Icing on the cake
JACKSON TWP — Having already clinched the Section 1-AAAA title, the only thing missing for the Seneca Valley boys soccer team was the icing on the cake.
The Raiders took care of that Tuesday night.
Four different players scored a goal and the Raider defense continued its superb play in a 4-0 victory against Butler on Senior Recognition Night at NexTier Stadium.
The result earns for the Raiders (13-0-1, 9-0-1) an undefeated section mark, which means a lot to the players.
“This is a dream come true for us,” said senior midfielder Cole Dengler, who scored in the 45th minute to give SV a 3-0 lead. “Some people have been saying that we’re not a good offensive team, but we showed it tonight.”
The Raiders managed two first-half goals — Matthew Happ in the 10th minute off an assist from Zach Turley and Michael Zahorchak in the 37th minute — which gave the team a lead at the break it was unable to gain in the teams’ first meeting, a 2-0 SV win Sept. 22.
“The first game was scoreless at halftime,” said Seneca coach George Williams. “Butler is a tough team and that was one of the toughest games we’ve played all season.”
The Golden Tornado (5-6-4, 1-6-3) had just one shot on goal Tuesday, a weak attempt late in the second half.
Butler had one corner kick, taken in the 35th minute of play.
“We had hardly any (scoring) chances tonight,” said Butler coach Troy Mohney. “Seneca was definitely the better team.”
Noah Domencic assisted on Dengler’s score and Zach McVicker’s shot on a rebound accounted for the game’s final goal in the 63rd minute.
Dylan Good was the winning goalkeeper as the Raiders posted their ninth straight shutout and 12th of the season.
“We wanted to focus on playing defense really well this season, both individually and as a team,” said Williams. “We did both tonight.”
Butler goalkeeper Andrew Chwalik made seven saves.
The Tornado have three non-section games left to close the season, beginning with a home date against McDowell on Thursday.
“Other than our two losses to these guys (Raiders), we haven’t lost a game this season by more than one goal,” said Mohney. “We haven’t found a way to win the close games and that’s why we’re on the outside looking in (on the playoffs).”
SV has two regular-season games left. The Raiders play at Bethel Park on Thursday.
“Last year, our run in WPIALs was cut short,” Dengler said. “We’re extremely hungry for the playoffs to start. We need to keep moving forward.”
