Notes (PDF)

The Bulldogs open the 2018 campaign Friday, traveling to Ohio to meet Akron in a battle of Top 10 teams. In the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, Butler is ranked No. 9, while Akron comes in at No. 4. The match will be streamed live on ESPN3.

DAWGS AND ZIPS: This will be the first meeting between the two soccer programs. Butler did play in the 2016 University of Akron Tournament in Ohio, but their opponents were UC-Santa Barbara and Oregon State.

A YEAR AGO: The Bulldogs went 14-5-2 in 2017, winning the BIG EAST regular season title and advancing to the NCAA Round of 16. That performance matched the Bulldogs' best postseason finish (Round of 16) in program history.

BACK FOR MORE: Coach Paul Snape returns seven starters from a season ago. The team will also welcome back midfielders Jared Timmer and Marco Charalambous, who each missed the 2017 season due to injury.

NOT KIDDING AROUND: The Bulldogs have put together a challenging schedule for the upcoming season as the Bulldogs will face four teams ranked in the preseason Top 25: Indiana (No. 2), Akron (No. 4), BIG EAST rival Georgetown (No. 13), and Western Michigan (No. 14). Columbia, Creighton and Xavier also received votes in the preseason poll.

PRESEASON HONORS: Three Bulldogs picked up preseason BIG EAST accolades as senior Joe Moulden and juniors Brandon Guhl and Jared Timmer were selected to the preseason All-BIG EAST squad. Guhl was also named the BIG EAST Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

ACCORDING TO THE COACHES: Butler has been picked to finish second in the BIG EAST Preseason Poll. The conference's head coaches voted in the preseason poll. Georgetown, which finished second to the Bulldogs in the 2017 regular season but won the BIG EAST Tournament, was picked to win the conference. The Hoyas received seven first-place votes from the coaches, while Butler picked up the remaining three nods.

IN THE POLLS: In addition to the No. 9 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, the Bulldogs come in at No. 10 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll and No. 11 according to College Soccer News.  

BIG YEAR AHEAD: Junior Brandon Guhl is a popular guy in terms of preseason honors and watch lists. Guhl is on the 2018 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List. He was also selected to Top Drawer Soccer Men's Preseason Best XI Team (Third Team) and No. 31 on the TDS Preseason National College Soccer Players list, as well as being named to the College Soccer News 2018 Preseason All-America First Team.

STEPPING IN: In addition to the return of Timmer and Charalambous, several Bulldogs are expected to take on an expanded role in 2018 while a talented group of newcomers will see significant minutes. Those players will look to fill the void left by keeper Eric Dick, a 2017 First-Team All-American and the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, as well as departed starters Eric Leonard, Isaac Galliford and Lewis Suddick.

EYEING THE TOURNAMENT: The Bulldogs received the eighth NCAA Tournament berth in program history and the second of the at-large variety with the 2017 appearance. It is also Butler's second consecutive appearance under head coach Paul Snape.
 
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs return home to Indianapolis for a Monday match-up with Drake at the Sellick Bowl.