The #2 seed Bulldogs (13-5-1) are headed to the BIG EAST Championship match for the second straight season as they defeated #6 seed Providence (11-6-3), 3-2, in the semifinals Thursday night. Butler held off a second half comeback from the Friars and used two goals from Halle Stelbasky, and one from Annika Schmidt, to push past Providence.

All three goals scored for Butler were in the air as Stelbasky and Schmidt used their heads to get the job done. Paige Monaghan, Amanda Kowalski, and Katie Soderstrom each had an assist on the night.

Monaghan set up the first goal for Butler as she carried the ball down the right sideline after beating a Providence defender. The All-BIG EAST First Team member played the ball into the box for Stelbasky on the far post, who put the ball right past the Providence keeper, Shelby Hogan, in the 19^th minute.

Butler's second goal was set up by Kowalski as Stelbasky fed her the ball on the right sideline. Kowalski crossed the ball into the box and found the head of Schmidt, who bounced the ball past Hogan to give the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead in the 35^th minute. The 2-0 lead would carry into halftime.

The Butler defense held Providence to just five shots in the first half and took ten of their own. Starting goalie for the Bulldogs, Hannah Luedtke, made one save in her 45 minutes of play.

Providence did not go quietly as they came out in the second half aggressive. The Friars broke through the Bulldog back line in the 59^th minute as Hannah McNulty played the ball through the Butler defense to Camille Murphy, who finished the ball past Leonie Doege.

The Bulldogs regained the momentum in the 80^th as Stelbasky scored what would end up being the game winner off a cross from Soderstrom. Soderstrom found Stelbasky through the air for the senior's second goal of the night, and her eighth of the season.

Providence pressured the Bulldog defense for the final 10 minutes and found the net once more in the 88^th minute as Amber Birchwell shot the ball past Doege, after Doege made two saves on previous shots from the Friars. Butler was able to hold on in the final two minutes of the game to take the victory 3-2.

The Friars held the edge in shots in the final 45 minutes, taking five compared to four by the Bulldogs. Corner kicks were even 3-3. Doege made three saves for the Bulldogs and Hogan finished with four for the Friars.

The Bulldogs will now face the #1 seed Georgetown Hoyas in the BIG EAST Championship on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. The game will take place in Washington, D.C. and will stream live on FS1.