Butler girls lacrosse scores points with coach in defeat
BUTLER TWP — Butler girls lacrosse coach Abbie Roetering was not happy about Wednesday’s 11-9 loss to North Hills that closed the WPIAL Section 2-3A slate, but she appreciated the effort on Senior Recognition Night.
That could not be said after the team’s play in the first 12-plus minutes against the Indians.
North Hills dominated play in that span, leading 6-0 after one period and pushing its edge to 8-1 with Mallory Lutz’s goal with 6:46 left in the second period.
“We’ve been struggling for a while (losing four straight),” Roetering said. “There’s been an individual-feel to our play lately, just not playing well as a team.”
But when Parker Slater scored for Butler midway through the second, the switch was flipped. Six more consecutive goals followed and the Tornado tied the game at eight when Addison Pino beat Indians’ goalie Maeve Kazmierczak late in the third.
“We were facing that big deficit and I told the team that we can’t just give up,” Roetering said. “Things just started to click and we began playing with a lot of energy.”
But just as Butler had managed to turn things around, North Hills did likewise. After Butler’s Taryn Hilovsky tied the score at nine with her 150th career goal with seconds left in the third, Lutz and Zoe Wyman closed the scoring with goals in the fourth.
The Tornado (9-8, 2-6) forced a turnover with 19 seconds left, but they ran out of time.
“I was impressed with our team’s ability to keep their heads in a very physical game,” North Hills coach Leah Singerling said.
The Indians (9-5, 4-4) had already clinched a playoff spot. Butler could have joined them in the postseason if it had won by double-digit goals.
“We knew the chances were slim, so we just focused on playing for the seniors,” Roetering said. “It meant a lot to see the team rally. Campbell (Clouse, goalie, eight saves) made some huge stops and amazing clears to help us come back.”
Lutz led all scorers with five goals. Hilovsky scored three times for Butler, Slater and Pino scored twice. Izzy Skal and Sofia Matonak both found the net once.
Butler will close the season with a pair of non-section games — Monday at Hampton and at home Wednesday against West Allegheny.
