INDIANAPOLIS – Villanova held a one-goal lead for over 50 minutes, but Butler answered with a pair of goals in the final 18 minutes, leading to a 2-1 loss on Thursday night at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl.
 
The loss leaves Villanova (5-7-6, 2-3-5) just shy of making the BIG EAST Championship as it needed a win to make the field.
 
Alex Fava scored the lone goal for the 'Cats, finding the back of the net for a second consecutive game. Talia Sommer netted both goals for Butler (10-4-4, 5-2-3), marking just the second time this season that one player scored multiple goals against Villanova.
 
Villanova was outshot 17-6, getting just three shot attempts off in the second half. After holding a 3-1 shots on goal advantage in the opening 45, the 'Cats were only able to get one on frame in the closing period.
 
Fava's goal put Villanova on the board first in the 21^st minute. Gabby Koluch played a ball out toward the sideline to a tracking Olivia Marrone who quickly passed inside to an open Fava. She raced toward the ball and promptly nudged it in from nearly 10 yards out, getting her shot past a falling Anna Pierce in net for a 1-0 lead.
 
Villanova had a chance to extend its lead in the 42^nd minute on a corner kick. Koluch's inswinger hit off the head of Lauren Ashman and went toward the net, but it glanced off the crossbar and back into play.
 
Butler's best chance of equalizing in the first half came in the 44^th minute as Sommer delivered a free kick from well beyond the 18-yard box. Her look sailed toward the net but also hit off the crossbar and behind the net, keeping it a one-goal lead for the 'Cats at the break.
 
Through the opening 45, Villanova was outshot 6-3 but landed all its attempts on frame. Hannah Dickinson needed just one save in that period, grabbing a hook shot from Sommer in the 17^th.
 
Butler struck in the 72^nd minute to tie the contest 1-1 thanks to Sommer capitalizing off a corner. The incoming shot bounced around in the box before Sommer found the open ball, launching it over an incoming crowd and into the back left of the net.
 
The 'Cats came up with a breakaway chance in the 78^th minute to get back on top. Soderman launched a chance toward the net but it was quickly deflected off the fingertips of a falling Pierce to get the save.
 
A free kick in the 85^th minute gave Butler the lead, once again off the foot of Sommer.
 
After having the ball rolled to her, she moved ahead a bit before sending a 25-yard chance soaring  into the upper 90, over the outstretched hand of Dickinson to give the Bulldogs their 2-1 dagger.
 
Susanna Soderman led Villanova with three shot attempts, two of those on frame. Sommer led all players with six shot attempts and four on goal.
 
Dickinson ended up with four saves on the night while Pierce made three on the other end of the field.
 
For all the latest news and updates surrounding the Villanova Women's Soccer program, check back to villanova.com and follow @NovaWSoccer on X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.