VILLANOVA, Pa. - The Butler men's soccer team opened BIG EAST competition with a 2-1 win over Villanova. The Wildcats (0-3-2, 0-1-0 BIG EAST) started strong, taking the first seven shots of the match, but the Bulldogs (1-3-1, 1-0-0 BIG EAST) scored once in each half and held on for a one-goal victory. Villanova outshot Butler, 21-7, as the Bulldogs put two of their three shots that were on frame in the back of the net.
 
Key Moments

• 5' | Villanova takes an early strike toward the left post, one of seven early shots with five on frame, but Caleb Norris keeps the Wildcats off the board.
• 17' | Palmer Ault takes a long service from Jan Quispel in the midfield and punches it in from just outside the six. Butler takes the early, 1-0, lead.
  **HALFTIME**
• 65' | Henri Kumwenda has the ball outside, to the right of the area, and sends in a cross. Jack Streberger gets a flick to Ault, who volleys to the side of his defender, putting Butler up two.
• 73' | Villanova is awarded a free kick on a yellow card, just beyond the eighteen. The Wildcats' Jorge Garcia strikes the ball directly into the left side of the goal, pulling the home team to within one.

Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Palmer Ault (2)
ASSISTS: Jan Quispel, Henri Kumwenda, Jack Streberger

Bulldog Bits

• Palmer Ault notched his third and fourth goals of the season and now has fourteen in his career.
• Ault's brace was his first this season. He accomplished the feat four times in 2022.
• Jan Quispel's assist was his second of the season.
• Henri Kumwenda's assist was a career-first.
• Jack Streberger's assist was his first of the season and tenth of his career.
• Caleb Norris made a career-high 11 saves in the match.