The Bulter women's soccer team returns from two road games to host Michigan State on Thursday before heading to Milwaukee for a Sunday match-up.

The Bulldogs enter week three of non-conference play with a record of 3-1-0. 

Bulldog Bits

• Last week, the Bulldogs went 1-1, taking the win over Northern Kentucky (2-1) and falling to No. 15 Wisconsin in overtime (2-1 OT).
• Butler is receiving votes in the most recent rankings list (September 2).
• Macy Miller was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week after grabbing a goal and an assist in the win at NKU.  Her three-point single-game tally was the highest in the conference.
• Aliya Diagne scored her first collegiate goal that also doubled as the game-winner at NKU.
• Annika Schmidt netted the Bulldogs only goal in the game against the Badgers, putting her at two on the season which ties for the team high.
• Katie Soderstrom leads the team and the BIG EAST with five assists and nine points after dishing out a helper to Schmidt on Sunday. 
• Seven players in the BIG EAST have recorded multiple goals, three of which are Bulldogs Anja Savich, Soderstrom and Schmidt, who have two apiece. 
• Stephanie Rodriguez made eight saves in the Wisconsin game, and limited the nationally ranked team to just one goal throughout regulation. Rodriguez has played every minute between the posts for the Bulldogs this year.

About the Spartans
Michigan State enters Thursday's match at 4-0-0 on the year. The Spartans are coming off a 2-1 2OT victory over Boston University on Sunday.

In 2018, the Spartans also started out 4-0-0 in non-conference play, then ended the season at 5-10-3 overall with a 0-9-2 mark in Big Ten matchups.

Sophomore Gia Wahlberg is leading the Spartans, and is tied for second in the NCAA, in goals with five. She netted four goals in the Spartans 5-1 victory over Marshall and scored the golden goal in the Boston win.

The Spartans are 1-0 on the road this year, already faring better than their 0-5-2 away record last season.

About the Panthers
The Milwaukee Panthers hold a record identical to the Bulldogs, after dropping their most recent road contest in overtime to Eastern Kentucky in a 0-1 decision.  The Panthers are the mirror image of the Bulldogs, with two road wins, a home win and one road loss so far in non-conference play.

The Panthers went 16-2-1 overall last season, with one loss coming in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 7 Santa Clara. The Panthers were Horizon League Champions after going 9-0-0 in conference.

Similar to the Bulldgos, the Panthers bring a balanced offense to the match-up, as five athletes have at least one or more goals this season.

The Panthers will host Eastern Illinois this Friday before Sunday's contest with the Bulldogs.

Series History
The Bulldogs have faced-off with Michigan State seven times, as the Spartans lead the series 4-2-1. At the last meeting in 2017, Butler took the win in a 1-0 decision.

Against the Panthers, Milwaukee leads the rivalry- that dates back to 1994- by a 22-7-2 margin. However, in the most recent match-up in 2015, the Bulldogs captured the 1-0 victory. 

Home Game Info
Kick-off against the Spartans is set for 7 PM at the Sellick Bowl. The game is free to all fans, courtesy of butlerbulldoggear.com. Sunday's game against the Panthers will start at 2 PM (CT) in Milwaukee, Wisc.