Matchday Information – No. 17 Butler vs. Illinois
DATE:                          Thursday, August 25 / 8 PM
LOCATION:                 Indianapolis, Ind. / Sellick Bowl
LIVE VIDEO:               FloSports/ButlerPlus
LIVE STATS:               butlersports.com
SERIES RECORD:     Illinois leads, 4-1-0
LAST MEETING:        August 29, 2021 - Champaign, Ill. - Butler 3, Illinois 1
 
Full Notes

The No. 17 Butler women's soccer team will face its second-consecutive Big Ten opponent when Illinois visits the Butler campus on Thursday, August 25, at 8 pm. The Bulldogs are coming off a 1-0 upset win over No. 9 Michigan, while the Illini most recently defeated Toledo, 4-1.

Bulldog Bits

• Fifth Year Katie Soderstrom was chosen the 2022 Preseason BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year. Joining her on the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team is senior defender Aliya Diagne.
• Butler's 2022 schedule includes four teams who received recognition in the United Soccer Coaches 2022 Pre-Season poll (#9 Michigan, #19 Georgetown, #24 Xavier, and RV Wisconsin).
• Butler entered the United Soccer Coaches national poll at No. 17 after last weekend's action, marking the highest ranking in that poll in program history. The Bulldogs were most recently ranked No. 23 in the September 11, 2018, poll, and the previous all-time high was No. 20 in the October 31, 2017, poll.
   
• Butler's win over No. 9 Michigan on Sunday was the program's second win over a top-10 team. The Bulldogs' only other top-10 win was a 2-0 victory over No. 10 Texas A&M in 2017. Butler's most recent win over a ranked team was a 4-1 result over No. 20 Notre Dame in 2018.
• Katie Soderstrom notched the game-winning goal in both of Butler's victories in the young season.
• Anna Pierce (2-0) made six saves against the Wolverines to earn the first solo shutout of her career.
• Soderstrom was chosen the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week, while Pierce was selected as BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week.
• Five Bulldogs scored a goal in Butler's opening-season victory over Western Michigan.

The Matchup

• SERIES RECORD: Illinois leads, 4-1-0
• LAST MEETING: August 29, 2021 - Champaign, Ill. - Butler 3, Illinois 1
• Illinois won the first four matches of the series (2002, 2003, 2007, 2019)
• The only match of the series in Indianapolis was in 2019 when the Illini won, 2-1.

Scouting Illinois

• Previous match: Toledo W, 4-1
   
• Ashley Cathro, R-Sr., D, Eileen Murphy, Sr., D, and Kendra Pasquale, R-Sr., M, were selected as Players to Watch by the Big Ten.
• Offensive leaders for Illinois include:
  #18 Sarah Foley (1g, 1a)
  #8 Ashley Prell (1g, 1a)
  #9 Madison Mariani (1g)
  #12 Kendra Pasquale (1g)
  #4 Makala Woods (1g)
• Julia Cili (2-0) has played two complete games in goal. She has given up one goal (.500 GAA) and made five saves (.833), producing one shutout.