Butler Tabs Men’s Soccer Team Captains

Juniors Matt Hedges and JC Aikenhead have been added as Butler men’s soccer team captains for the upcoming season.  The two join seniors Conner Burt and Ben Sippola in the leadership role for the 2010 Bulldogs.

“For any team, the quality of leadership dictates how successful they will be on and off the field,” said Butler men’s soccer coach Kelly Findley.  “The Butler Men’s Soccer Program looks for leaders, we seek individuals who practice servant leadership, do the most work, are fiercely competitive and have a work ethic on and off the field that is second to none.  We have an outstanding leadership group in our senior captains and senior class, and Matt and JC will be great leadership additions for this season and seasons to come.”

Hedges was chosen as the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year in 2009, while helping to lead the Bulldogs to a 14-3-2 season, a regular season championship in the Horizon League and a bid to the NCAA Tournament.  He started all 19 matches and finished as the squad’s third-leading scorer with five goals and two assists.

Aikenhead, who’s heading into his second year after transferring from Northern Illinois University, sat out last season with injury.

Burt, a second team All-Horizon League performer in 2009, is a returning first team Academic All-American.  He started all 19 matches last fall.

Sippola, who was named to the 2009 Horizon League Championship All-Tournament Team, earned NSCAA Scholar All-Region and Horizon League Academic All-League honors a year ago.  He also started all 19 matches for the Bulldogs.

Butler will begin its preseason camp on Friday, Aug. 13, with the first practice scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 14.  The Bulldogs have exhibition matches scheduled at Dayton (Aug. 20), against Eastern Illinois at home (Aug. 24) and against Northwestern at IPFW (Aug. 29), before opening the regular season at home against IPFW on Wednesday, Sept. 1.