Game Notes | Providence (Live Stats) | Providence (Watch) | Marquette (Live Stats) | Marquette (Watch)

In the last two-game week of the BIG EAST women's soccer schedule, the Butler Bulldogs will face Providence (8-5-2, 3-2-1) on Thursday, Oct. 24 and host Marquette (6-8-1, 3-2-1) on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Kick-off for Thursday is set for 7p.m. in Providence, R.I., while Sunday's match will begin at 1 p.m. at the Sellick Bowl.  Both games will be streamed on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
 
Bulldog Bits                                                                                                                

• Stephanie Rodriguez leads BIG EAST with 7 shutouts
• Rodriguez and the BU defense holds a 0.83 GAA
• BU tied for 21st nationally in shutout percentage (.600)
• Annika Schmidt named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (10/21/19)
• Schmidt listed on Top Drawer Soccer's Midseason Top 100 (No. 73)
• Anja Savich is 23rd nationally in shots on goal per game (2.0)
• Katie Soderstrom and Savich are tied for fourth in BIG EAST in goals (7)
• Sodersrom is fourth in the league in points (21)
• Bulldogs are the first team in the BIG EAST to hold the No.14 Georgetown Hoyas scoreless
• BU has been represented on eight of nine BIG EAST Weekly awards: three offensive, three defensive, one goal keeper and several honor roll selections.
• Butler leads the all-time series with Providence: 7-3-0
• Butler leads the all-time series with Marquette: 4-3-1
• Butler is ranked third in the BIG EAST with 11 points, behind Xaiver (12) and No. 14 Georgetown (14)

 
Bulldogs Week Recap                                                                             
The Bulldogs held off No. 11 Georgetown at the Sellick Bowl on Sunday, Oct. 20.  The 2OT game ended in a 0-0 draw, despite attempts on both sides to break through tough defensive lines. The nationally ranked Hoyas held a 11-9 edge on shots and a 7-3 advantage on corners, while the Bulldogs notched a 5-1 ratio in SOG. Soderstrom led Butler with three shots, including two on goal.

Bulldogs went 0-0-1 during the BIG EAST mid-season bye-week, moving the overall record to 8-4-3 and league stance to 3-1-2.  Butler dropped one spot to third place in the conference rankings heading into the final two-game week of the season.

Scouting the Friars                                                                                    
Providence approaches Thursday's match at 8-5-2 overall with a 3-2-1 mark in conference. The Friars are locked in a four-way tie for fourth place with Villanova, Marquette, and DePaul, all with identical BIG EAST records and 10 points apiece.

The Friars lead the conference in saves (88), with all but one coming from GK Shelby Hogan. Hogan also has four shutouts between the posts this season.

Scouting the Golden Eagles                                                                                                
Marquette enters the final two-game week of the regular season at 6-8-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the BIG EAST. The Golden Eagles are part of the four-way tie for fourth, meaning this week's results will likely see a shake-up in standings. Marquette is on a three-game win streak, taking town St. John's, Seton Hall and Villanova in recent match-ups.

The Golden Eagles will face off with Xaiver on Thursday before Sunday's match at the Sellick Bowl.

Last Time Out
Thursday's match against the Friars will be a rematch of the 2018 BIG EAST Semifinals, where the Bulldogs took the 3-2 win to punch their ticket to the championship for the second year in a row. Schmidt scored a goal in the match while Soderstrom and Amanda Kowalski provided assists.

During the 2018 regular season match-up, the Bulldogs claimed a 1-0 victory over Providence, and Schmidt earned weekly BIG EAST Defensive Player honors following the shutout.

Sunday's game at the Sellick Bowl will see the Bulldogs and Golden Eagles clash for the first time in over a year. BU shutout MU by a 1-0 tally in the Sept. 23, 2018 conference opener. Reigning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Savich, delivered the game-winning goal.

BIG EAST Accolades                                                                                                 
Schmidt was named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week after leading the backline to a shutout over No. 11 Georgetown. Schmidt also took one shot on goal in the match. This is Schmidt's second weekly conference honor this season. The Bulldogs defense now boasts seven shutouts and a 0.83 GAA. 

Up Next                                                                                                                       
The Bulldogs will close out regular season play against Xaiver (11-3-2, 4-2-0) on Thursday, Oct. 31. The Musketeers recently jumped the Bulldogs in BIG EAST standings, bumping Butler down to third.