Women's Soccer Hosts Butler on Thursday Evening

Thursday, October 4

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 PM

Xavier University

Butler

Women's Soccer Hosts Butler on Thursday Evening

10.03.18 | Women's Soccer

Live Stream Live Stats

Musketeers and Bulldogs face off at 7:00 p.m.

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier women's soccer remains at home for a second-straight match, hosting the Butler Bulldogs on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. At 7-6-0 overall and 1-2-0 in BIG EAST play, Xavier stands in a five-way tie for fourth place in the conference, fighting for one of the top six spots to earn a second-consecutive berth to the BIG EAST Championships.

THE MATCHUP

Xavier Musketeers
vs Butler Bulldogs
Thursday, Oct. 30 | 7 PM ET
XU Soccer Complex
Watch Live | Live Stats

BIG EAST STANDINGS

School	Conference	Overall	Streak
Georgetown	3-0-0	10-0-2	W 9
Butler	3-0-0	9-3-0	W 3
Villanova	2-1-0	8-4-0	W 2
DePaul	2-1-0	6-4-2	W 1
Providence	1-2-0	7-4-1	L 2
Xavier	1-2-0	7-6-0	L 1
St. John's	1-2-0	5-7-0	L 1
Creighton	1-2-0	4-7-0	L 2
Marquette	1-2-0	3-8-1	W 1
Seton Hall	0-3-0	2-6-4	L 3

PREVIEWING BUTLER

The Bulldogs enter the game at 9-3 overall and 3-0 in the BIG EAST, tied with No. 5 Georgetown atop the standings.
Last week BU picked up a pair of hom BIG EAST wins over Providence, 1-0, and Seton Hall, 3-0. The Bulldogs opened conference play with a 1-0 win at Marquette.
Butler closed out the non-conference with a pair of road matches at Big 12 opponents, falling, 6-1, at TCU and 2-0 at Baylor.
Prior to Baylor game, Butler had won six of seven, collecting wins over Kent State, IUPUI, No. 20 Notre Dame, Dayton, Evansville, and Northern Kentucky. The lone setback in that stretch came at No. 19 Kansas.
Anja Savich leads the Butler offense with six goals. Her point total stands at a team-high 13.
Paige Monaghan has collected five assists. Coupled with a pair of goals, she has nine points.
Halle Stelbasky and Morgan Kloosterman each have three goals and Amanda Kowalski has a pir.
Hannah Luedtke and Leonie Doege have each appeared in all 12 games this season, each playing over 520 minutes and sharing credit for the Bulldog's seven shutouts.
Luedtke has collected 13 saves with three goals against for a GAA of 0.50 and a record of 8-2-0.
Doege has collected 14 saves with eight goals against for a GAA of 1.27 and a record of 1-1-0.
Defenders Julia Leonard, Madison Toh and Annika Schmidt have started all 12 matches in the BU backfield that has only allowed 11 goals on the season, with six of those coming in a single match.
The Bulldogs went 13-2-6 last season, including 5-0-4 in BIG EAST play, earning a spot in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll at the end of the regular season in a campaign that only allowed four goals in the regular season.
The Bulldogs earned a first-round bye with the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Championships. BU topped PC 3-0 in the semifinals to advance to play No. 1 Georgetown in the Championship where the Hoyas prevailed 3-0.
BU earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament where the Bulldogs played Northwestern to a 0-0 draw through double overtime. Northwestern advanced on PKs.
Butler returns BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and all-conference first team selection Paige Monaghan, as well as Co-Freshman of the Year, goalkeeper Leonie Doege. First Team selection Annika Schmidt (defender), second team and all-freshman team selection Caitlyn DiSarcina and All-Freshman Team selection Julia Leonard also return.
The Bulldogs lost All-BIG EAST Second Team honoree Shannon McDevitt to graduation.
BU's coaching staff was named BIG EAST Staff of the Year after last season as well.
Xavier is 7-11-3 all time against the Bulldogs after playing to a scoreless draw in Indianapolis last season.
Last season, goalkeeper Toni Bizzarro collected six saves to keep the Bulldogs scoreless through double overtime.

PROMOTIONS

LLS AWARENESS NIGHT: During the Butler game, join women's soccer in spreading awareness and raising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Cincinnati.

