Butler's 2019 campaign came to an end Thursday night at the Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis as the Bulldogs dropped a 5-1 decision to West Virginia in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The result leaves the Bulldogs at 11-7-2 on the season.

West Virginia will advance to play No. 11 seed Marshall Sunday.

The 2019 season was Butler's third NCAA Tournament appearance in the past four years.

In Thursday's match, West Virginia was able to get on the board first as a handball in the box in the third minute set up a penalty kick for the visiting Mountaineers. Rodrigo Robles Grajera converted it for a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs leveled the match in the 21^st minute as Rhys Myers headed in a Joel Harvey corner kick. It was Myers' first goal in a Butler uniform.

West Virginia took a lead that would not relinquish with a tally in the 36^th minute as Andres Muriel Albino scored off a Tsubasa Takada assist. The Mountaineers would take that 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

The Bulldogs were not able to generate many opportunities in the second half as West Virginia's pressure had the home team on its heels for much of the second 45 minutes. West Virginia was able to break through in the 81^st minute with a goal, and followed that with another 30 seconds later for a 4-1 lead. An additional goal came in the 84^th minute.

Butler keeper Gabriel Gjergji made 10 saves on the night as WVU had a 21-6 shot advantage.

Steven Tekesky made one save in picking up the win for West Virginia, which improves to 10-8-2 on the season.

The Bulldogs graduate a senior class that includes Brandon Guhl and his 29 career goals, All-BIG EAST performer Jared Timmer, captain Alex Lehtinen, three-year starter Derek Sutton, and Maurice Thompson III. However, Butler will return a talented nucleus for the 2020 season led by BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Wilmer Cabrera, Jr., All-BIG EAST honoree Jack Haywood, Gjergji, and others.