Box Score The Starting Eleven – Notes for the Bulldogs' Match at Evansville, September 29, 2015
Quick Trip: Butler takes a brief break from BIG EAST play, traveling to Evansville for a Tuesday night match against the Purple Aces. The Bulldogs enter the match with a 4-0-3 record, while Evansville is 2-5. For those not traveling to Evansville, and audio feed and live stats will be available courtesy of the host Purple Aces. Links have been established at ButlerSports.com.
Last Time Out: Vincent Mitchell found the net twice as Butler opened the BIG EAST portion of the 2015 schedule in fine fashion with a 3-0 win Saturday night at the Butler Bowl. The victory kept the Bulldogs' slate clean for the season at 4-0-3 and 1-0 in conference play.
Two of Many for Vinny: Senior Vincent Mitchell's two goals against Villanova continued his hot streak. He has scored five goals in Butler's last three matches (vs. Indiana, at Loyola, and vs. Villanova). Mitchell also has five of Butler's last six goals.
More Mitchell: Vincent Mitchell leads the Bulldogs with six goals and 14 points on the 2015 campaign. Mitchell ranks third in goals and second in points in the BIG EAST. Mitchell's recent work earned him a place on the College Soccer News National Team of the Week for the week ending Sept. 27, 2015.
Climbing the Charts: The undefeated Bulldogs have cracked the Top 30 National Poll, released weekly by College Soccer News. Butler currently stands in the 29th spot.
Against the Purple Aces: Evansville leads the all-time series with Butler, 14-10, thanks in large part to an 8-3 record in matches played in Evansville. The Bulldogs won the 2014 match-up 2-1 in overtime in Indianapolis.
Eric Leonard scored the game-tying goal in the first half before
Brandon Fricke scored the game-winner in overtime, heading in a
Jeff Adkins corner kick. Butler has one remaining break from BIG EAST play, welcoming SIU-Edwardsville to the Butler Bowl Oct. 6. Evansville is the final in-state opponent for the Bulldogs after posting a win at IUPUI and a tie against Indiana. Butler also hosted Notre Dame during the exhibition portion of the schedule.
Clean Slate: Butler is undefeated through its seventh match of the season for the first time under head coach Paul Snape. It is the first time that Butler has been undefeated this late in the season since 2010 when Butler went through the entire regular season and Horizon League Tournament undefeated before losing 1-0 to Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament.
First Change: Butler utilized the same starting line-up in the first six contests of the season. In Saturday's BIG EAST opener against Villanova, the Bulldogs were without All-BIG EAST forward
David Goldsmith, who had to sit after receiving a red card against Loyola. Senior captain
Mitch Ostrowski got his first start of the season. Ostrowski has played in the Bulldogs' last three matches after an injury kept him out of the first few matches this season.
On the Defensive: Butler ranks third in the BIG EAST in goals allowed, with opponents only scoring six goals in seven games (692 minutes). The Bulldogs have also shut out opponents in three of their seven matches. Goalkeeper Eric Dick's 0.78 goals against average and .824 save percentage each rank third in the BIG EAST.
Top Dawg: Head coach
Paul Snape is in his fifth season at the helm of Butler's program. He now posts a 33-31-17 record as he has navigated the Bulldogs from the Horizon League to the Atlantic 10 and now to the BIG EAST Conference.
Up Next: After the short excursion from BIG EAST play, the Bulldogs return to the conference slate and its first BIG EAST road contest at Providence (Saturday, Oct. 3). The next home match for Butler is also the last non-conference match-up of the season when SIU-Edwardsville comes to the Butler Bowl Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Bonus Note / Public Service Announcement: Keep updated on the Bulldogs throughout the season on ButlerSports.com and on Twitter at @ButlerMenSoccer. Saturday's match includes live stats and live audio from Evansville. Links are established on ButlerSports.com.
