County pair earn all-state honor

Butler's Mohney, SV's Newell snag boys soccer nod

Derek PydaEagle Staff Writer

December 8, 2017 High School Soccer 



Butler forward Tate Mohney was named to the all-state team for boys soccer after scoring 18 goals for the Golden Tornado. Seneca Valley's Louis Newell, who scored 10 goals, was also named to the team.

DAVE PRELOSKY/ BUTLER EAGLE

For Louis Newell, it was a great way to cap his soccer career. For Tate Mohney, it serves as a springboard toward what figures to be a decorated senior campaign.

A senior midfielder at Seneca Valley and junior forward at Butler, respectively, both players were recently named to the all-state team.

Newell began wrestling in kindergarten and picked up soccer in the second grade. The former has been his best sport. He already has a WPIAL title and a pair of runner-up efforts at states to his credit.

Mohney led an impressive turnaround for Butler. In 2016, the Golden Tornado won just a single section game. This fall, the team won six such contests, won a playoff game and finished with a final record of 14-6.

Mohney paced Butler in goals with 18.

“There wasn't much excitement on last year's team,” Mohney admitted, “but I could tell from the start of the preseason that this year was going to be different. The captains took lead of the team and making it happen was pretty easy with everyone wanting to do it.”

Troy Mohney, Butler's coach and Tate's father, saw marked improvement in his son's game this year.

“He has always been a very good soccer player,” Troy said. “This season, he got frustrated a lot less and he worked harder. His vision on the field was something I really noticed.”

As big of a threat as he is to score, Tate Mohney has proved to be as good of a distributor of the ball. In his three varsity seasons, he has scored 29 goals and contributed 30 assists. His 18 assists this fall fell one short of the program's single-season record.

“He likes having the ball at his feet and loves scoring goals, but also passes the ball tremendously well,” Troy said. “He took a lot of our corner kicks this season and has the ability to drive the ball in or loft it and it's usually pretty accurate.”

His all-state selection tells Tate Mohney he is right on schedule in his soccer career.

“It's a great honor,” he said. “It was one of my goals before the season and I want to get All-American next year.

“I can't put it all on me, though,” Mohney added. “I was happy to put up the numbers I did, but would not have been able to do all of that without my teammates.”

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Derek Pyda

Derek Pyda

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