The Butler Bulldogs dropped both games last weekend to the University of Illinois.
Game 1 started late into the night due to the boards breaking in the arena before the game. The first period ended scoreless between the teams and the Bulldogs took an early lead in the second behind Matthew Moraw’s 3rd goal of the season. Illinois then began to take over the game with five unanswered goals in the second period. The Illini continued rolling over the Bulldogs with two more goals in the third. Jack Becker finally ended the run late in the third with a goal for Butler but that would be it as the Bulldogs dropped the game 7-2.
Game 2 again started with Butler grabbing the early lead with a goal from Jesse Longtin on the power play. Second periods continued to kill the Bulldogs with the Illini scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-1 lead. Butler came out fast in the third however and goals from Becker, Ryan Barrett, and Blair Haugh tied the game up early in the third. Unfortunately, Illinois took the lead back within a minute. A controversial referee no-call on goalie interference gave the Illini another goal late in the period before they added another in the final minutes. The game ended in a 7-4 win for Illinois which left the Bulldogs angry for letting the game slip away on controversial call.
The Bulldogs will play again in two weeks, facing off against Xavier University in Cincinnati on November 10th. It will be Butler’s family weekend so the team should be ready to go in front of friends and family.
