Zachary Garma, Seneca Valley boys soccer beat Butler for crucial win in hunt for WPIAL playoff spot

September 26, 2024 Last Updated: September 26, 2024 10:38 PM Sports

Owen Eastgale (9) celebrates with fellow Seneca Valley teammates Luke West (21) and Jacob Prex after scoring in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Butler’s Noah Ernst collides with Seneca Valley’s Sami Malkamaki as they try and head the ball in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Butler’s Ryan Conaway keeps the ball away from Seneca Valley’s Zachary Garma in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Butler’s Ryan Conaway keeps the ball away from Seneca Valley’s Zachary Garma in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

Owen Eastgale (9) celebrates with fellow Seneca Valley teammates Luke West (21) and Jacob Prex after scoring in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Noah Ernst collides with Seneca Valley’s Sami Malkamaki as they try and head the ball in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Ryan Conaway keeps the ball away from Seneca Valley’s Zachary Garma in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Ryan Conaway keeps the ball away from Seneca Valley’s Zachary Garma in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Seneca Valley defeated Butler 4-1in a boys soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

JACKSON TWP — Even with Seneca Valley boys soccer’s 4-1 win over Butler on Thursday night, the Raiders’ road to the postseason remains bumpy.

“We knew we were in a position (that) if we lose this game tonight, now playoffs are truly in jeopardy for us,” said Seneca Valley coach George Williams, whose team rebounded after two consecutive losses. “Every game means something moving forward. We don’t have any cushion.”

The Raiders (7-4, 3-3) are jostling for a postseason spot with WPIAL Section 3-4A foes North Hills and Pine-Richland with just about two-and-a-half weeks remaining in the regular season.

Seneca Valley’s Zachary Garma tallied a pair of goals in the home win, including an equalizer he tucked into the bottom right corner of the net in the 14th minute to make it 1-1. The score remained the same into halftime, then Owen Eastgate untied it a little more than a minute into the second half after the hosts thwarted a Golden Tornado (2-8-1, 0-6) corner kick.

Owen Eastgale (9) celebrates with Seneca Valley teammates Luke West (21) and Jacob Prex after scoring in a boys soccer game Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

“I thought we had a chance to stop the counterattack up right on our attack — and we didn’t do it,” Butler coach Troy Mohney said. “We just kind of watched them dribble by us. ... He (Garma) dribbled 80 yards or something with the ball. No one stopped that guy. No one took a foul.”

Eastgate’s marker was assisted by Mark McConahy. In the 54th minute, Garma put away a perfectly placed Tyler Prex lead pass to the left corner, and Eastgate added another for good measure in the 62nd.

Ryan Conaway’s fifth-minute line-drive boot into the upper left corner of the net was Butler’s lone marker.

The effort was a cleansing for the Raiders after allowing North Allegheny and North Hills four goals each in section road defeats on back-to-back nights a week earlier.

Butler’s Ryan Conaway keeps the ball away from Seneca Valley’s Zachary Garma in a boys soccer game Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at NexTier Stadium. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

“It wasn’t just the losses,” Williams said. “It was kind of the way that we lost that really kind of hit us hard. It was something we haven’t experienced in quite a long time — which is great to be able to say.

“That made us open our eyes and see that, ‘OK, we’ve got more than a few things that we need to fix.’”

The Golden Tornado are still seeking their first section victory. Even with four such contests remaining, their path to a playoff berth has become even more of a steep incline.

“We’ve needed the last couple to give ourselves a shot here,” Mohney said. “We’re not mathematically eliminated at this point, so I’m sure I’m still going to be pushing and trying to get the best out of these guys.”

“They battle for me. I don’t expect any less going forward.”