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DePaul and Butler Play Even
CHICAGO DePaul and Butler battled each other and elements over 110 minutes Sunday, but neither team was able to find the net as the two sides settled for a 0-0 tie. The scoreless tie for the Blue Demons is their second in-a-row as they head into BIG EAST action next weekend at Seton Hall and Georgetown. The steady rain caused tricky playing conditions and a number of long shots looking to take advantage of the wet turf. Butler (3-1-1) nearly converted a pair of opportunities off a throw in over the first 15 minutes of action. The first chance caused a scrum in front of the net that was eventually cleared by Patrick Hopkins. Minutes later the Bulldogs took another throw in and Hopkins finished the play by heading the ball out of the frame to keep the scoreboard at zeros. In the second half and overtime periods neither team was able to mount much offense. Butler's Frank Patano put a header on goal that sailed just over the crossbar before Willy Lara's liner from the top of the box also cleared the crossbar. Late in the second overtime period each team put together one last chance as Eduardo Garcia's diving header went just wide of the left post for Butler and DePaul's Erich Reichmann launched a low liner that went wide left. DePaul (1-2-2) totaled 10 shots in the match while the Bulldogs accumulated seven attempts. Butler's Nick Hegeman finished with five saves on the afternoon while DePaul's Brian Visser registered his 20th career shutout with a save in the 110 minutes. The Blue Demons start BIG EAST action on the road next weekend with a Friday game at Seton Hall followed by a Sunday contest at Georgetown. DePaul returns to Wish Field the weekend of Sept. 26 for a pair of matches against West Virginia and Pittsburgh. Game Notes: DePaul is now 4-0-2 in the last six overtime games dating back to last season... DePaul is 28-17-6 in the last six-plus seasons at Wish Field... the shutout was the third of the season for Brian Visser... he now has 20 career shutouts... Butler leads the series, 2-0-1... the game was the first meeting since 1990.
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