VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Butler women's soccer team defeated Villanova by the score of 3-0 on Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs (13-3-1, 6-2-1 BIG EAST) scored three first-half goals and held the Wildcats (7-10-0, 1-8-0 BIG EAST) scoreless for the duration, securing a home quarterfinal match in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament.
 
Key Moments

• 5' | Amanda Kowalski takes a ball from Abigail Isger and carries down the center of the field, eventually finding Alli Leonard open on the right side. Leonard takes the pass, travels into the penalty area, and slips a shot past the Villanova keeper, giving the Bulldogs an early, 1-0, lead.
• 10' | Katie Soderstrom hits a hard shot from the left side forcing a save from Villanova.
• 12' | Villanova gets a 7-yard shot off a bouncing ball in Butler's box, but Emma Martin makes the save.
• 13' | Off a corner kick, Claire Farrington produces a shot that deflects off the left post.
• 31' | An Alexei Whittaker shot forces a save that deflects off the crossbar, and then Abigail Isger gets a second shot off a pass from Julia Leonard. This one finds the right side of the net and Butler leads, 2-0.
• 37' | Katie Soderstrom eludes a defender on the right side of the penalty area and carries almost to the end line. She hits a ball over the Villanova keeper that hits the inside of the far post and careens into the goal, giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 advantage.

HALFTIME

• 49' | A Soderstrom shot forces a save from Villanova.
• 54' | Emma Martin extends and saves a shot from the Wildcats which deflects out of play for a Villanova corner kick.
• 66' | Alexei Whittaker takes a soft chip from Soderstrom in the left side of the box and forces the Wildcats keeper to the ground for a save.
• 69' | Whittaker takes a shot from 20 yards and hits the crossbar.
• 75' | Whittaker plays Soderstrom into the box, but good defending deflects the Soderstrom shot.
• 80' | A hard shot from Aliya Diagne from 22 yards sails just over the crossbar. 

Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Alli Leonard, Abigail Isger, Katie Soderstrom
ASSISTS: Abigail Isger, Amanda Kowalski, Julia Leonard

Bulldog Bits

• Alli Leonard's goal, her second in as many matches, was her third of the season and the eighth of her career.
• The goal from Abigail Isger was her seventh of the season and the eighth of her career. Her assist was her sixth this season.
• Katie Soderstrom's goal was her tenth of the season and the 26^th of her career.
• The assist from Amanda Kowalski was her fourth of the season and the fifteenth of her career.
• Julia Leonard's assist was her third of the season.
• Emma Martin (13-2-1), who earned her eighth shutout of the season, made three saves in the match. Martin has now moved into a tie for the third position on Butler Women's Soccer's all-time list for shutouts.
   
• Butler outshot Villanova 23-5. The Bulldogs put nine shots on frame while the Wildcats had three.
• Each side produced four corner kicks in the match.
   
• With the win, the Bulldogs remain in third in the BIG EAST standings. St. John's is the only side that can mathematically tie Butler in points. The Bulldogs have locked up a home match in the tournament quarterfinals.

Up Next
Butler plays its final regular-season home match on Thursday, October 28, when Creighton comes to Indianapolis for a 7 pm kickoff. The Bulldogs will then host a BIG EAST Tournament quarterfinal match on Sunday, October 31. The opponent, and time are TBD.