CHICAGO – The Butler women's soccer team went on the road to DePaul and picked up its first BIG EAST win of the season with a 3-2 win. The Bulldogs came from behind twice and then took the lead for good in the 79
th minute.
The Blue Demons (3-3-5, 0-1-2 BIG EAST) held the lead twice, with goals in the ninth and 48
th minutes, but the Bulldogs (6-2-3, 1-0-2 BIG EAST) twice leveled the match using goals in the 22
nd and 74
th minutes. The game-winning goal came with less then 12 minutes remaining, and the Butler defense held strong to secure the win.
Gemma Gillespie, who scored the game winner, produced a brace in the match, scoring two goals in a span of just over five minutes.
This was the first outright win in this series since 2023 as the previous three contests have ended with the score tied. Also, Butler continues with an unbeaten streak of seven matches dating back to August 30.
Key Moments
- 9' | DePaul's Shayna da Silva takes a long pass from midfield as she is sprinting past the Bulldogs' defensive line. Her first shot, near the right post, is saved by Butler goalkeeper Addison Ash, but da Silva punches in the deflection to give the Blue Demons an early lead.
- 22' | Riley Gumm plays a ball into the area from the right side. Lily Kiliski taps it onward toward the far post where Lola Pepper takes a shot from point-blank range. Pepper's shot is deflected down, in front of the goal, and Kiliski is there to punch it in. The score is level, 1-1.
-- HALFTIME --
- 48' | A DePaul corner kick to the far post is headed down by the Blue Demons' Jericho Frigon. The ball bounces high, over the head of a Butler defender and into the net. DePaul is again up a goal.
- 74' | A Butler corner kick is headed by Chloe Brecht at the far post toward the goal. The ball bounces off several players and is shot, once again, by Pepper. After a couple more deflections, Gemma Gillespie slides, shoots and scores. The match is tied once again, this time at 2-2.
- 79' | The Bulldogs earn a free kick on the left side. Kensey Teffner plays on the ground to Brecht who carries toward the endline. Brecht sends a hard cross to the near post, and Gillespie is there to redirect the ball into the net. Butler is on top for the first time, 3-2.
Butler Points Summary
GOALS: Gillespie (2), Kiliski
ASSISTS: Pepper, Teffner, Brecht
Bulldog Bits
- Gillispie's brace was a career first. She now has four goals this season and five in her career. The defender has scored in three of the past four matches and now has a game-winning goal this season to go along with one in 2025.
- Kiliski's goal was her second this season and in her career.
- Pepper's assist was her third this season.
- Teffner's goal was her second this season.
- Brecht's assist was her third this season and the seventh of her career.
Up Next
Butler hosts St. John's for a 7 p.m. kick on Wednesday before traveling to Creighton for an afternoon match next Saturday.
