Bulldogs Continue On Tournament Trail

TOURNAMENT TEST:  Butler will compete in its second tournament in as many weeks when it heads to Dayton, Ohio, for the Dayton Marriott Classic.  The Bulldogs, coming off a runner-up finish in the Michigan Invitational, will face Western Illinois in the first round of the four-team tournament on Friday, Sept. 9, at 5:30 p.m.  The tournament, hosted by Dayton at Baujan Field, will conclude on Sunday, Sept. 11.

                            Dayton Marriott Classic
    Friday, Sept. 9        Western Illinois vs. Butler, 5:30 p.m.
                                 Houston Baptist vs. Dayton, 8:00 p.m.
    Sunday, Sept. 11    Houston Baptist vs. Butler, 12:00 p.m.
                                 Western Illinois vs. Dayton, 2:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs are returning to the Dayton Classic for the third time in five years.  Butler won the 2007 Dayton tournament crown with victories over Saint Francis and Sacramento State.  The Bulldogs then went unbeaten in the 2008 classic with wins over Robert Morris and Marshall, but lost the tournament title to host Dayton on goal differential.  Butler will wrap-up this year’s tournament with a match against Houston Baptist on Sunday at 12 noon.                

Butler is unbeaten in its last 14 regular season tournament contests.
      
HOMECOMING KING:  Butler head coach Paul Snape probably couldn’t have scripted a better way to get his first collegiate coaching victory.  Facing the school where he spent eight seasons as a coach, Snape helped lead Butler to a thrilling come-from-behind, 2-1 victory over Michigan in the first round of the Michigan Invitational.  The Bulldogs trailed 1-0 at halftime, but quickly tied the match on a goal by Austin Oldham less than a minute into the second half.  Sophomore Adekunle Oluyedun then gave Butler the lead seven minutes later, and the Bulldogs survived a charging Michigan squad in the final 37 minutes.  The Wolverines had a penalty kick with 11 seconds remaining, but goalkeeper Andy Holte made the game-saving stop for the Bulldogs.  Prior to the match, Snape received an NCAA Tournament ring in a special ceremony honoring Michigan’s 2010 Final Four team.            

SAVE MORE:  Redshirt freshman Andy Holte was given his first collegiate start in Butler’s match against Michigan at the Michigan Invitational, and he responded with six saves in the Bulldogs’ win.  He made all six stops in the second half to help the Bulldogs blank Michigan over the final 45 minutes.  Holte came back two days later with his second career start and recorded six more saves against Oakland.  His final save came in the second overtime period, helping Butler preserve a 1-1 tie.  

Andy Holte has more saves than five Horizon League teams on the season.

BULLDOG BITS:  Butler will be facing Houston Baptist for the second straight season.  The Bulldogs defeated the Huskies, 5-1, on the way to the tournament crown at last year’s Wildcat Invitational in Lexington, Ky.  Forward Adekunle Oluyedun scored his first collegiate goal and added an assist in that first round win...Seniors Lucas Eichhorn and Dustin Mares were members of Butler’s 2008 squad, which went unbeaten at the Dayton Classic...Senior JC Aikenhead and freshman Brycen Howard each scored his first Butler point at the Michigan Invitational.  Aikenhead, who transferred to Butler from Northern Illinois in 2009, had an assist on the Bulldogs’ goal against Oakland.  Howard had the assist on Adekunle Oluyedun’s game-winner against Michigan.