BUTLER TWP— Home-field advantage? It didn't feel like it to Butler.

The Golden Tornado boys soccer team maintained the territorial edge for most of Tuesday night's first-round WPIALClass AAAplayoff game against Baldwin, only to slip up and slide past numerous scoring chances.

"I don't know if this was a home-field advantage,"Butler coach Troy Mohney said. "This field is pretty torn up and with all the rain we've had, that made it worse."

But senior forward Doug Moran produced two goals and an assist as Butler (18-1-1) won its seventh straight game, 3-1.

The Tornado play Norwin (14-4-2), a 2-0 winner over Upper St. Clair Tuesday night, Thursday at a site and time to be announced. Butler and Norwin played to a 2-2 tie during the regular season.

Butler had to come from behind to advance as Baldwin (12-8) scored the game's first goal 8 minutes and 44 seconds into the contest.

Senior forward Lester Johnson got possession of the ball at an awkward angle — well to the left of the Butler net — but managed to hook a shot that eluded goalkeeper Tim Duffy and barely slipped inside the right post. The goal was his team-leading 13th of the season.

The goal made Mohney think back to last year's 4-3 home first-round playoff loss to Chartiers Valley.

"This was the same type of night. cold and muddy,"Mohney said.

Only this wasn't the same team.

"Falling behind like that, we were forced to show what kind of character we have,"Mohney said.

Moran tied the game with 15:19 left in the first half, fending off two defenders and lofting a shot high into the right corner of the net.

Less than five minutes into the game, the Tornado missed a golden opportunity to score the first goal as Ryan Armahizer stood alone with the ball at his feet in front of the net.

As he tried to take a shot, he slipped and fell to the turf.

"It was funny. ... At halftime, Ryan told me he wasn't going to slip next time,"Mohney said. "I guess he can predict the future."

Indeed, Armahizer did not slip the next time. Instead, he took a long pass from Moran and deftly tucked it inside the left goalpost for his ninth goal of the campaign.

The goal occurred 8:16 into the second half and proved to be the game-winner.

The win didn't come easily as the Tornado had to survive three Baldwin corner kicks and a pair of throw-ins down the stretch.

With 17:52 remaining, the Highlanders had a shot defect off the crossbar and back into play. They could not get off another shot before Butler cleared the ball.

"It was tough out there tonight,"Moran said. "Baldwin has a good team and it was hard to keep your footing.

"I thought we controlled play well enough to win. Once we got a two-goal lead, I knew we had it."

Moran finally gave Butler that two-goal advantage, burying a shot from close range after receiving a pass across the goalmouth from Jake Huey. Moran leads the Tornado with 19 goals on the year.

First-year Baldwin coach Cameron Brydon lauded the play of Butler.

"I don't think they've gotten a lot of respect because of their section, maybe,"Brydon said. "But that's a very good team. They handle the ball well and they pass the ball well.

"Absolutely, they have a shot at the WPIALtitle. We've played the other top teams and Butler's right there with them."

The Tornado had a 10-5 edge in shots on goal, with Wade Grubbs, Ben Horner and Armahizer shooting wide on other chances directly in front of the net.

Duffy made a lunging save late in the first half and smothered a Johnson shot from close range early in the game.

"I hate to lose, but there's a difference between losing and getting beat. We got beat tonight,"Brydon said.

Notes: Baldwin made its ninth consecutive WPIALplayoff appearance Tuesday and reached the semifinals last year. ... Butler allowed only its second goal in seven games since losing 2-0 to Pine-Richland Oct. 3. ... Baldwin outscored its opponents 80-19 during the regular season and scored at least 10 goals twice against Uniontown, Laurel Highlands and Albert Gallatin.