QUEENS, N.Y. - The Butler men's soccer team has advanced to play in the semi-final round of the BIG EAST Tournament, eliminating No. 24 St. John's on its home turf. In a defensive battle, neither the No. 6 seed Bulldogs (7-8-3) nor the No. 3 seed Red Storm (10-5-3) were able to find the back of the net in two periods of regulation or in two periods of overtime play. In the subsequent penalty shootout, all four Bulldogs converted, while keeper Gabriel Gjergji made one save and force one St. John's miss. The 4-2 advantage sends Butler to Washington D.C. to play No. 2 seed Providence on Thursday, November 11, at 1:30 pm.
 
Key Moments

• 19' | Quint Breitkreuz has a good look inside the penalty area, but the hard shot is blocked.
• 31' | A St. John's shot from the left side of the penalty area gets past Gabriel Gjergji but rolls just wide of the far post.
• 36' | Perrin Barnes gets a one-touch shot from 12 yards, forcing a St. John's save.

HALFTIME

• 46' | A St. John's breakaway forces Gjergji to the ground to save a hard low shot. The resulting corner leads to a header shot, but it goes wide.
• 63' | Nick Okoro shoots at a charging Red Storm keeper. The deflection is corralled by Wilmer Cabrera, Jr., whose left-footed shot is on target but saved by the retreating keeper.
• 65' | A St. John's shot sails over the bar, and a few seconds later, a second shot, from 15 yards, deflects of Gjergji's legs and out of play.
• 90' | Gjergji makes one last save to send the match into overtime.

FIRST OVERTIME PERIOD

• 91' | Perrin Barnes is issued a second yellow card on a foul, putting the Bulldogs down a player for the remainder.
• 98' | Gjergji has to extend to the ground to save a Red Storm shot from within the box.

SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD

• 102' | A ball played into the box by St. John's is head toward goal, but Gjergji makes the save.
• 108' | Butler sends a free kick directly into the penalty area but cannot produce a shot.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

• BU-Griffin DeBolt – goal (1-0)
•    SJ-Johan Aquilon – goal (1-1)
• BU-Jack Haywood – goal (2-1)
•    SJ-Lucas Bartlett – goal (2-2)
• BU-Louie Bulger – goal (3-2)
•    SJ-Jared Juleau – saved by Gjergji (3-2)
• BU-Joel Harvey – goal (4-2)
•    SJ-Einar Lye – missed (4-2)

Butler Points Summary
GOALS: (none)
ASSISTS: (none)

Bulldog Bits

• With tonight's draw, Butler has produced a record of 3-3-1 against ranked opponents this season. The Bulldogs defeated No. 18 Lipscomb (3-1) on September 21, No. 20 Providence (2-1) on October 16, and No. 24 St. John's (1-0) on November 3. Butler lost to No. 1 Indiana (0-1), No. 1 Georgetown (0-1), and No. 5 Marshall (0-2).
• The Bulldogs' record in overtime matches this season is 2-0-3.
   
• This was Butler's fourth penalty shootout in BIG EAST Tournament play and its first time to advance. The Bulldogs were eliminated on the previous three events, in 2015 (Providence, 4-2), 2017 (Xavier, 4-1), and 2019 (Georgetown, 4-3).
   
• Goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji (7-8-3) made five saves in the match to earn his fifth shutout of the season.
• The Bulldogs offensive attack was led by Nick Okoro, Wilmer Cabrera, Jr., and Quint Breitkreuz who each had a pair of shots with one on goal.
   
• St. John's outshot Butler, 15-8. The Red Storm put five on frame, while the Bulldogs managed four.
• St. John's produced eight corner kicks compared to two for the Butler.

Up Next
Butler will play No. 2 seed Providence on Thursday, November 11, at 1:30 pm. The BIG EAST Tournament semifinal matches and championship are being hosted by No. 1 seed Georgetown in Washington, D.C.