clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Golden Nortey lifts Marquette over Butler, 3-2

A late goal by the Bulldogs sends the match to overtime, but Nortey's gamewinner in 2OT puts the Golden Eagles atop the Big East.

By MrsB
Axel Sjoberg, with the assist from Paul Dillon, scored the equalizer less than a minute after Butler got on the board.
Axel Sjoberg, with the assist from Paul Dillon, scored the equalizer less than a minute after Butler got on the board.
MarquetteImages.com

In their home conference opener, Marquette outlasted Butler pulling ahead in the match and in the Big East standings off a golden goal scored C. Nortey in double overtime.

An early bullet by Coco Navarro got a gasp from the home crowd at Valley Fields, but rocketed off the crossbar high.  Marquette had a few more opportunities to score, but two free kicks near the box and a single corner kick in the first half failed to produce a goal. Butler was equally stymied and the match was scoreless going into halftime.

However, things changed very quickly in the second half. In the 50th minute, Charlie Lyon got his mitts on Zach Steinberger's shot, but the ball had too much power and went through Lyon's fingertips for a goal. But a Axel Sjoberg header off a Paul Dillon free kick tied it back up in the same minute. The flurry of scoring continued when Dillon notched another assist in the 52nd: his corner kick found Eric Pothast who was perfectly positioned to slip it past Jon Dawson to put Marquette up 2-1.

The Golden Eagles dominated the most of the second half out shooting the Bulldogs, 11-5. The Marquette defense kept the pressure up on Butler, frequently stripping them of possession before the Bulldogs had the opportunity to get a play set up.  Unfortunately, Marquette's shots were just wide and just high including another gasp including shot by Pothast which ricocheted off the crossbar.  The Golden Eagle's inability to extend their lead opened the door for Butler, who didn't get ranked by quitting, to score the equalizer in the 86th minute.

Nortey's gamewinner got in just in under the bar but past the outstretched Dawson in the 117th minute.  He has now scored all of the deciding goals in Marquette's three Big East contests.

How about some highlights, including Nortey's howler, courtesy of GoMarquette.com?


Next up: First place in the Big East is on the line on Saturday! Creighton (6-2-2, 2-0-1 Big East) is a consensus top 8 team, and they are tied with Georgetown at 7 points, two points behind MU in the Big East standings. Match time is 7pm.