Butler fell in its 2018 season finale by a score of 5-3 at Xavier Wednesday night in Cincinnati. All three of the Bulldogs' goals came in the first half before the host Musketeers mounted an offensive rally over the final 45 minutes.

With the result, Butler concludes the 2018 season with a mark of 4-12-2. Xavier clinches a spot in the six-team BIG EAST Tournament with Wednesday's win, improving to 6-7-5 overall and 4-4-1 in BIG EAST play.

After a goal by Xavier's Samson Sergi in the ninth minute, the Bulldogs responded with two goals 90 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead in the 15^th minute. The scores came from senior Kieran Geldenhuys and junior forward Brandon Guhl.

Sergi knotted the game at 2-2 in the 32^nd minute before freshman Eric Conerty put the Bulldogs back ahead once more with his second goal of the season. He took a long pass from classmate Jack Haywood and was able to find the net in the 37^th minute.

Butler took that 3-2 advantage into the half, and it held for the first 10 minutes of the second half until Sergi completed the hat trick with a match-leveling goal in the 55^th minute. Two goals from Xavier's Felix Boe-Tangen would secure the win for the Musketeers.

Keeper Sam Keener got the first start and the first minutes of his Butler career Wednesday night. He was joined in the line-up by the Bulldogs' five field seniors – Joe Moulden, Geldenhuys, Michael Peay, Marco Charalambous, and Braden Van Allen. Reserve keepers Ryan Clark and Will LeFevre also suited up for the final time Wednesday.

Butler took eight shots on the night, converting three for goals. Xavier countered with 19 shots. The teams combined for 14 corner kicks.

The Bulldogs' three goals in the first half Wednesday night marked the second time this season that Butler had scored three goals in a half, joining a second-half performance in the team's 3-1 win at DePaul Oct. 13.

Guhl's goal marked his seventh of the season and the 20^th in his two-year Butler career. He will enter his senior campaign in blue and white tied for tenth on Butler's career goals list.

Seven true freshmen have registered a start for the Bulldogs this season: Gabriel Gjergji, Louie Bulger, Haywood, Conerty, Griffin DeBolt, Logan Lee, and Eric Hollenkamp. Five of those newcomers scored at least one goal this season.

In the team's six seasons as a member of the BIG EAST, this will only be the second time that the Bulldogs have failed to qualify for the conference's postseason tournament.