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No. 22 Butler (4-1-0) looks to rebound from a 1-0 setback at No. 19 Kansas with two home games this week. The Bulldogs will take on Evansville on Thursday at 7PM. The game will feature free admission courtesy of ButlerBulldogGear.com. Northern Kentucky will make the trip to Indianapolis on Sunday, Sept. 9 for a 1PM tilt. Both matches will stream live on the Butler Bulldogs Facebook page.

Bulldog Bits
- Annika Schmidt named to BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/2)
- Goalkeeper Hannah Luedtke has not allowed a goal in 180 minutes
- The Butler defense has only allowed three goals in five matches
- Paige Monaghan named BIG EAST Offensive POW (8/27)
- Annika Schmidt tabbed BIG EAST Defensive POW (8/27)
- Butler took down No. 20 Notre Dame for the first time in school history
- Anja Savich was tabbed BIG EAST Freshman on of the week (8/20)
- Bulldogs are outshooting opponents 79 to 40
- Monaghan leads the team in shots with 23; 11 of which are on goal
- Freshmen have seven of the Bulldogs' nine goals
- Monaghan and Schmidt were named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
- Monaghan was a unanimous selection to Preseason BIG EAST Offensive POY
- Bulldogs were 7-1-1 against non-conference opponents in 2017
 
Scouting No. 22 Butler
The Bulldogs finished a two-game week on the road with a 1-1 record. Butler took home a win at Dayton on Aug. 30 and fell at No. 19 Kansas on Sept. 2. Prior to the match against the Jayhwaks, the Bulldogs had not trailed an opponent in 2018. Butler owns wins over then-ranked No. 20 Notre Dame, IUPUI, and Kent State.

Senior Paige Monaghan continues to pace the Bulldogs, leading the team in points (8) and assists (4). Freshmen Anja Savich and Morgan Kloosterman lead the team in goals with three apiece. Rookie Katie Soderstrom has also put one in the back of the net for the Bulldogs. The Bulldog back line, anchored by Annika Schmidt, Madison Toth, and Julia Leonard, remains steady, allowing only three goals in Butler's first five matches. Goalkeepers Hannah Luedtke and Leonie Doege have combined for two shutouts on the young season.

About the Opponent: Evansville
Evansville (2-3-0) is coming off a 2-1 road loss at Miami Ohio on Sept. 2. Despite a quick goal to begin the match, the Purple Aces could not find the equalizer as the Redhawks scored two goals in the second half to take the win. Evansville opened the 2018 campaign with a win on the road at Southeast Missouri State. The Purple Aces then dropped their next three matches until shutting out Tennessee Tech on Aug. 31. Jayme-Lee Hunter and Montana Portenier lead the team in goals (2) and points (5), each posting one assist. Emily Wolak, Emily Ormson, and Maggie Leazer each add a goal for the Purple Aces. Starting goalkeeper Michaela Till has allowed 8 goals with 27 saves and a 1.45 goals against average.
 
About the Opponent: Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky (3-2-0) will host Lipscomb on Thursday before making the trip to Indianapolis on Sunday. The Norse posted a 3-2 win at Ohio on Aug. 31, marking their first road win of the season, previously falling to Cincinnati 1-0 (OT) and Murray State 2-1 (OT) on the road. NKU owns notable wins against BIG EAST foe Xavier 1-0 and Indiana State 3-0. Four players lead the Norse in points with four, while six different players have scored. Emily Soltes and Chloe Mills pace NKU with two goals apiece. Payton Naylor and Samantha Duwel lead the team in assists with two. Emily Lohmann has seen every minute in goal for the Norse, allowing five goals and making 26 saves with a .98 goals against average.

Bulldogs Ranked
The Bulldogs cracked the United Soccer Coaches Poll last week (8/28), coming in at No. 25 after topping then-ranked No. 20 Notre Dame. Butler moved up three spots to No. 22 this week (9/3) after a 1-1 week on the road at Dayton and No. 19 Kansas.

Double Trouble
Paige Monaghan and Annika Schmidt, named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST team, continue to lead the Bulldogs offensively and defensively. Monaghan, a unanimous selection for Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, leads the team in points (8) and assists (4). Her two goals this season came in the Bulldogs' statement-making win against then-ranked No. 20 Notre Dame. Schmidt has played every minute for the Bulldogs, anchoring a back line that has only allowed three goals in five matches. The redshirt junior was named to the BIG EAST weekly Honor Roll following her defensive efforts against Dayton and Kansas.

Twice as Nice
The Bulldogs continue to split time in goal between Hannah Luedtke and Leonie Doege. The two have combined for two shutouts and have only allowed three goals in 450 minutes. Luedtke edges Doege in goals allowed (1) and goals against average (.40) while Doege leads the team in saves with eight. The two have a combined save percentage of .824.

Up Next
The Bulldogs are on the road for three games following the match against NKU. Butler will make a trip to Texas, taking on Baylor on Sept. 13 at 8PM EST and TCU just three days later at 2PM EST. The Bulldogs will then open BIG EAST play at Marquette on Sept. 23 at 2PM EST. The BIG EAST opener will stream live on BEDN.