Box Score Jake Scheper's goal in the eighth minute proved to be the only tally as visiting DePaul knocked off Butler, 1-0, Wednesday night in BIG EAST play at the Butler Bowl. With the result, Butler falls to 8-4-3 overall and 4-3 in BIG EAST play. DePaul improves to 3-3-1 in conference and 4-11-1 overall.
After a takedown that resulted in a Butler turnover, Scheper collected the ball and fired a shot from just inside the 18 on the right side. The ball looked to carom off a Butler defender, adjust course, and get by Bulldogs keeper Eric Dick to the short side.
"We knew we would be able to create chances, but we didn't convert them tonight," said Butler coach Paul Snape. "DePaul had a gameplan that worked well for them. It's a disappointing result. We hate to lose. We were sloppy at times with our passing and movement. But we control our own destiny (in regard to hosting a BIG EAST quarterfinal match) so we need to recover and focus on a very tough match at Marquette Saturday."
Butler would control possession throughout the match and create several opportunities that just missed. In the 25th minute, Mike Kozielek found Marco Charalambous on a cross, but his shot from eight yards out went just left. In the 30th minute, as play resumed following a DePaul yellow card, Jeff Adkins served up a ball that brought Blue Demons keeper Mack Robinson out, but the goalie was able to get enough of the ball to re-route it.
The Bulldogs would have several good looks in the second half as well, including a near-miss from Bennett Kim with 18 minutes to play as he took a feed from Charalambous but pushed the shot just right.
On the night, Butler had 20 shots to just five for DePaul. Butler also had a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks. Adkins led Butler with fourshots, followed by three apiece from Eric Leonard and Kim. Dick made two saves on the night.
The Bulldogs have a short turnaround as they travel to Milwaukee to face Marquette Saturday night. The 8 p.m. (Eastern) match will air on BEDN.
