BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP, PRESENTED BY JEEP
FIRST ROUND – Nov. 3 – campus sites
No. 6  at No. 3 Butler, 1 p.m.^
No. 5  at No. 4 Villanova, 1 p.m.^
SEMIFINALS – Nov. 7 – Morrison Stadium (Omaha, Neb.)
No. 1 Xavier vs. 4/5 winner, 6 p.m.^
No. 2 Georgetown vs. 3/6 winner, 830 p.m.^
FINAL – Nov. 10 – Morrison Stadium (Omaha, Neb.)
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m. ^
^BEDN
All times Eastern

The Butler women's soccer team will take on the Providence Friars (8-8-2, 3-5-1 BE) in the BIG EAST Quarterfinals on Sunday at the Sellick Bowl. Kick-off for the Bulldogs sixth conference post-season is set for 1 p.m.

Bulldog Bits                                                                                                                

• This is Butler's sixth conference tournament appearance (fifth consecutive) in seven seasons as part of the BIG EAST.
• The Bulldogs are 5-4 in conference tournamnet play
• Sunday's match will be the fourth post-season meeting between the two teams
• Butler leads 8-3-0 in the overall series history with the Friars
• Earlier this year, the Bulldogs defeated Providence 1-0; Macy Miller delivered the game-winner
• Rodriguez and the Bulldogs lead the BIG EAST with nine shutouts (six in league)
• Rodriguez is tied for the Butler single-season shutout record (9)
• Soderstrom leads the Bulldogs offense in all categories: goals (8), assists (7), and points (23)
• Anja Savich (2018 Freshman of the Year) leads the Bulldogs with 58 shots, fourth most in the BIG EAST
• The Bulldogs have be represented on nine of ten BIG EAST weekly awards

 
BIG EAST Finale Recap                                                                                   
The Bulldogs fell 2-0 to the No. 1 seed and regular season champions, Xavier on Thursday night in unfavorable conditions at the Sellick Bowl. The Musketeers scored bookend goals in the third and 89th minutes of the game, limiting the Bulldogs opportunity to respond.

Butler played down senior defender Annika Schmidt, adjusting their line-up to move Taylor Crowe to the back line. Junior defender Amanda Kowalski led the team on both sides of the pitch, taking five shots, with one on frame. Stephanie Rodriguez collected eight saves in the match-up.
 
The No. 6 Seed Friars                                                                                  
The Providence Friars earned the No. 6 seed following DePaul's win over Marquette on Friday, which set the remainder of the post-season bracket. The Friars ended their regular season at 3-5-1 against BIG EAST foes and 8-8-2 overall. In the last game of BIG EAST match-ups, Providence fell 4-1 to Seton Hall, giving the pirates their first conference win of 2019.

Nine Days Ago                                                                             
The Bulldogs and Friars squared off just nine days ago in Providence, R.I. Butler, coming off a draw with (then) No. 11 Georgetown, took the 1-0 victory on the road. Macy Miller scored the single goal in the match while Anja Savich led the Bulldogs with 7 shots.

Butler held a 16-11 advantage in shots, limiting the Friars to just one strike on frame. The win was BU's eighth shutout of the season and the fifth BIG EAST clean sheet for the Bulldogs.
 
Familiar Circumstance                                                                             
This is the sixth time in seven years with the BIG EAST that the Bulldogs have qualified for the post-season.

In their five conference tournament appearances, the Bulldogs have played in three BIG EAST quarterfinal games, three semifinal matches, and three championships. In the last six seasons with the BIG EAST, the Bulldogs are 5-4 overall in the conference tournament.
 
Post-Season & Providence, Peas in a Pod                                          
This is the third time in as many years the Bulldogs have faced the Friars in the post-season. In 2017, Butler defeated Providence 3-0 to advance to the championship. A similar story line played out in 2018, as the Bulldogs down the Friars 3-2 in that semifinal.

The Bulldogs 2015 BIG EAST Championship came against the Friars as well. That year the Butler claimed the banner after a 1-0 decision in Omaha, Neb. at Morrison Stadium.
 
The Road to Omaha                                                                                                
A win over Providence on Sunday would punch the Bulldogs ticket to Omaha, Neb., where they would match up in a semifinal with #2 seed Georgetown on Thursday.