Butler boys soccer freshman Jude Perhacs makes debut count with ‘legacy game’ goal to beat Gateway

August 26, 2025 Last Updated: August 26, 2025 10:25 PM Sports

BUTLER TWP — It wasn’t perfectly what Jude Perhacs visualized. But it was the ideal outcome for the Butler freshman and his team.

The unassuming 5-foot-4, 110-pound forward deposited his first varsity goal Tuesday night. The shot, which hit the back of visiting Gateway’s net late in the 44th minute, banked off the left post before darting in.

It stood as the only marker the Golden Tornado’s season opener, a 1-0 boys soccer non-conference triumph.

e have a joke. It’s like a legacy game,” Perhacs said afterward. “That’s what I was thinking. You have to be so composed in those moments. As soon as Everett (Reges) saw it bounce to me, he was screaming, ‘Shoot it! Shoot it, Perc! Shoot it!’

“I just had to take a deep breath and kinda just swung my foot. I was aiming for that side of the net, so at least it wasn’t a blind shot.”

Junior Jackson Stewart hurried to play the ball across. It grazed off Reges and a Gators (0-1) defender, dropping right in front of Perhacs.

“Stewie and Everett do a great job,” Perhacs said. “Stewie gets in behind you, does amazing with it and Everett holds it up — and that’s what happened. Stewie got in behind and played it, Everett kinda shielded it and it bounced back to me.”

Longtime Golden Tornado coach Troy Mohney has seen plenty of first varsity goals. He felt Perhacs “could have been one of the best couple kids on the field today. He was that good, as a freshman.” Mohney added Perhacs is an intelligent player and was constantly one of the first players chosen when summer practice teams were drafted.

“It almost (brought) a tear to my eye. It’s that cool,” Mohney said of watching Perhacs’ milestone. “I’m sitting beside his dad (Golden Tornado assistant coach Joe Perhacs) over here. It reminded me of when my kids played. It was a really cool moment.”

Mohney became emotional talking about the score.

“I’m a wimp,” he said, composing himself.

Perhacs called himself the smallest player on the field, but he wasn’t nervous entering the night. He’s been playing soccer since he was 4 years old and plays club competition for Steel City FC.

“A big thing you hear from the pros, everybody, your coaches, either the night before, day of or even in your warm-ups, you’re envisioning,” Perhacs said. “I’m always at the top of the box. I’ve never envisioned a scrappy, sweaty goal or anything.

“Top of the box, posting in, I love it.”

Mohney said Perhacs was shortchanging himself.

“He’s too competitive to not get in those areas,” Mohney said. “He’ll go into those areas if it needs to be done.”

Fellow newcomers Cade Hanley and Evan Ordy also played major minutes for Butler as midfielders and forwards. Perhacs hopes it’s just the start for a budding career.

“I would love that,” Perhacs said. “The dream is World Cup. That’s always been the dream. And Liverpool, here I come. We’re gonna try to have this be a good cornerstone to build off of.”