now in his ninth season.

Three years after that section championship season, Butler endured a stretch of six consecutive losing campaigns. The year before Perri took over, the Golden Tornado were 2-14 and had lost 30 of 33 games over two seasons.

“We basically started over,” Perri recalled. “We're still building. No matter where this playoff season takes us, this program has the potential to be successful for a few years now.”

Butler has outscored its opposition 42-10 this season. Forward Samantha Miller leads the team with 11 goals and is only a sophomore. Chloe Weiland, a junior forward, has tallied 10 goals while senior midfielder Gabby Boden has seven.

Only four seniors — Boden, Altman, defender Stephanie Adkisson and goalkeeper Paige Miller — are seniors.

Junior starters are midfielder Vanessa Drohan, Weiland and defenders Piper Geibel and Sydney Shuster. Jessica Mohney and Miller are sophomore forwards and Leah Weiland starts in the midfield as a freshman.

Butler's lone loss this year is a 3-1 decision Oct. 5 at Pine-Richland.

“Our three players up front (Samantha Miller, Chloe Weiland and Boden) are so fast,” Altman said. “They generate a lot of scoring opportunities.

“Our back unit has to facilitate plays and get the ball to them. We've been working well as a team that way.”

Boden said that opposing defenses “have trouble staying with our speed. We can slip behind them.

“If they mark one of us, the other two will do the damage.”

The Tornado don't care who does the damage as long as the damage gets done.

“It doesn't matter who gets the goals,” Chloe Weiland said. “Whoever is open for the best shot takes it. Our goal-scoring has been spread out all year.

“That does make us hard to defend.”

Weiland added that team chemistry has played a factor in the team elevating its play to the next level. Butler has reached the WPIAL playoffs five straight years now, losing in the quarterfinal round each of the past two.

“The core of our team has been playing together for a long time now,” she said. “We're comfortable with each other.”

Winning the section title does hold special meaning to the team's seniors.

“I feel like we've helped take the program to another level,” Boden said. “The entire team has enjoyed this year.

“The younger girls are going to want to keep experiencing something like this. That's what winning does.”

Altman has been doing more than sparkle on defense. She's been passing along advice to the younger members of the defense corps.

“Alison has been a true mentor in that regard,” Perri said.

“We've had that fire in our belly all year,” Altman said. “Our coaches are great, but when an experienced player can point out something to a younger player ... That's a whole different perspective sometimes.”

Winning is a perspective Butler wants to keep around for a while.

“These girls have been so coachable and positive,” Perri said. “That's been the biggest key to their success.”