VILLANOVA, Pa. – A goal scored at 89:51 broke a 1-1 deadlock and carried Butler (4-9-2 overall, 2-4 BIG EAST) to a 2-1 victory over Villanova Saturday afternoon at the Higgins Soccer Complex.

The Wildcats fall to 6-7-1 overall, 1-5 BIG EAST.

            "It's just tough," stated Wildcats head coach Tom Carlin of the setback. "We did some really good things but we made a mistake on the first goal that really cost us."

The game appeared destined for extra time as it headed into the final minute of regulation play. A rather benign looking sequence with under 20 seconds remaining to play, though, turned into a dramatic finish. Following a head to head collision, play was stopped. Villanova won a dropped ball by the official near midfield, only to lose possession. Kieran Gelddenhuys sent a cross from the right flank through the box that found Logan Lee near the left post. The ball caromed off a defender into Lee's body and that fell at his feet. Lee knocked the ball into the net at 89:51 and the Bulldogs moved in front.

            The goal tipped the balance in what had been a tight battle between a pair of sides hoping to begin a late season climb up the BIG EAST standings.

Senior Zach Zandi got the Wildcats off on the right foot, scoring an unassisted goal at 7:17 from 25 yards out. His lofted ball rose just above the outstretched arm of Butler goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji and below the crossbar.

            "Z got us the early goal we needed and I thought it really allowed us to control a lot of the game," stated Carlin.

The Wildcats held that 1-0 cushion through the remainder of the first period, outshooting the Bulldogs 6-5 in the half.

But Butler drew even midway through the second half. Brandon Guhl sent a pass that Michael Peay was able to move past Wildcats goalkeeper Carson Williams at 64:06 to level matters at one.

            "We just gave up a goal that was way too easy in my mind," stated Carlin. "Still, we had a bunch of opportunities to get the winner ourselves. When you don't convert one, though, you leave yourself exposed to a situation like the one that they capitalized on with ten seconds on the clock."

Villanova resumes action on Wednesday afternoon when it hosts St. John's at 3 p.m. in a BIG EAST clash at the Higgins Soccer Complex. The match will be live streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network via the Fox Sports Go app.