Delayed gratification
JACKSON TWP — Between the 1Z\x delay and the first 26 minutes of play that saw Butler unable to find the net, the Golden Tornado were itching to score a goal.
They got two of them.
Trailing host Seneca Valley 1-0, Butler received goals from Jake Gamble and Ryan Armahizer in a span of 4 minutes and 39 seconds Thursday in a 2-1 boys soccer win over the Raiders.
The game marked the final Section 2-AAA contest of the season for both teams. It was scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m. but it was pushed to 5 when one of the officials was unable to make it to the game.
It wasn't the best offensive performance Butler coach Troy Mohney has seen from his team, but it got the job done.
"We played well enough to win," he said. "But we created a lot of good scoring chances that I would have liked to have scored on."
Seneca Valley (6-11, 2-8) took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute of play when junior Chas Elliott intercepted a pass near the Butler net. Goalkeeper Zeke O'Donnell had come out to take possession, but Elliott beat him to the ball and tallied what amounted to an empty-net goal.
But the Tornado (13-3-1, 8-2) came back, thanks to a great effort by Nathan McCandless, who took control of the ball just past midfield and sprinted down the right sideline before sending a pinpoint centering pass to Gamble, who beat SV senior goalkeeper Mike Stevens for the equalizer.
Armahizer's goal moments later came on a rebound after SV sophomore goalie Justin McAtee had made the initial stop.
McAtee, who tallied 14 saves, including 10 in the second half to keep the Raiders within one score, has seen his playing time increase.
"He's very sharp," Raiders coach George Williams said. "We're going to be in good shape next year with him in net."
The Raiders had several chances to tie the game in the second half, but none better than in the 56th minute of play, when Ryan Zipf and Zac Holman took back-to-back shots at O'Donnell and the goalie stopped both attempts.
"That was a great opportunity for us," said Williams. "But (O'Donnell) was just in the right place to make both saves."
O'Donnell made seven stops.
"He came up with some big saves, especially in the second half," said Mohney. "He's a great athlete."
The Raiders close their season at Ambridge Saturday while Butler hosts Norwin Saturday and travels to Kiski Area Monday before competing in the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs.