VIDEO

UP NEXT

Xavier heads out on the road for its next match, traveling to Chicago to face DePaul on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2:00 p.m. ET
The Musketeers return home on Sunday, October 14 to face Marquette at 1:00 p.m.
NATIONAL DESSERT DAY: Free desserts from Servatii for first 150 students at the match against Marquette.
POST-GAME PENALTY KICKS: All kids in grades 8 & under are invited to the field after the game against the Golden Eagles to participate in penalty kicks on the field.

LAST TIME OUT - VILLANOVA

A pair of second-half goals for Villanova erased Xavier women's soccer halftime lead, giving the Musketeers (7-6-0; 1-2-0 BIG EAST) their first home setback of the season on Sunday afternoon. Sabrina Kunimoto's tally in the first half gave the Musketeers the lead at the break, but midway through the second half, Villanova scored twice in quick succession to secure the 2-1 win for the Wildcats.
Midway through the first half, Samantha Dewey pressured the VU goalkeeper as she tried to clear the ball, passing the miscue to Sabrina Kunimoto on the right side of the net. Kunimoto tapped it in to put the Musketeers up, 1-0.
In the 62nd minute, a VU shot to the right side the net was saved by Toni Bizzarro, who punched it out the left side of the net. Villanova's Claire Fell used a header to put the ball in for the equalizer, 1-1.
The game-winner came shortly after the equalizer, when VU's Kristin Barbour broke up a breakaway for Sydney Schembri, passing to VU's Jasmine Ruiz, who shot from 10 yards outside the penalty box, sneaking the ball inside the right post to put the Wildcats up, 2-1.
Kunimoto's tally was her first of the season, making her the 12th Musketeer to score this season. Kunimoto's goal was the 20th of the season for Xavier, surpassing last season's total of 19 with six games still remaining in the regular season.
Samantha Dewey's assist on Kunimoto's goal was her fourth of the season, a team high, bringing her point total to 14 for the season, also a team-high.
Xavier held a 13-10 advantage on shots. Each team attempted five on-frame.
Xavier also led 7-6 on corner kicks.
Toni Bizzarro played the full time in-frame, collecting three saves with two goals against.
Hayley Jakovich played the full time on the Xavier back line. Grace Bahr added 87 minutes in the backfield and Rachel Dewey played 85 minutes in the midfield for the Musketeers.
Xavier moves to 3-3 all-time with the Wildcats. Today's match ended a three-game winning streak over VU.
The loss was the first at home for the Musketeers this season, moving Xavier to 4-1 on the season at the XU Soccer Complex.

XAVIER STATS

Samantha Dewey's assist on Sabrina Kunimoto's goal against Villanova added to her team high total at four assist. She leads the team with 14 points.
Dewey's four assist are tied for second most in the BIG EAST, her five goals are tied for seventh most in the conference, and her 14 points are fifth most in the BIG EAST.
Dewey's game-winner against Miami was her third of the season. The redshirt junior is tied for second in the BIG EAST for most game-winning goals.
Sydney Schembri's goal against the Friars brings her point total for the season to six, second most on the team.
Grace Bahr's point total of five, a pair of goals and an assist, is third on the squad.
Brooke Sroka and Andie Kennard each have a goal and an assist for three points.
Sabrina Kunimoto's tally against VU was the first tally of her Xavier career. She is the 12th Musketeer to score a goal in 2018, joining Molly McLaughlin, Rachel Butler, Kenadie Carlson, Isabella Langush, Rachel Dewey and Carrie Lewis who each have two points on a goal.
Grace Brauer, Jenna Leslie and Olivia Popovich each have a point on an assist.
Through 13 games, Xavier has 12 goal scorers. The Musketeers needed just seven games to surpass last year's total of six goal scorers. Xavier also has 15 players who have recorded points, surpassing last year's total of 11.
Kunimoto's goal against Villanova was the 20th tally of the season for the Musketeers, surpassing last year's total of 19 with six regular season games remaining.
Xavier's offense is first in the BIG EAST in shots, second in the conference in corner kicks earned, third in the conference for goals and fourth in points.
Freshmen Allison Klimkowski and Hayley Jakovich have started every game in the backfield this season. Grace Bahr joined Klimkowski and Jakovich in the starting backfield in each of Xavier's past seven matches and the trio has totaled over 875 minutes each, helping Xavier earn shutouts in five matches this season.
Carrie Lewis and Rachel Dewey have both played over 790 minutes in midfield for the Musketeers.
Goalkeeper Toni Bizzarro has played 11 matches in-frame, making 54 saves with 11 goals against for a GAA of 1.05. Bizzarro has a record of 6-5-0 with four shutouts to her credit.
Bizzarro's four shutouts rank third most in the conference.
Bizzarro ranks third in the conference in save percentage at .818.
Olivia Jenkins has appeared in-frame twice this season, collecting six saves with three goals against for a GAA of 1.50. She picked up the first win and shutout of her college career against Southern Indiana.
Xavier's five shutouts are tied for the third most in the conference this season.

