Box Score
The Bulldogs passed their first road test with a convincing 4-0 win over Creighton on Thursday afternoon in Omaha, Neb. Butler moves to 7-0, 4-0 in BIG EAST, while the Bluejays drop to 0-4 overall and 0-3 against conference foes.
How It Happened:
Despite only one goal between three games this season, the Bluejays fired off eight shots in the first half, five of which landed on frame, but were saved by Bulldog's keeper
Stephanie Rodriguez. After 45 minutes of play, the game remained scoreless.
All the action would come in the second half for the Bulldogs. In the 46
th minute
Aliya Diagne took control for an unassisted goal for the first score of the game. Diagne's goal alone would be enough for the win, but the Bulldogs didn't stop there.
Less than ten minutes later,
Amanda Kowalski sent a leading diagonal pass to freshman
Alli Leonard, who sliced in a goal from the left side to the right corner of the net.
After that,
Morgan Kloosterman stole possession from the Bluejays on their own end of the pitch and poked the ball to
Gretchen Skoglund. Skoglund nudged a pass through two defenders to give
Abigail Isger an open look. Isger's shot was blocked by Creighton's keeper, but Kloosterman swopped in to score off the rebound.
In the 76
th minute, Creighton attempted a header clear in their own box that
Payton Black caught in mid-air, sending it to the top right corner of the goal.
Bulldog Notes
- Alli Leonard grabbed her fifth goal of the year, which ranks second on the team behind Anja Savich with seven.
- Rodriguez earned her fourth shutout on the season and third in BIG EAST play. She also grabbed a season-high eight saves in the win.
- Four Dawgs scored in the game: Aliya Diagne, Alli Leonard, Morgan Kloosterman and Payton Black. It was the first goal of the season for both Kloosterman and Black.
- Butler has scored at least four goals in five games so far this season, two of those coming in BIG EAST play
Next Up
The Bulldogs will play their first full road weekend series, taking on DePaul in Chicago, Ill. on Sunday, March 21 at 1 p.m. ET / Noon CT. The game marks the halfway point of the BIG EAST divisional schedule, as Butler and DePaul meet for the second time this season. In the conference opener, Butler claimed the 2-1 win at home over the Blue Demons.Â
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