Box Score INDIANAPOLIS – Sophomore forward David Goldsmith scored the go-ahead goal midway through the first half and Butler went on to upset #11 Providence 2-0 in a BIG EAST match-up at the Butler Bowl on Sunday, Nov. 2. The win lifts the Bulldogs to 6-6-5 on the year and 2-4-2 in conference play.
After honoring this year's seniors during a pre-game Senior Day ceremony, the Bulldogs attacked the net early and often, finishing the game with 16 total shots and five on-goal. Goldsmith scored the first goal of the game in the 27th minute, taking a pass from sophomore midfielder Charlie Constantino on a fast break before splitting two Providence defenders to find the back of the net.
The goal was Goldsmith's sixth of the season. The sophomore finished the game with three shot attempts, including two on-goal. The aggressive Butler attack continued into the second half as junior midfielder Vincent Mitchell put the game out of reach at the 52-minute mark with his second goal of the season. Junior forward Jeff Adkins picked up an assist on the goal, in which Mitchell collided with the Providence goalkeeper before sliding to poke the ball into the empty net.
Freshman goalkeeper Eric Dick posted a commanding performance in the net, picking up five saves en route to his sixth shutout of the season. The Bulldog defenders helped to smother a Providence attack that finished the game with 14 shots (6 on-goal) and nine corner kick attempts.
"We came out and executed our game plan first class," Butler head coach Paul Snape said following the match. "It was tremendous heart. Everybody chipped in and we needed everybody today and it was a great team win."
Adkins and senior forward Chad Rigg each added three shots of their own to the Butler total, including two looks on-goal from Rigg in just 49 minutes played. Senior midfielder Zach Steinberger also contributed two shot attempts, and picked up a yellow card in the 63rd minute.
Snape chose to start all six seniors (Steinberger, Rigg, Andy Holte, Thor Kellin, Brandon Fricke and Jesse Miser) in their final career regular season match at the Butler Bowl, and had nothing but high praise for his veterans after the game. "They're awesome, they're the class I came in with," Snape said. "Some of the them I recruited and some of them I didn't, but you can see I think everybody has grown together and these guys are just fantastic kids."
The Bulldogs will have one more match to qualify for the BIG EAST postseason, travelling to Xavier on Friday, November 7. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m.
Contact: Mike Murtaugh (mmurtaug@butler.edu)
