Matchday Information – Villanova at Butler
DATE:                          Wednesday, October 12 / 7PM
LOCATION:                 Indianapolis, Ind. / Sellick Bowl
VIDEO:                        FloSports/BEDN
LIVE STATS:               butlersports.com
 
Full Notes

The Butler men's soccer team returns to BIG EAST competition when Villanova visits Indianapolis on Wednesday, Oct. 12, for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The (rv) Bulldogs (7-3-1, 2-1-1 BIG EAST) are coming off a 4-1 win over IUPUI, while the Wildcats (5-4-2, 2-2-1 BIG EAST) most recently lost to No. 12 Xavier, 1-2.

Bulldog Bits
            (through games 10/09/2022)

• Palmer Ault's 4 game-winning goals (3rd nationally), 8 goals (10th), and 19 points (13th) all lead the BIG EAST. His shot accuracy of .500 (73rd) is fourth in the conference.
• Wilmer Cabrera Jr. leads the BIG EAST and is 9th nationally with 3.64 shots per game, and he is fourth in the conference (62nd) with 1.36 shots on goal per game. His 13 total points are fifth in the BIG EAST (61st), and his five goals are sixth (61st).
• DJ Hooks' 2 game-winning goals rank second in the BIG EAST (36th nationally). His 13 total points are fifth in the BIG EAST (61st), and his five goals are sixth (61st).
• Tommy Visser's 4 assists rank fifth in the BIG EAST (75th nationally).
• Gabriel Gjergji ranks in the top five in the BIG EAST in saves (4th/33), save percentage (5th/.733), and goals-against average (5th/1.150).
   
• DJ Hooks was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll for his performances against Georgetown and IUPUI. He totaled 7 points on the week. In Butler's 2-3 loss to Georgetown, he notched a goal and assisted on the other, leading the team in both shots (3) and shots on goal (2). In the 4-1 win over IUPUI, Hooks knocked in two goals, including the game-winner. He was second on the team with five shots, but led with four on goal. Hooks now has an offensive point in five consecutive matches for Butler.
   
• The Bulldogs are currently receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches national poll (9/27/2022). Butler's highest ranking this season was No. 12 in the Sept. 4 poll. The Bulldogs are 1-1 against opponents ranked in the top-15, defeating No. 14 Marshall (1-0) and losing to No. 15 Indiana (1-2). 

           Against IUPUI:

• DJ Hooks scored his fourth and fifth goals of the season and now has six for his career. He has now contributed offensive points in five consecutive matches.
• Wilmer Cabrera, Jr.'s goal was his fifth of the season. With his 22nd career goal, he has now moved into a tie for the 10th spot on Butler's all-time list.
• Griffin DeBolt's goal was his first of the season and the fourth of his career.
• Palmer Ault's assist was third of the season and of his career.
• Joost de Schutter's assist was his first offensive point as a Bulldog.
• Tommy Visser's assist was fourth of the season and the eighth of his career.
• Gabriel Gjergji made three saves in the match and now has 275 in his career. He has now moved into the second spot on Butler's all-time list, passing Eric Dick (2014-17).

The Matchup

• SERIES RECORD: Butler leads, 7-2-0
• LAST MEETING: Sept. 25, 2021 - Villanova, Pa. - Villanova 1, Butler 0
• Prior to the 2021 loss, Butler had won the previous six meetings between the programs. However, three of the six matches were overtime affairs.
• The only win in the series by more than one goal: Butler (3-0) in 2015.

Scouting Villanova

• Previous match:  No. 12 Xavier L, 1-2
• The Wildcats' wins include Northwestern (4-0), Penn State (1-0), and Marquette (1-0), and they have additional losses to Stanford (0-1), and Creighton (1-3). Villanova tied both Cal (1-1) and Providence (1-1).
  
  Individual Statistics
• Offensive standouts for Villanova include:
  #7 Lyam MacKinnon (5g, 1a)
  #5 Viktor Benediktsson (4g, 1a)
  #9 Balthi Saunders (2g, 5a)
  #16 Akinjide Awujo (2g, 1a)
• Kent Dickey (5-4-2) has logged every minute in goal for the Wildcats. In 11 matches, he has allowed 9 goals (.820 GAA) and has made 45 saves (.833), producing 5 shutouts.