Butler, Loyola Battle To Scoreless Deadlock

Butler remained unbeaten in the Horizon League, but not the way head coach Kelly Findley had hoped.  The Bulldogs battled to a 0-0 tie against defending league tournament champ Loyola at the Loyola Soccer Park in Chicago on Friday (Oct. 2).

Neither team could gain the upper hand through 90 minutes of regulation play and 20 minutes of overtime action.  Butler wound up with a slight 15-13 advantage in shots in the match, but both teams had two shots on goal.  Loyola had a 6-3 edge in corner kicks.

Both of Butler’s shots on goal came in the second half, and both were turned away by Loyola goalkeeper Peter McKeown.  The Ramblers had a shot at the net in each half, both stopped by senior Fabian Knopfler, who replaced starting goalkeeper Nick Hegeman midway through the first half.

Senior Boris Gatzky paced Butler’s attack with four shots, including both shots on goal.  Junior Ben Sippola also had four shots, while freshman Julian Cardona added three.  Six different Butler players attempted a shot in the contest.

Loyola (3-2-3, 0-1-2 Horizon League) had nine of its 13 shots in the second half and two overtime periods.

The Bulldogs (6-1-1, 2-0-1 Horizon League) will step out of league play for a match at Indiana on Wednesday, Oct. 7.  Butler will return to Horizon League action on Sunday, Oct. 11, at Valparaiso.