After a three-game road swing, the Bulldogs are back home for a Sunday afternoon match against Villanova. The 1 p.m. kick will be played at Varsity Field. With only three BIG EAST matches remaining for all conference teams, the contest is significant as teams jockey for positioning in the standings.

Butler enters at 8-5-1 overall (2-3-1 in BIG EAST play). Villanova is 8-6-1 on the season, and 1-4-1 in conference match-ups. The Bulldogs, with seven conference points, currently stand in sixth in the BIG EAST standings. The top six teams advance to the 2019 BIG EAST Tournament. The other eight BIG EAST teams play Saturday in advance of the Butler-Villanova contest a day later.

Sunday's match is part of Butler's Homecoming Weekend with the game serving as Alumni Day. The program's five seniors – Brandon Guhl, Alex Lehtinen, Derek Sutton, Jared Timmer, and Maurice Thompson III – will be recognized in a pregame Senior Day ceremony.

THE SERIES: Butler owns a 6-1 mark against Villanova in the all-time series, one that dates back to the 2013 season when the Bulldogs joined the BIG EAST Conference. Butler has never lost to Villanova in Indianapolis. The 2017 match-up between the two programs also served as Senior Day for Butler.

ONE YEAR AGO: Logan Lee's goal in the 90^th minute gave Butler a come-from-behind 2-1 win Oct. 20, 2018 at Villanova.

With 37 seconds remaining in regulation, the match was restarted with a face-off. Butler ultimately gained possession and began an attack up the right side. Kieran Geldenhuys made a cross to the top of the box, which found the foot of Lee. His initial shot was blocked, but he collected his own rebound and sent in a low shot inside the left post to put the Bulldogs ahead with only nine seconds remaining. Lee had subbed back in the contest at the stoppage with 37 ticks left on the clock.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Marquette came away with a 3-2 win over the visiting Bulldogs Wednesday night in Milwaukee. The Golden Eagles netted two first-half goals off corner kicks as Patrick Seagrist scored in the 16^th minute and Josh Hancock tallied at the 41:00 mark.

Sandwiched between those two scores was a Wilmer Cabrera, Jr. converted penalty kick in the 38^th minute. Butler was awarded a PK after a Marquette handball in the box.

Marquette's lead grew to 3-1 in the 54^th minute as Lukas Sunesson scored off a rebound from a Josh Coan attempt.

Butler pulled within a single goal in the 67^th minute. After a Marquette shot just missed the left post, the Bulldogs built up momentum as Jared Timmer collected a pass and took a few touches outside the box. His lofted pass found the right foot of Brandon Guhl in the air and his volleyed shot from the left side of the frame found the net.

The Bulldogs could not find the equalizer in the final minutes.
 
OF NOTE:

• After leading the Bulldogs to an impressive pair of road wins last week, Wilmer Cabrera, Jr. and Gabriel Gjergji were both recognized with BIG EAST weekly honors. Cabrera, Jr. pulled off an impressive double, earning both Offensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week accolades. Gjergji was named Goalkeeper of the Week.
• Marquette held an 18-12 advantage in shots in Wednesday's contest, but the Bulldogs put nine of their 12 shots on goal.
• Cabrera, Jr. and Guhl each picked up their respective team-leading sixth goals of the season in the contest.
• With 15 points, Cabrera, Jr. is tied for third in the BIG EAST; Guhl is tied for fifth with 14 points.
• Jack Haywood is tied for the BIG EAST lead with seven assists.
• Wednesday's result ends a five-match unbeaten streak (4-0-1) for Butler. The Bulldogs had not lost since Sept. 28.
• With his four game-winning goals, Cabrera, Jr. is tied for second in the conference.
• Butler is now 3-3 on the road in 2019, including 2-1 in BIG EAST play.
• Gjergji has four shutouts on the season; his 4.36 saves per game are fourth in the BIG EAST.
• Griffin DeBolt returned to the line-up after missing the previous two matches due to injury; Rhys Myers and Alex Lehtinen were forced to sit out Wednesday's match after sustaining injuries at Seton Hall Saturday. 
• Ten Bulldogs have found the net in 2019; 13 have scored points during the campaign.

 
UP NEXT:
The Bulldogs have nearly a week off before traveling to Creighton Saturday for the team's final BIG EAST road test of the season. The 7 p.m. (Central, 8 p.m. Eastern) contest will air on the BIG EAST Digital Network. The regular season finale is slated for Nov. 6 when Xavier visits the Sellick Bowl.