2-for-1 night
BUTLER TWP — The Seneca Valley girls soccer team is getting ready for the WPIAL Class AAA playoff while Butler ended its season at the bottom of Section 2.
But on Monday night, the Golden Tornado proved its rivalry with the Raiders remains a healthy one.
The Raiders were up by a goal twice in the first half, only to have Butler score the equalizer both times for a 2-all tie at intermission.
But neither team scored in the second half and the game ended with that same score.
For Butler (4-12-3, 1-9-2), its effort on Senior Recognition Night was a positive end to a disappointing season.
The tie also marked the final game for veteran coach Marlene Peoples.
"I knew for a while that this would be my last season," she said. "It would've been awesome to get one more goal for the win, but the girls played with a lot of heart."
The second overtime saw Seneca Valley control the play, but the Raiders forced Butler goalkeeper Lisa Rodgers to make only two saves.
Rodgers made 11 saves in the game, as many of the Raiders' scoring chances were thwarted before the senior needed to make a play.
The Raiders put five shots on goal in the first 26 minutes and 20 seconds of the game, with Rodgers saving all of them.
SV's leading scorer Jessica Meurer came through with a goal to break the stalemate with 12:36 left in the first half.
Just over 6Z\x minutes later, senior midfielder Karilee Cowan answered for Butler with a goal on a penalty kick.
Following Barbie Rohm's goal that put SV up 2-1 at 2:53, the Tornado's Amanda Dillon scored the game's last goal with 1:50 left before halftime.
"Our girls had the drive they needed tonight," said Peoples. "They played up to their capabilities. That hasn't happened much this season."
SV senior goaltender Erica Hassen surrendered both goals. She also tallied three saves.
Freshman Ashley Wack guarded SV's net in the second half and made seven saves.
Sophomore goalkeeper Catherine Messmer has been unable to play for undisclosed reasons for three weeks.
The Raiders have tried three different keepers in her place, including Wack, Hassen and sophomore Stacy Harkins.
"That's our biggest problem right now, not having a set goalkeeper," said SV coach Dave Sylvester. "Ashley played well tonight, but we're expecting Catherine to be back for the playoffs."
The Raiders (12-3-4, 7-2-3) have scored only four goals in their last three games, which have resulted in ties with Ambridge and Butler and a loss to Pine-Richland.
"I was happy with the scoring chances we had tonight," said Sylvester. "But we've had those kind of chances the last three games and haven't been able to make the most of them."
The Raiders shut out Butler 3-0 Sept. 20.
The Golden Tornado warmed up for their section finale today against Shaler by dominating the Cavaliers in a non-section affair.Junior midfielder Andrew Schnur scored two first half goals and teammates Jake Huey and Nathan McCandless tallied insurance scores in the second half for Butler (16-1-1, 9-1).Butler senior goalkeeper Tim Duffy tallied six saves in the shutout win.The Tornado will capture the section outright if they win today's game. If Butler plays to a tie, it will share the championship with Pine-Richland.A Butler loss will give the title to Pine-Richland and Butler will settle for second place.Almost as confusing as the section standings are the details of where today's game will be played."The Shaler game is scheduled to be played (at Butler on Tuesday)," said Tornado coach Troy Mohney. "But if the field is too muddy, we will end up playing it down at Shaler. A decision will be made (today) at noon. If the game is moved to Shaler, it will be at 3:30 p.m. If we play here, it will be at 7:30 p.m."Kiski Area (10-6-1) has clinched a playoff berth in Section 1-AAA after a second-place finish behind Norwin.
