BUTLER TWP — Although the Seneca Valley and Butler boys soccer teams entered the season from opposite directions, their paths will cross Thursday night with much at stake.

The Raiders (10-6, 7-2) will travel to Butler (7-5-3, 6-1-2) for a 7:30 p.m. game that will decide the Section 2-AAA title.

SV ended last season near the bottom of the section standings, while Butler finished second before losing to Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL playoffs.

Both the Raiders and Golden Tornado have blended experience and youth to reach Thursday's decisive game.

Butler defeated SV 1-0 at NexTier Stadium Sept. 20.

Here's a look at how each team reached the doorstep of a section championship.

Seneca Valley

The Raiders, who last won a section title in 2005, got off to a fast start.

Wins over section foes North Allegheny, North Hills and Shaler gave the team an early lead in the standings at 3-0.

Back-to-back losses to Pine-Richland and Butler were followed by four straight wins, giving the Raiders a 7-2 record they'll take into Thursday.

The Raiders returned six starters from last year's team that finished 2-8 in the section: senior midfielders Conor Azevedo and Chas Elliott, senior forward Kevin Andreone, senior defender Tyler Lunevich, junior defender Tyler Izenas and sophomore midfielder Austin Smith.

"Having those guys back this year has played a huge factor, and our seniors have provided some good leadership," said SV coach George Williams.

"I knew we'd be better this year, but I didn't know if we'd be in this position," added Williams. "Last year, we were able to keep games close defensively and that has carried over into this year."

Azevedo (seven goals, one assist) and Andreone (five goals and five assists) have led the offense while Izenas and Lunevich have been solid in the back.

Junior goalkeeper Justin McAtee, who had no varsity starts entering this season, has stepped up to keep SV in the hunt for a section title.

"Justin has been very solid all around," said Williams. "He's very athletic and his technique is excellent."

Butler

Golden Tornado head coach Troy Mohney was restless over the first two weeks of the season.

In that span, Butler went 0-4-3 and was outscored 9-2.

The team's first two section contests against Shaler and Pine-Richland ended in ties.

"I didn't sleep very much," said Mohney. "My main priority was figuring out how to get the offense going."

Despite the poor start, Mohney knew he had a solid quartet of returning starters from last year's playoff team in senior defenders Drew Donoghue (2007 team defensive MVP), Blake McChesney, senior forward Jake Gamble (2007 team offensive MVP) and junior defender C.J. Burger.

The breakthrough came in Butler's 4-2 home win over North Hills Sept. 16.

"I moved (Donoghue) up from defense and he had two assists in the first few minutes of the game," said Mohney. "I ended up putting him back on defense, but that seems to be the point where we got going."

Wins over North Allegheny (2), SV, Shaler and North Hills followed.

Butler's lone loss since Sept. 14 was a 2-1 setback to Pine-Richland Sept. 27.

"We got a lot of confidence with that first section win," said Gamble, who leads the Golden Tornado with 11 goals. "Then came another win and another, and it just went from there."

Forward Matt Slamecka has added some punch to Butler's offensive attack, while Adam Lorenz has made a solid defense even better.

Aaron Voelker has manned the net for Butler and has made crucial saves this season.

Butler last won the section in 2006.

The Rematch

In that first meeting between SV and Butler, the Raiders won the battle in shots on goal, but it was Gamble's second-half tally that decided the game.

"We know where we stand with Seneca Valley and we're not getting big-headed about it," said McChesney. "They're a good team and a classy team."

The players on both teams know what they're going up against and you won't find one predicting a runaway.

"I'm expecting a close game again," said SV's Izenas. "It's Butler, it's at their place and it's on grass."

The Tornado's home field is the only one in the section with natural grass.

"I don't think it gives us that much of an advantage," said Mohney. "It's just that on grass, it's not as fast-paced a game that you'd get on turf."

In the event of a tie, SV would stay atop the standings and receive the better seed in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs by virtue of more conference wins.

But neither team wants the game to end in a stalemate.

"I have high expectations for these guys and that means winning the section title," said Williams. "But we're not going up there to tie."