Box Score

Senior David Goldsmith scored the game-winner in the 107^th minute to catapult Butler into the championship match of the BIG EAST Men's Soccer Tournament. The Bulldogs, seeded second in the BIG EAST Tournament, needed extra time in a physical semifinal match to get by the third-seeded Wildcats of Villanova, 1-0 in double overtime, Thursday night at the Butler Bowl in Indianapolis.
 
Butler's win over Villanova coupled with top-seeded Providence losing at home to Creighton in the other semifinal means that Sunday's BIG EAST Championship match will be played in Indianapolis. The noon start will air nationally on FS2.
 
Goldsmith's 12^th goal of the season came off a beautiful ball from freshman Lewis Suddick, who lofted a pass from 20 yards out. Goldsmith fought for position in the box and was able to head the ball inside the right post. It was the fourth game-winning goal for the BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
 


Butler began to control momentum and possession midway through the first half after Villanova came out strong in the first 15 minutes of the match as the visitors took the first two shots and three corners of the match in the opening minutes. Villanova would take 12 corners on the night.
 
Butler had two solid chances in regulation that just missed the net. In the 24^th minute, Marco Charalambous hit the crossbar near the top right corner on a shot from just outside the 18 after a scramble in the box pushed the ball out to him.
 
With just over 16 minutes left in regulation, Jared Timmer's blast from 20 yards out was redirected off a Villanova defender and then hit the right post, resulting in a corner kick.
 
Villanova had several counter opportunities, including in the 82^nd minute as Timmer was able to track down a 2v1 breakaway for the Wildcats and punch the ball wide of Butler's net to negate that threat.
 
Goldsmith's goal gave Butler a 14-13 advantage in shots. Villanova had 12 corner kicks to just five for Butler. The incredibly physical match included 18 fouls for Villanova and eight for Butler, while the teams combined for three cards.
 
Butler's Eric Dick made five saves in posting his sixth shutout of the season. Will Steiner made three saves for Villanova in the losing effort. Zach Zandy led the Wildcats with four shots.
 
The Bulldogs played without freshman Isaac Galliford, who was forced to miss the match due to yellow cards accumulated throughout the season. He will return for Sunday's BIG EAST championship match.
 
Sunday's match is a rematch of an Oct. 7 contest in Omaha that the host Blue Jays won, 1-0. Butler and Creighton both entered that match ranked in the Top 10 nationally. Sunday's match-up will feature two Top 25 programs with the BIG EAST title at stake.