Bulldogs Hold Off Bellarmine, 8-7, to Win Home Opener

March 30, 2005

Box Score

Butler opened the home portion of its 2005 schedule Wednesday with an 8-7 win over Bellarmine. Freshmen Nick Vosburgh and Grant Albertson each had four points to pace the Bulldogs, who never trailed in the contest. Albertson had three goals and an assist, and Vosburgh had two goals and two helpers. Butler, winners of three of its last four, levels its record at 3-3 on the year, while Bellarmine suffers the first blemish of its season, falling to 6-1.

Junior Phil Brauch added a goal for the Bulldogs, but did most of his damage in face-offs, winning 12 of 18 for Butler. Butler also got goals from freshman Jason Donati and sophomore Pat Hurto. Freshman Cliff Smith had an assist.

Albertson scored at the 9:30 mark of the first period off a Vosburgh assist before Bellarmine tied things up 35 seconds later. The Bulldogs would respond with the next three goals to take a 4-1 lead on Vosburgh's man-up goal with 9:27 remaining in the second period. It was Butler's only man-up goal of the game, as went 1-of-3 in extra-man situations and spoiled all five of the Knights' opportunities. Sean Dobbs tallied for the Knights to send the teams into the intermission standing at 4-2 in Butler's favor.

Albertson and Vosburgh again hooked up for the first goal of the second half before the teams would trade the next seven goals. Bellarmine's Shawn Evans scored with four minutes remaining to pull the Knights within two at 8-6.

Butler coach Stan Ross then made a bold move that paid off beautifully, replacing starting goalkeeper Sam Ashley with sophomore Ryan Kaiser. The Knights did score once more with 1:19 remaining, but Kaiser made two tough saves to seal the win in the closing minutes. Butler used a Knights penalty to control the ball for much of the last minute of the contest. Ashley picked up the win, making seven saves in 56 minutes of action.

Butler out-shot Bellarmine, 37-26, including a 26-8 advantage in the first 30 minutes. Bellarmine netminder J.C. Hutchins made 19 saves on the afternoon, including 14 in the first half to keep the Knights in contention. Butler also held an edge in ground balls, securing 33 to the Knights' 25. Brauch had five for the Butler lead, followed by four apiece from Brian Welch and Vosburgh.

Butler converted 25 of 29 clear attempts, while the Bulldogs' pressure caused 12 unsuccessful clear attempts for Bellarmine, who went 14-of-26. The Knights' Garrett Kikot and Evans had combined for 52 goals in the team's first six games, but the Bulldogs' defense limited the duo to three goals Wednesday. Kikot was the only Knight with more than one goal.

Not only was the loss the first of Bellarmine's season, it was also the first in program history. The Knights, under the direction of coach Jack McGetrick, feature a roster that is nearly 50 percent Canadian and had won their first six games by a combined score of 103-49.

The Bulldogs continue their three-game homestand Saturday at 1 p.m. against Robert Morris. The game is slated for the Butler Bowl.