Notes (PDF)

The Bulldogs host the Columbia Lions on Labor Day at the Sellick Bowl. Butler, currently No. 11 in the United Soccer Coaches poll, will face off against the Lions at 1 p.m. Columbia is 0-1 on the season after falling at Kentucky Friday night. The game will be broadcast live on the Butler Bulldogs Facebook page.

FIRST WIN: Butler notched their first win of the season Thursday night, defeating No. 16 Western Michigan 2-0. Junior Brandon Guhl scored both goals for the Bulldogs. His first goal came in the 64^th minute, followed by another in the 69^th minute. Butler stepped up their defense, assisting freshman goalkeeper Gabriel Gjergji in the first shutout of his career.

FRESH FACES: Six true freshmen have already started matches in 2018. Keeper Gabriel Gjergji, defender Louie Bulger and forward Eric Conerty have started all three matches this season, while Jack Haywood, Griffin DeBolt and Logan Lee have also gotten the call in at least one of the team's matches.

EARLY ACCOLADES: Butler junior Brandon Guhl was selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Bulldogs to an impressive result at No. 4 Akron in the season opener. The BIG EAST office announced the weekly honors on Monday, Aug. 27.

DAWGS VS. LIONS: Columbia defeated Butler, 2-0, in the only previous meeting in series history. The match-up came in 1999. This match was played on neutral field as part of the Florida International Soccer Classic.

IN THE POLLS: In addition to the No. 11 ranking in this week's United Soccer Coaches poll, the Bulldogs climbed to No. 9 in both the Top Drawer Soccer and College Soccer News polls released Monday.

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.

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.

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs take a trip out west to face UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos Saturday. The match starts at 10 p.m. Eastern.