The Butler Bulldogs forced the Georgetown Hoyas to extra minutes in the BIG EAST Women's Soccer Championship, but ultimately fell by way of Jenna Menta's golden goal in the 94^th minute of play.
 
The contest was the first women's soccer tournament title game to extend to overtime since 2008.
 
How It Happened:
Georgetown wasted no time in the opening minutes of play, as Grace Nguyen scored on a counter attack from Butler's first play set. Butler buckled down on defense as the Bulldogs offense worked to get an organized look.
 
The Hoyas would hold the lead through the first 45 minutes of play, despite two late period corner opportunities for Butler. Payton Black had a header attempt off the last corner in the closing minutes of the half, but it just went wide.
 
Co-Goalkeeper of the Year Stephanie Rodriguez made five incredible saves in the opening period, holding off Georgetown's attempts at an insurance goal.
 
The Bulldogs found their stride in the opening minutes of the second period. In the 56^th minute, Katie Soderstrom showed off her footwork at the top of the Hoya box and sent the equalizer past two defenders into the near corner of the goal.
 
The final 35 minutes of play resulted in a stalemate as Rodriguez continued to swat away Georgetown's advances, making a huge stop off a header from a Hoya corner chance and a diving punch save on a shot in the last seconds of the half.
 
Time expired on regulation with a score of 1-1 as Butler and Georgetown headed into extra minutes to decide the crown. Georgetown logged a corner kick and a shot on goal in the first three minutes of overtime before Menta, the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, received the ball with open field to work and delivered the golden goal for the Hoyas.
 
Notable Stats

• The contest was the first women's soccer tournament title game to extend to overtime since 2008.
• Butler and Georgetown have gone to extra minutes in the last two meetings between the teams (last in Oct. 2019).
• Alana Wood, Morgan Kloosterman and Gretchen Skoglund earned a spot on the 2020 All-Tournament Team
• Jenna Menta, Maya Fernandez-Powell, Grace Nguyen, and Julia Leas of Georgetown were also All-Tournament selections.
• Menta and Leas were named Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Player, respectively.
• Wood and Skoglund each recorded a goal in the 2-1 win over UConn in the semifinals
• Rodriguez grabbed eight saves on 22 shots faced in the contest
• Soderstrom's goal was her sixth of the year, moving her to 17 points of the season
• Alli Leonard had Butler's only other on-target attempt
• Savich led the team with two shots; Black and Gabby Smith also had looks
• Rodriguez, Kloosterman, Aliya Diagne, and Caitlin O'Malley each logged all 94 minutes of play
• Offensively, the Hoyas held a 22-6 advantage on shots and a 14-3 edge in corner kicks

 
Looking Ahead
Butler, currently receiving votes in the United Coaches poll and ranked #14 in RPI, will await 2021 DI women's soccer championship selection show on Monday, April 19 to see if the Bulldogs will receive an at-large bid the College Cup. Coverage of the selection show will be available live at NCAA.com starting at 1 p.m. ET.
 
The 2021 DI women's soccer championship will take place from April 27-May 17 in Cary, North Carolina, and the surrounding areas. Forty-eight teams will be selected to compete in a single-elimination tournament for this year's College Cup.
 
Most Outstanding Offensive Player - Jenna Menta, Georgetown
Most Defensive Offensive Player - Julia Leas, Georgetown

All-Tournament Team
Melina Couzis, UConn
Jada Konte, UConn
Ansley Atkinson, Creighton
Aida Kardovic, Creighton
Morgan Kloosterman, Butler
Alana Wood, Butler
Gretchen Skoglund, Butler
Jenna Menta, Georgetown
Maya Fernandez-Powell, Georgetown
Grace Nguyen, Georgetown
Julia Leas, Georgetown