Match Notes

Facebook Live vs. Chicago State  |  Live Stats vs. Chicago State
 
BEDN vs. Marquette  |  Live Stats vs. Marquette
 
INDIANAPOLIS – The Bulldogs will host two matches this week as the team closes the non-conference portion of the schedule on Thursday night with a 7 PM match vs. Chicago State. The BIG EAST home opener will follow when Butler hosts Marquette on Sunday, Sept. 24. Each team is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll. Thursday's match will stream on Facebook Live. Sunday's contest will stream live on BEDN.
 
Bulldog Bits
- The Bulldogs are ranked #20 in the Soccer America Poll
- Butler is also receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Poll
- Breann Pempek was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (9/18)
- Hannah Luedtke was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/18)
- BU took eight corner kicks in the win against Indiana State, a season-high total
- Monaghan and Stelbasky account for 51 of Butler's 99 total shots on the year
- Butler has only allowed one goal over the first eight matches of the season
- Butler ranks 2nd in the NCAA with a .971 save percentage, tops in the BIG EAST
- BU leads the BIG EAST and ranks 3rd in the NCAA with a 0.12 goals-against avg.
- The Bulldogs also rank 3rd in the NCAA with a .875 shutout percentage
 
BIG EAST Standings
1) Butler 6-1-1, W6
2) Marquette 7-2-1, L1
3) Georgetown 6-2-1, W1
4) Providence 5-4, W4
5) St. John's 4-4-1, L3
6) Xavier 4-4-2, L1
7) Villanova 4-5, L1
8) DePaul 4-5, L1
9) Creighton 2-6-1, W1
10) Seton Hall 0-6-2, L2

Promotions
Thursday's match will feature free admission courtesy of ButlerBulldogGear.com. Sunday's match includes Soccer Sundaes and Youth Soccer Day. All kids 12 and under wearing their youth soccer jerseys will receive free admission and free ice cream sundaes at halftime.
 
In The Polls
Georgetown enjoyed a three-spot jump in this week's United Soccer Coaches Poll, moving up to No. 15 after scoring a 2-0 win at Towson on Sunday. The Hoyas conclude non-league play with a 6-2-1 record and carry an unbeaten streak of four games. After clinching its sixth consecutive shutout victory on Sunday against Indiana State, Butler (6-1-1) saw its vote totals more than double from a week ago, as the Bulldogs become the sixth team just outside the top 25. Butler closes out non-conference play Thursday against Chicago State. Marquette (7-2-1) also continued to receive votes, falling out of the top 25 after its eight-game unbeaten streak came to a close on Sunday. In the Midwest Regional Poll, the Hoyas moved up to No. 4, followed by Butler at No. 5 and Marquette at No. 8.
 
League Lid Lifters
Following one final non-conference tilt (Chicago State at Butler, Thursday), BIG EAST play gets under way this weekend as all 10 teams take the pitch in games streaming on the BIG EAST Digital Network. League action kicks off at 1 p.m. (ET) on Saturday when Seton Hall visits DePaul. The Hall has held five opponents to one goal or fewer this year and the Pirates will rely on that stingy defense against a Blue Demons squad who has the second-most goals (14) in the conference so far this season. Villanova at Providence follows at 4 p.m. The Friars have won four straight, while the Wildcats have seen incredible production on both sides of the field out of senior defender Emily Kuefler. All three of Sunday's BIG EAST tilts kick off at 1 p.m., with reigning BIG EAST Tournament champion No. 15 Georgetown looking to continue on its successes from 2016. The Hoyas host St. John's, which held Georgetown scoreless in last year's showdown. Creighton travels to Xavier as the Bluejays have won two of their last three, while the Musketeers can get scoring from any number of sources as six different players have found the back of the net this season. One of the biggest matches of the weekend pits RV Marquette at RV Butler. Two of the BIG EAST's top goalkeepers, Maddy Henry of Marquette and Hannah Luedtke of Butler, will likely be spotlighted in what is sure to be a defensive battle as the teams have combined for 13 clean sheets in 2017.
 
BEDN Tune In
All five of this weekend's conference openers will stream live on the BIG EAST Digital Network as BEDN is set to cover 35 regular-season women's soccer matches this season. Coverage continues next week as all five of Thursday's conference tilts will be available on the FOX Sports GO app. BEDN will also offer postseason coverage, including the BIG EAST Women's Soccer Championship presented by Jeep First Round and Semifinals, Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, before FS1 takes over for the league title match on Nov. 5.
 
RPI Reveal
The first NCAA RPI of the season was unveiled on Monday, with five BIG EAST teams ranked in the top 100 and three in the top 40. Marquette led the way at No. 26, followed by No. 32 Georgetown and No. 37 Butler. Providence (74) and Villanova (89) also listed in the top 100.  Five BIG EAST squads finished in the top 100 a season ago, highlighted by the Hoyas' No. 6 mark following their run to the College Cup. Earning an at-large NCAA selection, Marquette peaked at No. 25 and finished in the top 30, while DePaul (54), Providence (62) and St. John's (74) all finished in the top 75.
 
Scouting Chicago State
The Cougars are 1-9 overall with that lone win coming against St. Xavier University (NAIA). Chicago State has allowed 56 goals over the first 10 games of the season and have only scored four. They allow 27.7 shots per game and have been limited to just 70 total shots.
 
About RV Marquette
The Golden Eagles ended their non-conference schedule with a 7-2-1 record. They took a 4-0 setback to #2 Stanford in the season opener and most recently lost 2-1 at Milwaukee. The loss to the Panthers knocked Marquette out of the United Soccer Coaches Top-25 Poll, but they are still receiving votes. Darian Powell highlights Marquette up front and the high level of play from goalkeeper Maddy Henry makes the Golden Eagles a tough matchup. Powell leads the team with 10 points. She has a team-high three goals on the year to go along with four assists. Henry has only allowed eight goals this year while making 53 saves.
 
Pempek Named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week
Pempek delivered the game-winning goal for RV Butler against Indiana State on Sunday. The junior connected on a header in the second half. The first goal of the season for Pempek went down as the fifth of her career, sending the Bulldogs to their sixth consecutive shutout victory.
 
Luedtke Lands On BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Luedtke helped Butler post their sixth-straight shutout win on Sunday afternoon with two saves in a 1-0 victory over Indiana State. Luedtke is now 3-1 on the year with a 0.22 goals against average and a team-high 19 saves.
 
Chasing History
The Bulldogs have only allowed one goal during the 2017 season. The school record for fewest goals allowed is 15, a total that was set by the 2012 squad. A second school record could be in range for the 2017 team. The Bulldogs head into conference play with seven shutouts. The team record is 11, set by the 2012 team.
 
McDevitt Returns
BU defender Shannon McDevitt returned to action for the Bulldogs on Sunday (Sept. 17) against Indiana State. She missed the previous three matches (family emergency). 
 
Balanced Attack
Seven different BU players account for the team's eight goals on the season and 10 of the team's 11 assists have been recorded by different student-athletes.
 
Defense Wins Championships
The 2017 team has only allowed one goal over the first eight matches of the season, accomplishing a feat that no other team in program history can match. The best starts in school history include a 9-1 record in 2002, and a 7-1-1 mark in 1996. 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.
 
Up Next
The final match of September for Butler will send the team to New Jersey to face Seton Hall. Action on Thursday night (Sept. 28) will stream live on BEDN beginning at 7 PM.