Butler Wins Horizon League Championship In Shootout
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Goalkeeper Fabian Knopfler came up with
three stops in a penalty kick shootout and lifted #6 Butler to the
title of the 2010 Horizon League Men’s Soccer Championship at
the Butler Bowl on Sunday, Nov. 14. The outcome gives Butler
an automatic berth in the 2010 NCAA Men’s Soccer
Championship.
This year’s championship match between the top-seeded
Bulldogs (16-0-3) and second-seeded Green Bay (13-4-2) followed
nearly the same script as last year’s Horizon League title
match between the same two teams. The two teams tied, 0-0, a
year ago and Green Bay claimed the title in a shootout.
This year’s match was tied at the end of regulation, 1-1,
and remained tied through two overtime periods, setting up the
shootout.
Green Bay’s David Prochazka was successful on the first
penalty kick, and he was matched by Butler’s Ben
Sippola, the Horizon League’s Player of the
Year. Tony Walls converted the second kick for Green Bay, and
Butler freshman Austin Oldham kept pace.
That’s when Knopfler came up with the first stop.
Green Bay scoring leader JC Banks shot low to the right side and
Knopfler dove and deflected the ball off the post. But Green
Bay goalkeeper Ryan Wehking came up with a stop on Butler’s
Jacob Capito to keep the match even.
Knopfler came through for a second time, deflecting a shot by
Green Bay’s David Bernhardsson, and sophomore Julian Cardona
gave Butler the advantage with a successful kick.
Scott Raymonds took the final Green Bay kick, and Knopfler again
made a diving stop to seal the championship.
“When we stepped into the goal for the PK’s, the only
thing I was thinking about was the 15th of November last year, and
how upset we were that we lost on our home field,” said
Knopfler. “I was lucky to save three PK’s, but it
wasn’t just me. We have to honor the guys who stepped
up and took the PK’s.”
For more than 88 minutes it appeared that Butler was going claim
the title and keep its record unblemished in regulation play.
Oldahm gave Butler a 1-0 lead at 35:57 on a shot from 15 yards out
that eluded Wehking. Senior Kyle Pateros served a cross to
the center of the field to set up Oldham’s fifth goal of the
season.
But Bernhardsson came through with a clutch goal at 88:06 to tie
the match, and ultimately send the contest into overtime. His
goal came on a shot from eight yards out off a centering pass from
Banks.
The Bulldogs had two excellent opportunities in the two overtime
periods, but Wehking stopped both.
Butler finished with a 16-13 edge in shots in the match, and both
teams had five shots on goal. The rugged contest also
featured 42 fouls and seven yellow cards. Knopfler and
Wehking each had four saves in the contest.
Sippola was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and
he was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Knopfler, Oldham,
Cardona and junior Matt Hedges. Others named to the team were
Banks, Prochazka and Walls of Green Bay, Brad Stuver and Audric
Kilroy of Cleveland State and Willie Koss and Will Martin of
Loyola.
The tournament title was Butler first since 2001 and fifth
overall.
“I couldn’t be more excited for the seniors, who have
worked so hard,” said Butler head coach Kelly Findley after
the match. “The pressure of the penalty kicks shootout
is huge, and obviously we lost it last year. To win it, and
especially for Fabian to save three of them was
fantastic.”
Butler, one of just two unbeaten teams in Division I, will be
returning to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year
The Bulldogs will find out when and where they’ll play during
the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 15.
