DePaul University Athletics
No. 21 DePaul Faces Big Challenge From Butler on Thursday
10/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S SOCCER
Butler at DePaul | 3 PM Thursday | Wish Field
BIG EAST Digital Network |
DePaul Notes | Butler Notes
DePaul at Villanova | Noon Sunday | Villanova, Pa.
BIG EAST Digital Network |
CHICAGO - DePaul heads into a pair of BIG EAST Conference matches this week looking to remain unbeaten in the league while also retaining its No. 21 ranking in the Soccer America national poll.
The Blue Demons (9-2-2, 3-0-0 in BIG EAST) will face a talented Butler team at 3 p.m. Thursday at Wish Field that is 9-4-1 overall and 2-1-0 in conference. The Bulldogs have outscored teams 24-14 lead by Halle Stelbasky with eight goals.
After that, DePaul will travel to Pennsylvania to face a Villanova (1-11-0, 0-3-0) team on Sunday that started the season on a seven-game losing streak and has lost its last four matches. The Wildcats have been outscored 31-5 on the season.
Last Week: Goals by Franny Cerny, Abby Reed, Elise Wyatt and Taylor Schissler led the way in a 4-0 victory at Creighton... Alexa Ben had two assists as Creighton did not get a shot on goal... Madeline Frick's goal on a 25-yard free kick resulted in a 1-0 victory over Seton Hall.
Network Lineup: The BIG EAST Digital Network (BEDN) will showcase DePaul for eight of its nine conference matches this season, and Thursday is the third appearance.... the BEDN is a partnership between the league and FOX Sports to create a conference-specific, year-round HD digital channel via FOX Sports' mobile application, FOX Sports GO.
Series History: DePaul leads the series against Butler with a 2-1-1 mark... last season, DePaul tied the Bulldogs 2-2 on the road with Reed's goal in the 87th minute... DePaul trails Villanova 7-4-1 but has won the last four meetings including last year's 2-1 result on the road behind Reed's sixth game-winner of the season.
National Scene: DePaul was ranked No. 21 in the inaugural 2015 NSCAA National Poll, marking the first time the Blue Demons have opened the season ranked among the nation's Top 25... they started out at No. 12 in the first Soccer America Top 25 Ranking... DePaul is No. 21 in Soccer America and receiving votes in the NSCAA National Poll... the Blue Demons are No. 3 in the nation in shutout percentage, No. 6 in goals-against average (GAA), No. 16 in goals and No. 17 in points... freshman Madeline Frick is No. 10 in the country in assists (seven) and goalkeeper Alex Godinez is No. 9 in GAA (0.40).
Conference Scene: The Blue Demons are leading the BIG EAST in shutouts, shutout percentage, goals, points and scoring offense, second in fewest goals allowed, GAA and assists... Frick leads the league in assists... Godinez is first in shutouts and second in GAA... Wyatt is second in goals and points... Ben is tied for second in assists.
Notable: Wyatt was the NSCAA and BIG EAST Player of the Week on Aug. 31 after scoring five goals in two games---victories over Eastern Michigan (7-0) and Saint Francis (Pa.) by a 5-0 score... Wyatt had her first collegiate hat trick against Eastern Michigan... Wyatt (31 goals) needs two more to become the all-time leading goal scorer in DePaul history.
By the Numbers: DePaul has racked up 10 shutouts in 13 games and is outscoring its opponents 30-5... the Blue Demons have a 26-4 edge in assists and 86-14 in points... they are outshooting teams 195-75 and have a 99-30 advantage in shots on goal... Wyatt leads the team with eight goals and two assists for 18 points... Alexa Ben has four goals and six assists while Madeline Frick has three goals and a team-high seven assists... Franny Cerny has five goals and three assists.
Scouting Report: Butler is 9-4-1, 2-1-0 and outscoring opponents 24-14... two losses came against ranked teams, 1-0 to No. 19 St. John's and 4-1 to No. 18 Kentucky... Halle Stelbasky has eight goals while Sophia Maccagnone has five goals... Villanova (1-11-0, 0-3-0) has lost four in a row and has been outscored 31-5... the Wildcats opened the season with seven consecutive losses... Amanda Vocelka leads the team with two goals.
