The defending BIG EAST champion Butler Bulldogs open the 2017 campaign Friday night, hosting UIC at the Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis. The match is set for 7 p.m.
 
The Bulldogs are ranked in all three major preseason polls – No. 20 in College Soccer News, No. 24 in Top Drawer Soccer, and No. 25 in the United Soccer Coaches poll (formerly known as the NSCAA).
 
UIC earned a berth in the 2016 NCAA Tournament by winning the Horizon League Tournament title. The Bulldogs and UIC played annually as members of the Horizon League until the Bulldogs left for the Atlantic 10 (and eventually the BIG EAST) in 2012. The teams most recently played to a 1-1 draw in 2015.
 
Coach Paul Snape returns a talented roster as he enters his seventh season in charge of the Butler program. The Bulldogs are coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010 after spending much of the 2016 season ranked in the Top 25 nationally. The season culminated in winning the BIG EAST Tournament and receiving the No. 15 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Butler finished the campaign with a record of 13-5-2.
 
The 2017 Bulldogs lose All-BIG EAST performers David Goldsmith and Mitch Ostrowski to graduation, but a majority of the roster returns.
 
"Our biggest question is what is our 2017 identity," said Snape. "We have players who have set us on this path who have now graduated. So while we return a lot of experience, can we embrace a new style and doing some things differently as we look toward being a program that continually is at the top of the BIG EAST and continually making the NCAA Tournament. That's the mindset that we are aiming for."
 
Goalkeepers
 
Redshirt senior Eric Dick has started every match over the past two seasons. His seven shutouts in 2016 contributed to goals against average of 0.95. He will anchor the Bulldogs' defense once again.
 
"In my opinion, Eric is one of the top five keepers in the country in terms of stopping shots," said Snape. "He's had a great summer and has improved his communication. He's a phenomenal worker and a great athlete. We need him to continue to share his insight and his enthusiasm, and take on an even greater leadership role."
 
Snape selected Dick as one of the team's three captains for the upcoming season.
 
Redshirt sophomore Ryan Clark is the team's No. 2 keeper, while Will LeFevre and Sam Keener provide depth at the position. Keener, from Dublin, Ohio, is a member of the team's freshman class.
 
Defense
 
The loss of Ostrowski is mitigated by the return of three starters in juniors Joe Moulden and Kieran Geldenhuys, alongside sophomore Alex Lehtinen. All three have been in the starting line-up almost from their first days on the Butler campus. Moulden and Geldenhuys man the middle of the defense, while Lehtinen will be called upon on the outside.
 
"It's great to have several options on defense who have been here before and played meaningful minutes in BIG EAST and NCAA action," said Snape. "We need to continue to find that synergy as a back line, understanding what all of our teammates are capable of."
 
The Bulldogs' versatility is on display as several returning players will see time both on the back line and in the midfield. Senior Bennett Kim, junior Michael Peay and sophomore Derek Sutton all played extensively a season ago. Kim previously has played almost exclusively in the midfield, but will be called upon more defensively in 2017. Peay and Sutton have played both positions in the past, and will continue to do so.
 
Redshirt freshman Maurice Thompson III brings impressive size at 6-5 to the position, while VCU transfer Braden Van Allen will look to play a bigger role for the Bulldogs in his second season at Butler.
 
Midfield

The team's deepest position is led by preseason All-BIG EAST selection Jared Timmer. The junior led the team and the BIG EAST with nine assists a season ago.
 
"We regard Jared as an elite midfielder," said Snape. "He has the potential to be one of the best two-way midfielders in the country."
 
Timmer and senior Eric Leonard are two the team's captains for the upcoming season, providing strong leadership for the talented group.
 
"Eric is an absolute warrior; he's a tank," said Snape. "He's technically better than he was three years ago, but his leadership and grit are so important to us."
 
Sophomores Lewis Suddick and Issac Galliford return after strong rookie campaigns. Suddick started all 20 matches and finished second on the team to Goldsmith in most offensive categories. He had 11 goals in 2016. He joined Timmer on the preseason All-BIG EAST Team after earning Newcomer Team honors a season ago. Galliford joined him on the Newcomer Team in 2016. Galliford finished second on the team in both assists (six) and shots (53) to go along with his four goals. One of his goals came in the BIG EAST Tournament championship game win.
 
"Lewis and Isaac are very, very talented," said Snape. "This season we will put more responsibility on them. Last year, they were able to play free, but they are motivated to step up their production with David's (Goldsmith) graduation. When they play well, the rest of our team seems to play really well. They can have that impact on our roster."
 
Marco Charalambous returns for his redshirt junior season. Kim, Sutton and Peay will also see time in the midfield. A talented group of freshmen includes midfielders Joel Harvey, Usman Gil Ivern and Justin Savona. Nathan Edmunds also returns as a redshirt freshman.
 
Forwards
 
The largest opportunity for an increase in minutes comes at the team's forward position as BIG EAST Co-Offensive Player of the Year Goldsmith is now on the Indy Eleven roster.
 
SMU transfer Brandon Guhl joins the Bulldogs for his sophomore campaign. He ranked third in the United States in scoring during the 2014-15 US Soccer Academy season with 31 goals in 30 games.
 
"Brandon is a player who we recruited several seasons ago," said Snape. "He's a student of the game and still learning some of our philosophy, but he has the potential to score goals up front for us."
 
Redshirt Nolan Schloneger will see time both up front and in the midfield this season. He has overcome injuries that slowed him the past two seasons. Wyatt Scott is one of the team's seniors and should see increased minutes from 2016.
 
Freshmen Jack Woods and Ethan King provide depth at the position.