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Welcome to the club
By John
Enrietto
Eagle Sports Editor
BUTLER TWP -
The Golden Tornado boys wanted to give up fewer.
"We needed to generate more production," girls coach Marlene Peoples
said. "We made that our focus this year."
"It only takes one goal to win," first-year boys coach Chuck Kelley
said.
The Tornado are 4-0 in section play and are bidding
for their first section title in 12 years.
"We seniors know this is it for us," said defender and co-captain K.J. Ludlum. "We've never been to the playoffs,
and we're pretty serious about getting there."
They're so serious that they've bought into Kelley's ball-possession system,
something he picked up from
Kelley was an assistant coach with Geis for four years at
"Those two are my mentors," Kelley said. "They've shown me
there's plenty of ways to play this game. We don't have to play traditional
high school soccer.
"I wanted to bring a unique, exciting brand of soccer to this program, and
I think that's happening."
Kelley admitted he was surprised by how well
"It just suits our personnel well," he said of playing a possession
game. "And with the great start, it gives me a lot of ammunition to
convince the kids that it works.
"
That formula has worked so far.
"We're thrilled the boys are doing so well," Peoples said. "It's
generated more interest in soccer around the school and more students are
coming to the games."
"The girls team finishes practice and comes down
to watch the boys game," said the leading scorer for the
Doug Moran, a junior forward, leads the Tornado boys with only three goals.
"Any of us can score at any time," said senior defender and co-captain Steve Armhahizer said. "We don't have any
great players, just a bunch of good players."
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KariLee Cowan of Butler (9) collides with |
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So
far this season, Hilderbrand has scored eight goals - she led last year's team
with 10 - and the Tornado girls are off to a 5-2 start, 2-2 in section play.
"Our standard has always been defense," Peoples said. "Our
highest goals-against average during our big years was always under a goal per
game.
"But we've also had forwards like Meghan Schnur and Annie Lowry," she
added. "When you lose high-powered offensive players like that, I think
there is an adjustment period."
Consider the girls program adjusted.
"Since I was our leading scorer last year, I felt like it was on me to
make sure our offense picks up," Hilderbrand said. "I didn't expect
to have eight goals by now, but this team is really playing well
together."
Cowan has three goals as a sweeper. Lisa Rodgers is a junior goalkeeper while
seniors Lauren Rodgers and Danielle Plaisted have been anchoring the defense.
"There's no cliques on the team this year,"
Cowan said. "We understand that if we work hard, we'll be good. We're
jumping into the play a lot more when we have chances to score. Everyone's a
leader. That's where we're at."
Goalkeeper Rodgers agreed.
"We have a lot of depth everywhere," she said. "I have a lot of
confidence in my defense. I'm only facing maybe three shots per game."
Hilderbrand, Lauren Rodgers and junior Amanda Dillon are
"We missed the playoffs by like half a point last year," Hilderbrand
said. "Nobody liked sitting it out. There's definitely extra motivation
not to let it happen again."
Stingy start
Opponent Score
Highlands 3-0
Schenley 1-0
Ringgold 1-0
Shaler 3-0
Kiski Area 4-0
North Hills 1-0
Montour 2-1
Pine-Richland 4-1