INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women's soccer team knocked off one of the nation's three undefeated teams on Saturday night, shutting out Villanova 1-0 in the Sellick Bowl. After a scoreless first half, freshman
Elise May opened the scoring for the Bulldogs with an unassisted goal in the 70
th minute off a goalkeeper's deflection. The one-goal lead held through full time as the Butler defense rose to the occasion.
Butler improved to 7-4-4 on the season and 2-2-3 in BIG EAST action. The Wildcats fell to 9-1-5 and 4-1-2 in conference play.
Key Moments
- 23' | Maren Dagenhart blocks a Villanova cross at the right corner flag and plays forward to Lola Pepper along the touchline. Pepper beats her defender one-on-one and continues racing up the sideline. After a series of passes in the midfield, Riley Gumm releases Chloe Brecht on the left side just outside the area. Brecht finds Gumm open at the penalty spot, but the keeper pushes her left-footed shot wide and away.
- 43' | Villanova rattles off three shots from inside the area in just a 20-second span. Two are blocked and the third sails over the bar.
-- HALFTIME --
- 70' | Pepper blocks a Villanova clearance, which falls to Gumm. Gumm returns the ball to Pepper who is open down the left side. Pepper's cross from just outside the box finds May in the middle of the goal area, four yards out. After initially being denied by a Villanova defender, May puts the ball in the back of the net with her right foot. The Bulldogs have a one-goal lead.
- 81' | Villanova sends a ball into the area from the left side. The Wildcats produce a hard shot to the near post from 10 yards, but Addison Ash punches it out of play, making her sixth save of the evening.
Butler Points Summary
GOALS: May
ASSISTS: (none)
Bulldog Bits
- May's goal was the first of her collegiate career.
- Ash made seven saves to earn her sixth shutout of the season and the ninth of her career.
- Villanova entered Saturday as one of three teams nationally that were still undefeated alongside No. 1 Vanderbilt and UNC-Wilmington.
Up Next
Butler plays the first of a pair of road matches, beginning with UConn on Wednesday. Kickoff for the contest in Storrs, Connecticut, is set for 6:30 p.m.
