Butler's goal enough for Neuqua Valley

The Butler not only did it but also was the only one to do it.

Neuqua Valley's Will Butler scored with 34.8 seconds remaining in the opening half to lift the Wildcats to a 1-0 victory over host Waubonsie Valley in an Upstate Eight Conference soccer match.

"It was helpful to score before half to put us in a better mental state," Butler said. "It just helps us because it makes them have to push people up."

Waubonsie Valley (2-4-1, 0-1-0 Upstate Eight conference) hasn't fared well head-to-head against Neuqua Valley recently. Last season the Warriors saw their season end with a 3-0 loss to the Wildcats in the postseason. The Warriors also lost 4-1 and 1-0 to the Wildcats a year ago.

"I don't know if it's a little nervousness with Neuqua Valley, but a lot of times we panicked and had no purpose behind our play," Waubonsie Valley coach Angelo DiBernardo said. "That's not the type of game I like to play regardless of whether the ball is in the back third, middle third or final third."

The teams looked to be heading into halftime scoreless before senior Blake Carson distributed to Butler who finished. It was one of the few scoring opportunities either team had all evening.

"I don't think we threatened their goal a lot," Neuqua Valley coach Tony Kees said. "But we were around the penalty area."

Neuqua Valley (5-1-1, 1-0-0) may have been victorious, but the Wildcats continue to struggle with lackadaisical play at times, something they know can cost them down the road.

"For whatever reason they go into these lapses, and fairly long lapses too, where they're just playing average," Kees said. "We somehow have to get them to play for a longer period."

How to do that remains a big question. Kees joked about brainwashing, hypnotizing and showing his kids more video because he's not sure what will work.

"I think they know and again it's the frustration of coaching," he said. "You don't always know what's in the heart and the mind of a teenager, and if they're not in the mood it's not going to matter."

The shutout loss was the third this season for a Warriors team.

"We started to panic, playing balls to the top and losing possessions," Waubonsie Valley defender Alex Brinlee said. "We got frustrated and mixed up and unfortunately weren't able to put one away."

Goalkeeper Hunter Hollinshead recorded the shutout for the Wildcats.