The Bulldogs are back in action Wednesday when they will take on Western Michigan. Due to weather conditions, the match has been moved indoors to the Grand Park facility in Westfield, Ind. The start of the match has also been moved up to 2 p.m.
 
Butler is coming off a 10-day break as their scheduled match Friday against Chicago State was canceled due to COVID-19 issues within the Cougars' program.
 
Butler enters the contest against Western Michigan at 0-1 after falling to SIUE in the season opener. SIUE took a 2-1 decision in double overtime, converting on a penalty kick in the 101^st minute. Butler held a 19-9 edge in shots. That match was also played at Grand Park.
 
Sophomore Hemi Nasser netted the Butler goal in the season opener, connecting in the 36^th minute for a 1-0 lead. Wilmer Cabrera, Jr. assisted on the tally. The goal was Nasser's second career score as a Bulldog. Nasser earned a spot on the BIG EAST's weekly honor roll for his efforts.
 
Butler and Western Michigan last played in the 2019 season opener, a match-up held at the Sellick Bowl on the Butler campus. Butler won, 2-1. The Bulldogs were able to overcome a 1-0 deficit in taking the win. Cabrera, Jr. was fouled in the box in the 85^th minute of that contest and converted the resulting penalty kick for the game-winner (and his first collegiate goal).
 
In the all-time series, the Bulldogs hold a 3-2 advantage against Western Michigan.
 
This will be the first match of the spring 2021 season for Western Michigan. The Broncos return two ALL-MAC selections in Brennan Creek and MAC Freshman of the Year Charlie Sharp.
 
Butler was picked as the preseason favorite to win the BIG EAST's Midwest Division. Butler topped the Midwest Division Poll with 15 points, tallying three first-place votes. Creighton followed in second with 14 points and the remaining two first-place tallies. Xavier followed in third place with 10 points, followed by Marquette with seven points and DePaul with four points.

Butler had two standouts named to the 2021 Preseason All-BIG EAST Team in sophomore Cabrera Jr., and senior Rhys Myers.
 
Cabrera, Jr., was named the 2019 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, scoring eight goals, including six game-winners. Myers played a pivotal role in anchoring Butler's defense that only allowed 1.3 goals per game in 2019.

Butler's returners also include junior midfielder Jack Haywood. He earned All-BIG EAST third-team honors following the 2019 campaign, tying for the conference lead with nine assists. The nine assists are tied for fifth on Butler's single-season list.

Cabrera, Jr., earned a third-team spot as TopDrawerSoccer unveiled its Preseason Best XI teams earlier this week.