SV’s new defense aids 4-0 shutout of Butler
JACKSON TWP — Replacing an entire defense may seem like a daunting task, but in the early going, Seneca Valley girls soccer coach Mark Perry has no complaints.
Three first-year starting center backs and two wings — Cassidy Stopchick, Giuliana DiTullio, Ashley Borland, Sarah Vescio and Delaney Mansfield — have helped the Raiders win their first two games, 2-1 over Fox Chapel and 4-0 against visiting Butler Wednesday night.
“We have the firepower on offense this year,” said Perry after the shutout of the Golden Tornado. “The question is whether we can keep the ball out of our own net. We are inexperienced back there, but the girls have played well so far.
“This win is a big confidence boost for us. Butler is a good team with some good players.”
Playing with a lead can only help the defense’s confidence and after several missed opportunities, the Raiders got on the board with Ayla Ward’s goal off an assist from Ashlee Libby in the 23rd minute.
Butler’s Leah Deal almost tied the game just over four minutes later.
The senior striker got behind SV’s defense, but Humphreys came out and made a sliding play on the ball before Deal could get a shot off.
The Tornado (2-1, 1-1) forced Humphreys to make just two saves in the game.
“We thought we had a good gameplan coming in, but ran into a different formation and got overloaded in the midfield,” said Butler coach Dan Buzzard. “We had some players out tonight, but with forwards (Deal, Ella Rekich and Maddi Rose), we expect to be strong up front this season.”
The Raiders (2-0, 2-0) dominated the second half, beginning with Libby’s goal in the 45th minute. Ward returned the earlier favor with an assist of her own.
Vescio and Maddie Marcotte added tallies later in the half. While Butler did not take a corner kick in the game, the Raiders earned six of them. They did not score directly off any of them, but were indicative of the tilted field the game was played on.
Butler goalkeeper Delaney Yaracs stopped six shots on the night, including four in the second half.
Humphreys started in 2022 and earned All-Section and All-WPIAL honors.
“We’ve kept the pressure off of her so far, but we know she will have to come up with some big saves for us this season, just like last year,” Perry said.
Both teams are off until Wednesday when the Tornado host North Allegheny and SV travels to Allderdice.
