Men's Soccer: Weekly Notes (November 27, 2001)

Nov. 27, 2001

FINAL KICK: The Butler men's soccer team saw its 2001 bid come to an end in the first round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. The Bulldogs, champions of the Horizon League, dropped a 2-1 decision to Big Ten runner-up Michigan State in the NCAA match. The loss snapped Butler's four-match winning streak and left the Bulldogs with a final season record of 11-9-0. Butler grabbed an early lead, 1-0, when sophomore Chance Ernst (Fenton, Mo.) converted a shot off a header from senior Craig Cochran (Indianapolis). It was the third goal of the season for Ernst and first assist for Cochran. Michigan State tied the contest late in the first half and then scored then took the lead with less than seven minutes remaining in the match. The game-winning goal was scored by Thomas Trivelloni, the brother of former Butler player Michael Trivelloni. Butler had 11 shots in the contest, including one by junior Nick Pantazi (St. Louis, Mo.) that hit the post with just seconds remaining.

PAIR OF ACES: Juniors Nick Pantazi (St. Louis, Mo.) and Michael Mariscalco (Dayton, Ohio) combined for the most productive season by two Butler players in school history. Pantazi, who led the Bulldogs in scoring, tied the school single season records for goals scored (19) and points (43). He finished second on Butler's single season list for shots with 76. Mariscalco, Butler's second-leading scorer, compiled the second-highest single season assist total (11) in school history and finished with the fourth-highest single season point total (37). His 13 goals rank sixth on Butler's single season list. With one season remaining, the two stalwarts are tied for fourth on Butler's all-time list for points with 72 apiece. Pantazi is fourth on Butler's all-time list for goals (31) and fifth in all-time shots (156). Mariscalco is second in all-time assists (20), sixth in all-time goals (26) and seventh in all-time shots (138).

TOP STOPPER: Butler goalkeeper Grant Barrie (Cape Town, South Africa) recorded six saves against Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with a school-record 95 saves. He broke the previous Butler single season mark of 93 saves, set by Alan Placek in 1994. Barrie posted a 1.58 goals against average, which ranks ninth on Butler's single season list. With two seasons remaining, Barrie already stands fifth on Butler's all-time list for saves with 148.

FINAL MATCH: Butler's NCAA Tournament appearance marked the final match for five seniors, Craig Cochran, Brendan Conner (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Curt Edwards (Columbus, Ohio), Patrick Martin (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jason Richarz (St. Charles, Mo.). The five contributed to 43 wins, two conference titles and two national tournament appearances.

SUCCESSFUL START: First-year head coach Joe Sochacki guided the Bulldogs to their fourth conference championship and fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in his rookie season. The Bulldogs' 11 wins matched the sixth-highest single season total in Butler history.