Box Score OMAHA, NEB. – A late Bulldog rally, led by junior midfielder Caleb Postlewait, fell just short as #9 Creighton hung on for a 2-1 victory at home in a BIG EAST matchup on Saturday, Oct. 11. The loss drops Butler to 4-5-3 on the year and 0-3-0 in BIG EAST play.
Two goals from Creighton forward Timo Pitter left the Bulldogs in a 2-0 hole with less than ten minutes remaining, but Postlewait tried to kick-start a Butler rally with a goal in the 81st minute off of an assist from sophomore midfielder David Goldsmith to cut the lead to one. Bringing his goal total to three on the season, Postlewait has now scored within the last ten minutes of play in two straight contests for the Bulldogs.
Looking for an equalizing goal, the Bulldogs came up short on both of their final shot attempts as a header from freshman forward Joey Bastian was saved by the Creighton goalkeeper and a free kick from senior midfielder Zach Steinberger sailed over the net with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Steinberger, returning to the Butler lineup after sitting out the last four matches due to injury, enjoyed a refreshing return to form by serving as the team's primary facilitator out of the midfield and adding one shot attempt to the Bulldog total. The team finished the game with eight shot attempts, including three on-goal.
"We created three or four chances in the first half to give us hope, and second half we were more aggressive against one of the best attacking teams in the country," Butler head coach Paul Snape said. "We didn't give up, and it really revitalized us…in the end it was a tough loss."
The Bluejays jumped out to an early lead as Pitter scored the first goal of the game at the 12-minute mark and followed the strike up with another goal in the 61st minute. Senior goalkeeper Andy Holte and freshman goalkeeper Eric Dick each gave up one goal for the Bulldogs, and Dick finished the game with one save.
Goldsmith and Bastian led the Butler attack with two shot attempts and one shot-on-goal apiece. Adding another assist on the late goal from Postlewait, Goldsmith earned his second assist of the year and leads all Bulldog players with 12 points.
The Bulldogs will return home on Wednesday, Oct. 15, for a mid-week conference matchup with Marquette. The game is set to begin at the Butler Bowl at 7 p.m.
Contact: Mike Murtaugh (mmurtaug@butler.edu)
