October 20, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler’s unblemished record is gone, but the team’s unbeaten mark remains.  The #7-ranked Bulldogs battled through two overtime periods before settling for a 0-0 tie in a non-league match against IUPUI at the Butler Bowl on Wednesday (Oct. 20).

Despite a commanding 29-6 advantage in shots on goal, the Bulldogs could not find the back of the net against their crosstown foe.  The outcome ended Butler’s run as the only remaining unbeaten, untied team in the NCAA Division I.  But the Bulldogs did remain unbeaten at 12-0-1.

“Soccer can be a frustrating game, and I’ve been on both sides of it as a player and as a coach,” said Butler head coach Kelly Findley.  “And it’s tough to swallow, especially when we have a season going like we have.”

“To be fair, I thought we were a little flat in the first half.  We didn’t create as many opportunities and that put us in a position where we had to do more, and we were forcing things in the second half.”

The Bulldogs missed a scoring opportunity in the first half when freshman Jamie Vollmer’s throw-in from the sideline went into the goal, but was ruled untouched.  IUPUI goalkeeper Alex Mannen also had a save on a shot from directly in front by Butler freshman Austin Oldham.

Butler turned up the heat in the second half and out-shot the visitors 14-1.  Mannen had six saves in the second period, including a couple of clutch stop on headers by sophomore Matt Hedges and senior Kyle Pateros.  The IUPUI goalkeeper also stopped a point-blank shot by senior Jacob Capito in the first overtime period.

Hedges led Butler’s attack with six shots, including two shots on goal, while Oldham added five shots, including three on goal.  Twelve different players attempted a shot for the Bulldogs in the match, and the Bulldogs had a 19-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Senior Fabian Knopfler went the distance in goal for the Bulldogs and recorded his sixth shutout of the season and the 16th of his Butler career.

The Bulldogs won’t have much time to reflect on the non-league draw against IUPUI (7-6-1).  Butler returns to action on Sunday against Horizon League foe Loyola.

“You never want to lose a game and you never want to tie a game, but it’s a good reminder of what it feels like to not get a result,” added Findley.  “Things have been going our way for us, so this will leave a bitter taste with the guys and I think they’ll come out hungry for Loyola.”

The match against the Ramblers will be the second half of a men’s/women’s doubleheader, starting at 3 p.m. at the Butler Bowl.  Butler’s women will host Cleveland State in a league match starting at 12 noon.