Box Score
INDIANAPOLIS – Two of the top programs in the country clashed on Monday night at the Butler Bowl with #7 Denver holding off #9 Butler by the final score of 1-0. The game-winner came off the foot of Blake Elder who netted his sixth goal of the season off an assist from Reagan Dunk.
The lone goal of the contest featured Elder diving through the middle of the field to beat goalkeeper
Eric Dick to the left side. The play started with Dunk dribbling through traffic near the top edge of the field. Dunk made eye contact with Elder and delivered a pass into the middle of the box where Elder converted with the sliding kick.
Elder led all players with three shots. No other Pioneer took more than one. On the other side, Butler had four different student-athletes attempt two shots.
Lewis Suddick and AR Smith were the only two that placed a shot on goal.
The final shot count favored Butler 10-8 with the Bulldogs taking four in the first 45 minutes followed by six in the second half. Denver held the upper hand with eight corner kicks compared to just two from BU.
Each goalkeeper played the full 90 minutes on Monday night with
Eric Dick taking the loss and Nick Gardner earning the win. Dick made one save on the night while Gardner came up with two.