EDINBORO — If not now, then never.

The thought crossed the collective mind of coach Jon McLister’s Butler County Soccer Association girls U15 team, which finally brought home a title from Edinboro University after falling short in the same event’s finals each of the last three years it was held.

“It was a blessing for us to be able to be successful this year, especially since it’s maybe the last year that a lot of these girls will play together, just given their age group,” McLister said of his team’s experience at the recent PA West Open Tournament. “It really felt great seeing the looks in the girls’ eyes. I think, at some point in the second half, they were really confident that it was likely going to happen.”

The girls U15 team played three teams in the bracket, then beat Plum for a second time in the championship.

The BCSA’s success didn’t stop there. The organization had a dozen teams participate in different age groups over the two weekends, five of which reached their respective finals. Teams from Western and Central Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York all take part in the event.

“It really is a good opportunity to have travel teams get a competitive tournament to play every year,” McLister said. “There’s several tournaments to get into, but this is probably the largest that is offered in the state.”

And it brings out the best in nearby squads, evidently.

“I’ve coached these girls a long time — they’re U13 now, I’ve coached most of them since they were U6 players,” said Jason Steyer, the coach of the girls U13 team. “They played some of the most inspired soccer I’ve ever seen them play.”

Steyer’s team’s final was knotted at 1-1 after both overtimes, setting up a dramatic round of penalty kicks.

“The timing of it worked out such that basically three other (BCSA) teams, their games finished,” Steyer said. “So all these players, all their parents, and one of our opponents — they had another team — everyone’s at this field. It was the most amount of people I’ve ever seen at a youth soccer game in my years of coaching.

“The excitement and the cheering from all these fans there to watch these girls compete in this shoot-out, I get butterflies now just thinking about it still.”

The boys U13 team, coached by Joe Perhacs, lost in the second overtime in pursuit of a title three-peat at the tournament. The team actually played up an age group, as well.

“As far as the organization, they do a great job training the kids from the grassroots up,” said Perhacs, who’s been involved with BCSA for six years. “I think the coaching is terrific. The knowledge is there. They give you the tools for success. ... It’s fun seeing all these kids grow up in a sport that they’re passionate about.”

Coach Tracy Dailey’s girls U19 team and Karen DeLorenzo’s girls U11 team also came within a win of a crown.

Even the boarding arrangements brought different families together — regardless of their players’ bracket or age group — with the sport as a shared language.

“I serve as the vice president for our club, so one of the things I do every year is I get a block of rooms at the SpringHill Suites in Erie,” Steyer said. “Basically, Butler soccer took over this entire hotel for the weekend. It was pretty cool.”

“I think it really motivates the kids and the families to continue on in the sport,” McLister added. “Especially when we have as much support as we have from the board and as much success as we have putting so many teams forward.”

The familiarity lends itself to a very close-knit foundation.

“We’re a family, more or less, as far as the soccer community goes,” Perhacs said. “It’s not just parents and coaches that are focused on one team. ... I’m proud and glad to see the success of the organization.”

To go with its rec program, the BCSA currently has 15 travel teams confirmed for the fall — the most its ever had for that time of year.

“People hear about it and people see this excitement and people hear everybody talking about how much fun they have,” Steyer said. “It’s spilling over. It’s creating a nice little buzz around Butler, I think, for our program.”

“The leadership that we have on that board, they’ve really done some great things for the community and the soccer program in this area that is really a feeder program for middle school then high school,” McLister said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to really get their feet wet with the sport.”

Listed below are the players on each BCSA team that made the finals at the PA West Open Tournament:

U11 Girls

Paityn Barger, Gia Conglose, Adalyn DeLorenzo, Teagan Early, Finley Koziara, Julia McConville, Riley Neubauer, Grace Pascarella, Camy Plummer, Sydney Rodgers, Lexi Rudish, Mya Siefker, Paige Weber

U13 Girls

Claire Baehr, Alaina Garbinski, Courtlin Hanley, Gracie Hoehn, Brielle Holt, Jules Leyland, Meredith Mago, Molly Mahood, Kendal McCorry, Stella Mohney, Andraia Rocco-Wilson, Molly Rudish, Dakota Schnur, Teagan Steyer, Quinn Steyer, Keira Wilhelm

U13 Boys

Sam Caton, Colton Crider, Tyler Edmiston, Wesley Ketterer, Angelo Maiure, Julian McCall, Macallister O'Donnell, Evan Ordy, Jude Perhacs, Camden Rial, Michale Roman, Jacob Szul, Luke Szul, Judah Trepanier

U15 Girls

Addison Bell, Peyton Claypool, Layla Colsey, Piper Curry, Ava DeLorenzo, Lucia Leyland, Macie McLister, Peyton Ponteous, JoJo Shuler, Izzy Skal, Parker Slater, Brooke Steyer, Brooke Yost, Rylee Yost

U19 Girls

Shali Slater, Rachel Sickeri, Emma Dailey, Cecelia Morrow, Savanna Prescott, Hanna Dailey, Aubrey Price, Trinity McFarland, Sophia Bonetto, Ava Kamenski, Carleigh Lucas, Phoebe Brandon, Giada Bonetto