CINCINNATI, OHIO - The Butler men's soccer team won its second BIG EAST match of the season, defeating Xavier, 2-1. The Bulldogs (4-6-1, 2-2-0 BIG EAST) scored one in the first half, but the Musketeers (8-5-0, 2-4-0 BIG EAST) answered just after the break. Midway through the second period, after a foul in the penalty area, Butler's Griffin DeBolt converted a penalty kick for the game-winning goal.

Key Moments

·   2' | A Butler corner provides a Wilmer Cabrera, Jr. shot from the top of the penalty area, but it sails over the crossbar.

·   8' | Xavier gets behind the Bulldogs' defense, but Gabriel Gjergji comes off the line to make a sliding save.

·   9' | Cabrera, Jr. gets a cross in front of the goal, but his low shot is blocked.

·   16' | A Butler foul leads to a Xavier free kick from 19 yards. The shot sails just over the bar.

·   19' | Jack Streberger takes a ball down the right side and sends it on the ground toward the top of the box. Hemi Nasser takes a shot that deflects off a Xavier defender and finds the back of the net. Bulldogs up, 1-0.

·   21' | Henri Kumwenda takes a cross and gets a shot from eight yards, but the Musketeers keeper extends and denies the attempt.

·   43' | A Xavier shot from straight on is deflected high in the air, and a Musketeer near the right post heads a shot that Gjergji is able to save.

HALFTIME

·   46' | The Xavier defense sends a ball forward, and Karsen Henderlong is able to elude the Butler defense and strike a shot into the left side of the goal, beyond Gjergji's reach. All level, 1-1.

·   54' | A straight-on Xavier shot from 25 yards is picked up by Gjergji.

·   62' | Nasser gets some space on the left corner of the box and just misses the top right corner of the goal.

·   63' | Henri Kumwenda charges into the penalty area and is fouled by the Xavier keeper. Griffin DeBolt steps up, and, as the keeper guesses to the right, he converts the penalty into the left side of the goal. Butler leads, once again, 2-1.

·   75' | A hard Cabrera, Jr. shot is deflected by the Musketeers keeper and hits both the right post and the crossbar. After it bounces in front of the goal, DJ Hooks heads the ball toward the goal and forces a leaping save by Xavier's keeper.

·   79' | A free kick from the Musketeers leads to a header shot that is controlled by Gjergji.

·   84' | Tommy Visser forces a diving save with a shot from just outside the eighteen.
 

Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Hemi Nasser, Griffin DeBolt
ASSISTS: Jack Streberger

Bulldog Bits

·   Hemi Nasser scored his first goal of the season and the fourth of his career.

·   Griffin DeBolt's penalty conversion was his first goal of the season and his first since scoring two during the 2019 season.

·   Jack Streberger's assist was his fourth of the season.

·   Goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji picked up his fourth win of the season, making four saves in the match.
 

·   Shots in the match were nearly level, with Xavier creating 12, with six on goal, and Butler making 11, with five on goal.

·   Wilmer Cabrera, Jr. led Butler with three shots, while Hemi Nasser had a pair. Six Bulldogs produced one shot.

Up Next

Butler hosts a pair of matches, starting with Providence on Saturday, October 16, at 7 pm. Marquette then comes to the Sellick Bowl on Wednesday, October 20.