Butler soccer advances in the NCAA tournament

INDIANAPOLIS – Members of the Butler men’s soccer team probably felt they shouldn’t have been playing Thursday night at the Sellick Bowl. Who could blame them?

After going 12-4-2 overall and 8-1 in conference to win the Big East regular-season title, Butler seemed worthy of a top 16 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs also sport a strong RPI (14) and solid ranking in the United Soccer Coaches poll (15).

Forty-eight teams are selected, while the 16 best – as deemed by the selection committee – are seeded and receive first-round byes. The remaining 32 sides enter the single-elimination format in the opening round. Alas, Butler was among that 32.

The Bulldogs channeled their frustration toward a convincing 2-0 victory over Lipscomb on Thursday evening. The win will send Butler to play at 16th-seeded VCU on Sunday at 5 p.m.

“We didn’t have a top 25 win,” explained Butler coach Paul Snape of the mild disappointment of having to play in the first round. “So, I was kind of like, ‘Yeah, maybe (we deserved it).’ But I understand the criteria.”

“We were presented with the first round,” said Bulldogs defender Kieran Geldenhuys. “We had to play, we had to win and we did our job. We just have to play the cards that we’re dealt.”

Butler didn’t waste much time asserting itself in the frigid air with temperatures hovering in the 30s. In the eighth minute, Geldenhuys found freshman striker Brandon Guhl on the right side near the corner of the box, and Guhl gently chipped Lipscomb goalkeeper Christopher Zappia as he came off his line. The ball floated off the far post and into the back of the net.

A second goal almost followed moments later when Guhl again streaked past the Lipscomb back line but was denied by Zappia on the breakaway. In the end, however, Guhl made sure to complete his brace.

Geldenhuys provided a lovely service once again. Guhl calmly brought it down, sharply cut his defender and slotted the ball home to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage.

“I love attacking,” Geldenhuys said of his attacking prowess despite being a defender. “I love getting up there.”

Senior center back Eric Leonard also delivered a sublime performance for the Bulldogs. The captain nearly scored on a corner kick in the first half and efficiently kept the back line organized.

Overall, Snape was pleased with his side’s gutsy effort, but admitted it wasn’t the most beautiful soccer his team played all season.

“I don’t think it was the greatest performance, but we won,” Snape added. “And right now, we adapt, we overcome and we advance.”