Live Stats at Notre Dame
Live Stats at Ohio
INDIANAPOLIS – The Butler women's soccer team will face #18 Notre Dame in the 2017 season opener. The two talented programs will take the field on Friday, Aug. 18 for a 7 PM kickoff. The weekend will come to a close with Butler playing at Ohio on Aug. 20. These two teams have reached overtime in each of the last two meetings.
About the Bulldogs
The Bulldogs look ready for regular season action after posting a pair of wins in exhibition play against Northwestern and Morehead State. BU scored three goals in each contest, collecting a 3-2 win over the Wildcats and a 3-1 decision against the Eagles.
The offense will run through
Paige Monaghan, Breann Pempek and
Halle Stelbasky this year, the three top returning goal scorers from a year ago. Monaghan came up with six goals and three assists in 2016 to net 15 points, the second-highest total on the team. Both Pempek and Stelbasky scored three goals a year ago.
The defense will also be in good shape with
Hannah Luedtke, Kyra Cooke and
Shannon McDevitt returning. Luedtke and Cooke made the BIG EAST All-Freshman team last year while McDevitt was recognized as a Second Team All-BIG EAST selection. The defensive unit posted 10 shutouts last year with Luedtke claiming a majority of the minutes in goal. McDevitt stepped up to score two goals for BU and Cooke came up with one assist.
About the Opponent: #18 Notre Dame
Notre Dame will be a stiff test for the Bulldogs on Friday night. The 2016 ACC regular season champions return nine starters from last year's team that posted a 13-3-5 overall record. They took a 2-1 loss to North Carolina in the conference semifinals, but still managed to make the NCAA Tournament field. The Fighting Irish faced off against SIUE in the first round of tournament play and were not able to advance after falling in penalty kicks 5-4.
The Irish will welcome back Sabrina Flores and Natalie Jacobs, a pair of talented players that missed the 2016 season due to international competition. Sandru Yu is a key returner for Notre Dame, but the biggest question will come down to the defense. Notre Dame only allowed nine goals all of last year, but they lost their starting goalkeeper to graduation. The 2016 team posted 15 shutouts overall and only allowed two goals over the first seven games of the season. This season could be different however with a new keeper set to see major minutes.
Series History vs. Notre Dame
Butler has never defeated Notre Dame in a women's soccer match (0-10). The last meeting between the two programs was played back in 2003 with ND earning a 3-0 victory.
About the Opponent: Ohio
The Ohio Bobcats are coming off a 2016 season that included a 5-12-1 overall record. They return their top two goal scorers from a year ago in Alivia Milesky and Bryce Hueber. The defense should also be in decent shape with the return of goalkeeper Erin Beurket.
Milesky and Hueber tied for the most goals on the season in 2016 with both ladies recording four goals to go along with three assists. In goal, Beurket appeared in 12 games with 11 starts. She recorded 63 saves and two shutouts.
Additional returners that have a chance to impact the match include Allie Curry offensively and the back line of Rianna Reese, Celeste Fushimi-Karns, Sydney Leckie and Mandy Arnzen.
Ohio was selected to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference's East Division. They open the regular season on Friday night by hosting Robert Morris at 4 PM.
Series History vs. Ohio
Butler is 2-0 all-time against Ohio. The first-ever meeting was played in 2014 with Butler chalking up a 3-2 win in double overtime. Last year Butler edged Ohio 2-1 in single overtime.
Season Openers
The Bulldogs haven't lost a season opener since 2013 when they were defeated at Louisville 2-0. They won 3-2 in double overtime against Ohio in 2014 and tied Cleveland State 1-1 in 2015. Last year Butler hosted Ohio and pulled out a 2-1 single overtime win.
On the Road
The Bulldogs posted a respectable 4-3-2 record on the road last year en route to finishing the season 11-7-2. The Fighting Irish however were remarkable on their home field, going 10-1-1 at home last year including 6-0-1 against non-conference opponents.
Ohio claimed four of their five wins of the 2016 season playing on their home turf. The Bobcats only mangaged to win one of their eight road matches.
Last Win Against a Ranked Foe
The Bulldogs tied DePaul 2-2 back during the 2014 campaign when the Blue Devils were the No. 12 ranked team in the country, but you have to look at the 2013 schedule to find their last win over a ranked opponent. Butler hosted No. 11 Michigan on Sept. 15 and walked away with a 1-0 win over the Wolverines.
Strongsville, Ohio Connection
Halle Stelbasky and Sandra Yu will reconnect on Friday night. Each player hails from Strongsville, Ohio and graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School. Yu missed playing time due to injury early in her career, but has started in 41 straight contests over the last two seasons. Stelbasky's career has also been impacted by injury, but the standout forward has still appeared in 38 games over her first two seasons as a Bulldog.
