Game Notes
 
Gameday Information
Date: Friday, September 8, 2017 / 8:00 PM EST
Location: College Station, Texas / Ellis Field
Live Stats: 12thMan.com
TV: ESPN 3
Series History: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The first-ever meeting between Butler and Texas A&M will take place this Friday night at Ellis Field. The nationally-ranked Aggies will host the Bulldogs on ESPN 3 at 8 PM.
 
Bulldog Bits
- Goalkeeper Leonie Doege was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/4)
- Butler ranks 6th in the NCAA with a .964 save percentage, tops in the BIG EAST
- The Bulldogs also rank 6th in the NCAA with a .833 shutout percentage
- BU leads the BIG EAST and ranks 7th in the NCAA with a 0.16 goals-against avg.
- Butler has only allowed one goal over the first six matches of the season
- Doege is one of seven players in the NCAA to hold a 0.00 goals-against average
- Hannah Luedtke is tied for 8th all-time at Butler with 93 career saves
- Two freshmen are responsible for three of Butler's five goals scored this year
- DiSarcina ranks 14th in the NCAA in game-winning goals with two
- BU went 7-2-1 against non-conference opponents during the 2016 season
 
About the Opponent: #10 Texas A&M
The Aggies have avoided the loss column early in the season to post a 3-0-1 record. Texas A&M went into overtime in the season opener to defeat (RV) Pepperdine 1-0 and a 2-0 road win at San Diego would follow just two days later. Last week, Texas A&M tied #19 Oklahoma State 2-2 and went on to defeat DePaul 2-0. Those two quality results moved the Aggies up two spots in the national poll to No. 10. Texas A&M has reached the NCAA Tournament in 22 consecutive seasons. They have reached the Elite Eight five times during that span and advanced all the way to the Final Four in 2014.
 
Leonie Doege Makes BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Doege helped Butler to back-to-back 1-0 victories last week, combining for four saves in 90 minutes of action. The rookie split time in the cage, playing a half in each contest. She made three saves against Eastern Michigan on Friday and one against Cleveland State on Sunday.
 
Defense Wins Championships
The 2017 team has only allowed one goal over the first six matches of the season, accomplishing a feat that no other team in program history can match. The 2003 team only allowed two goals over their first six matches which allowed them to open the year 3-2-1 overall. Time will tell how this 2017 team stacks up against the all-time great teams at Butler. The best starts in school history include a 9-1 start in 2002, a 7-1-1 mark in 1996 and a 7-2 record in 2001. Getting off to a great start is not new for the Bulldogs. They went 8-2-2 at the start of 2016 and 7-2-1 in 2015.
 
Two Quality Keepers
Hannah Luedtke and Leonie Doege have combined for five shutouts over the first six games. Luedtke started in each contest last week with Doege playing the final 45 minutes.
 
Schmidt Scores First Goal for Butler
UConn transfer Annika Schmidt broke into the starting lineup last week to help Butler post a 2-0 record. The redshirt sophomore scored her first goal as a Bulldog off a corner kick in the second half against Eastern Michigan.
 
Chou Checks In To Score vs. Cleveland State
Christy Chou scored the game-winning goal for Butler against Cleveland State. The senior checked into the game with nearly five minutes remaining in the first half and would go on to score Butler's only first half goal of the season off a double assist (44:06).
 
Fire Away
Halle Stelbasky ranks second in the BIG EAST in total shots (23). Teammate Paige Monaghan is tied for third in the conference with 18.
 
Twitter Updates
Follow the Butler Women's Soccer Team on Twitter @ButlerWSoccer.
 
Up Next
Butler will host Indiana State on Sunday, Sept. 17. Their final non-conference test of the year will be played that following Thursday at home vs. Chicago State. The 2017 BIG EAST home opener is not far away as Butler will play host to Marquette on Sunday, Sept. 24.