INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – A penalty kick goal in the 32^nd minute helped lift Butler (8-3-1 overall, 3-1-1 BIG EAST) past Villanova (5-5-2 overall, 2-3-1 BIG EAST) in a match played here on Wednesday night.
 
Villanova outshot the Bulldogs 16-12 on the night, but was unable to break through with a goal.
 
"We started off the game well," stated Villanova head coach Tom Carlin. "We had a good flow and some good possession going. Butler made an adjustment, though, and they began to carry the play and forced us into some turnovers."
 
The first 25 minutes saw few offensive chances. Butler fired off the first two shots of the evening, neither of which was on frame, in the opening five minutes. Villanova's first shot of the night came off the left foot of senior Anthony Dragisics but was handled easily by Bulldogs goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji.
 
Butler's Wilmer Cabrera picked up a through ball in the 32^nd minute that may have been the Bulldogs best chance to that point, but the pressure of the 'Cats defense forced him to shoot the ball wide of frame. A short while later, a pass inside the 18-yard box created a foul call that gave Butler a penalty kick. Jost de Schutter fired a shot into the upper right corner of the net to put the Bulldogs up 1-0 at 31:43.
 
"Going down 1-0 on the road isn't ideal," noted Carlin. "But I thought we kept our composure."
 
Dickey came up with a huge save in the 38^th minute as he dived to his left, punching away the bid from the Bulldogs' Palmer Ault to keep the margin at one goal.
 
At halftime, Butler maintained its 1-0 lead. It also held a 9-4 edge in shots and a 4-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Early in the second half Akinjide Awujo fired a shot that Gjergji was able to make the save on. Later in the period, Anthony Cousins Jr. sent another shot on net that Gjergji was able to handle to keep the Bulldogs in front.
 
Villanova actually outshot the Bulldogs 6-1 over the first 30 minutes of the period but it was Butler that found the back of the net. Jack Streberger sent a right-footed shot into the goal at 75:54 to make it a two goal deficit for the Wildcats.
 
"We turned everything around in the second half," said Carlin. "We had a number of good chances. We weren't able to get one though, and then got caught in transition while we were pressing looking to get one. That's soccer."
 
There were more bids by Nova, including shots from Lyam MacKinnon and Balthi Saunders, but the Wildcats were unable to draw closer. They ended the night with a 16-12 advantage in shots and Gjergji ended the night with six saves.
 
"Credit to Butler," Carlin stated. "That's an experienced group that plays well at home. For us, it's about recovering, putting this behind us, and getting ready for Georgetown Saturday."
 
The Wildcats will return to campus Thursday and prepare to host the Georgetown Saturday afternoon. It will be Alumni Day as Villanova celebrates its soccer program graduates. The BIG EAST Digital Network on Flo Sports will carry that contest beginning at 1 p.m.