No. 22 Butler women’s soccer posts 2-0 win over NKU on Sunday; Thomas More men rally for 2-1 victory

NKyTribune staff

Cassidy Blacha and Anja Savich scored goals Sunday afternoon as the Butler University women’s soccer team posted a 2-0 win over Northern Kentucky University at the Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis.

Goalkeepers Hannah Luedtke and Leonie Doege combined for the shutout as Butler improved to 6-1. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 22 nationally and now have four shutouts this season. The Butler defense dominated the first half as the Bulldogs prevented NKU from attempting a shot or earning a corner kick.

Blacha opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, taking a shot from the top of the box off a ball from Paige Monaghan. Blacha shot the ball hard on the ground, making it difficult for NKU goalkeeper Emily Lohmann to make a clean save. The ball went through Lohmann’s hands and found the back of the net for a 1-0 Butler lead.

NKU (4-3) became more aggressive on offense in the second half, taking three shots and earning five corner kicks. Despite the Norse controlling the field much of the second half, Butler’s defense held strong and did not allow a shot on goal.

Savich sealed the victory for Butler in the 83rd minute, scoring the fourth goal of her career off an assist from Halle Stelbasky to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Butler is now 3-0 all-time against NKU.

Butler finished with a 17-3 advantage in total shot attempts, and both teams earned five corner kicks. Lohmann recorded three saves for the Norse.

NKU begins Horizon League play on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest at Green Bay. The Phoenix are 2-6 overall after dropping a 4-1 decision to South Dakota on Sunday.

TMC MEN’S SOCCER RALLIES FOR WIN: Patrick Louis found the back of the net off a free kick late in the second half Sunday as the Thomas More College men’s soccer team rallied for a 2-1 win over Rose-Hulman at Crestview Hills.

Rose-Hulman took the early lead with an own goal 16 minutes into the contest and carried that 1-0 advantage to halftime. Early in the second half, Thomas More’s Pierce Turner knotted the score at 1-all with a goal.

Louis later scored the winning goal with just 8:24 remaining in the contest.

Thomas More goalkeeper Jeff Paulin recorded three saves in his 65 minutes in goal, including one diving save to keep Rose-Hulman from scoring. Zach Combs later came in for Paulin at goalie and recorded one save to preserve the victory for Thomas More.

Thomas More improved to 2-1-1 overall, while Rose-Hulman dropped to 1-2. Sunday’s contest was moved to Thomas More after heavy rain forced the postponement of the originally scheduled Saturday game in Terre Haute, Ind.

Thomas More plays at Otterbein at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications, Butler University and Thomas More College)