Matchday Information – Butler vs. No. 13 Akron
DATE:                          Saturday, October 28 / 2PM
LOCATION:                 Indianapolis // Varsity Field
LIVE VIDEO:               FloSports/BEDN
LIVE STATS:               StatBroadcast
TICKETS:                     (free entry)
CAMPUS ACCESS:      (map)
 
Full Notes

The Butler men's soccer team plays its final regular-season contest on Saturday, hosting No. 13 Akron at Varsity Field. The soccer match is a part of Butler's 2023 Homecoming celebration activities that include the 1 p.m. football game at the Sellick Bowl. Also impacting travel to campus will be the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. (Please link to map, as many normal routes to campus will be closed.)

Every BIG EAST team will play its final game at 2PM ET on Saturday, and every team is still mathematically eligible to make the postseason tournament (full BIG EAST standings). The Bulldogs (2-7-5, 1-3-3 BIG EAST) will need to defeat the Zips (9-1-6, 2-1-4 BIG EAST) and will need Seton Hall to either draw or lose (vs. Providence) to make the field. Butler is coming off a 3-0 loss to Providence, while Akron most recently tied Marquette, 1-1.

Prior to Saturday's match, Ben Minor, Graham Rieg, DJ Hooks, Hemi Nasser, and Tommy Visser will be recognized in Senior Day ceremonies.

Bulldog Bits
        (as of 10/24/23)

• With 80 total saves, Caleb Norris leads the BIG EAST and is 2nd nationally, and his average of 5.71 saves per match ranks second in the conference and is 3rd nationally. He leads the BIG EAST (48th) with a .762 save percentage.
• Palmer Ault's six goals rank sixth in the BIG EAST and 80th nationally.
   

The Matchup
SERIES RECORD: Butler leads, 1-0-1
LAST MEETING: Oct. 8, 2019 - Indianapolis - Butler 1, Akron 0 (2OT)

• The sides battled to a 2-2 draw through two overtime periods in 2018.
• 2023 represents its first season of competition for Akron men's soccer as a member of the BIG EAST Conference (previous:  Mid-American)
   

Scouting No. 13 Akron

• Previous match: vs. Marquette  T, 1-1
• Akron has notable wins against No. 7 Vermont (1-0), No. 11 FIU (2-0), DePaul (3-0), and Seton Hall (3-1) along with ties vs. No. 15 Notre Dame (0-0), Xavier (0-0), St. John's (1-1), Providence (3-3), and Michigan (1-1). The Zips' only loss came at Creighton (2-3).
  
  Individual Statistics
• Offensive standouts for Akron include:
  #9 Jason Shokalook (14g, 5a)
  #18 Stefan Dobrijevic (2g, 4a)
  #13 Josef Paulus (3g, 2a)
• #1 Mitch Budler (7-1-5) is the primary keeper for the Zips. In 13 starts, he has allowed 10 goals (.800 GAA) and has made 26 saves (.722 SV%), earning six solo shutouts. In three starts, #0 Seth Wilson (2-0-1) has allowed one goal (.290 GAA) and has made nine saves (.900 SV%). He has two shutouts.