In WPIAL girls soccer section win vs Butler, Seneca Valley’s defense proves it’s fast becoming a strength
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Butler's Malina McElroy (1) bumps a teammate during pregame introductions before facing Seneca Valley in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley seniors Madeline Marcotte (7) and Kinsley Pournaras (14) bump during pregame introductions before facing Butler in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley senior forward Cassie Leonard (30) scores against Butler in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's student section watches the Tornado face Seneca Valley in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Lexi Smith (20) dribbles against a Butler defender in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Cecelia Wolford (12) tries to get past a Seneca Valley defender in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Lucia Leyland (40) dribbles ahead of a Seneca Valley defender in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Ava Soley (8) dribbles against a Seneca Valley defender in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler's Lucia Leyland (40) dribbles in front of a Seneca Valley defender in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler goalie Ashton Huff (17) makes a save against Seneca Valley in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Karly Majeski (13) scores a goal against Butler in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
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Butler goalie Ashton Huff (17) prepares to make a save against Seneca Valley in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at Butler High School's Art Bernardi Stadium. Chris Leisie/Special to the Eagle
BUTLER TWP — Defense for Seneca Valley girls soccer entered the season as an unknown, but head coach Mark Perry now sees the group as well on its way to becoming a strength for the team.
The Raiders earned a 4-1 WPIAL Section 3-4A victory at Butler on Monday. The win came after consecutive shutouts of Taylor Allderdice and Latrobe.
Perry was tasked with finding five new starters on defense after graduation hit the Raiders (3-1-2, 1-0) hard. The same quintet has started all six of the team’s games during the young season. They are senior Madelynn Connellan, junior Addison Cravotta, sophomore Sophia Lawryk and freshmen Joslyn Grillo and Leah Damico.
“We threw them out there in our two scrimmages against Upper St. Clair and Moon and they held up,” Perry said. “Even though she’s a first-year starter, Madelynn has emerged as the vocal leader and Addison saw a decent amount of playing time last year.
“Neither Joslyn or Leah play defense for their club team, so we needed them to switch positions. But they’re very good players and have been able to adapt.”
Perry said it was in a 1-1 tie with defending WPIAL Class 4A champion Peters Township that the defense showed him the most.
“(Peters Township) puts so much pressure on you, and I thought our girls really grew up that night,” he said. “Defense was a question mark coming into the season, but those players have done well for us.”
If the back line can be depended on consistently, the Raiders could be in for a big year. Sydney Postler emerged as a star in goal last year and is back to mind the net. She made four saves in Monday’s win.
The offense got off to a slow start to the season, but has now scored 14 goals in the last three games, all wins. All-state midfielder Karly Majeski, who scored SV’s first and fourth goals against Butler, may lead the way, but she is surrounded by teammates capable of play-making and scoring themselves.
Junior forward Anna Iaquinta also scored, giving her three goals in two games. Cassie Leonard now has a goal in three straight games.
“Seneca Valley is extremely tough to defend,” Butler coach Dan Buzzard said. “Majeski is so good, and if you double-team her, that leaves someone else open.”
The Tornado (2-3, 0-2) received a goal from Kara Lubinsky following a corner kick, cutting their deficit to 3-1 with 25:18 to play. But Majeski’s second tally came just 36 seconds later.
Butler’s Ashton Huff stopped 17 shots. Despite the loss, Buzzard was able to take a positive from the meeting with the Raiders.
“The game against Pine-Richland (a 4-0 loss last Wednesday) left a sour taste in our mouth,” he said. “We don’t want to be just a kick-and-run team. We want to possess the ball, and I’m happy with the improvement I saw in the midfield tonight.”
Both teams face section foes Wednesday as Butler visits North Hills and SV hosts Pine-Richland.