WEEKLY AWARDS

Xavier women's soccer redshirt junior Samantha Dewey added four points to her team-high point total last week, earning a spot on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll, the conference office announced on Monday.
In Xavier's come-from-behind road win at Providence, Dewey finished with three points after scoring Xavier's first half goal to draw even with the Friars going into the break. Dewey also collected a point on an assist on Sydney Schembri's golden goal in the second overtime.
Against Villanova, Dewey earned her fourth assist of the season after setting up Sabrina Kunimoto's goal by pressuring the VU goalkeeper into a turnover in the box.
Dewey's four assist are tied for second most in the BIG EAST, her five goals are tied for seventh most in the conference, and her 14 points are fifth most in the BIG EAST.
It is the second time this season, and the seventh time in her career that Dewey was named to the Weekly Honor Roll, also earning the honor for the week of Sept. 17 this season. She was also twice named the BIG EAST Freshman of the Week (8/24/2015 and 10/26/2015).
Dewey is one of four Musketeers who have been honored by the conference this season. The week of Sept. 17, Grace Bahr was named Defender of the Week. The week prior, Toni Bizzarro, was named Goalkeeper of the Week. Sydney Schembri was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll following the first week of the season.

XU LINEUP

Xavier returns 75 percent of its scoring from last season, including the scorers of 14 of the team's 19 goals.
Leading scorer Sydney Schembri is back after finishing with 12 points on six goals as a rookie, earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors.
Emma Westwater returns as a senior after a nine-point junior season, scored on four goals and an assist.
The Musketeers' attack is bolstered by the return of two of the program's most prolific scorers in recent years, redshirt junior Samantha Dewey and redshirt senior Kenadie Carlson.
Xavier also adds a pair of transfers up front, Sabrina Kunimoto, a sophomore from Delaware, and Raechel Eck, a grad transfer from Akron with two years of eligibility remaining.
Four freshmen also join Xavier's offensive attack, Grace Brauer, Makenna Jordahl, Reagan Norvell and Brooke Sroka
Xavier returns the core of its midfield with Carrie Lewis and Courtney Lankford who, combined, accounted for six of Xavier's 14 assists on the season.
Lewis led the Musketeers with four in a season where she started every match, while Lankford added a pair.
Jessica Miller, who started two of the first three games last season before sitting out due to injury, also returns. Emily Burton and Abby O'Keefe combined to make 16 starts last season after Miller's injury. O'Keefe assisted on a pair of goals and Burton added an assist as well. Makayla Kolberg, who made multiple starts in 2017, and Megan Sullivan, who appeared in 15 matches, also return.
The Musketeers brought in a pair of experienced transfers in the midfield for the 2018 spring season, Claire Fisher, a sophomore transfer from Tennessee, and Grace Bahr, a junior transfer from Wisconsin.
Rachel Dewey, younger sister of Samantha Dewey, makes up part of a quartet of freshmen midfielders, which also includes Jordan Reddington, Molly McLaughlin and Rachel Butler.
Xavier returns defender Andie Kennard for her senior season after a junior campaign where she was second on the team in minutes played. Kennard also recorded her first career goal in 2017, the game-winner against Ohio.
Redshirt-freshman Abi Janszen also returns for the Musketeers after being limited to three appearance due to injury.
Five newcomers join the backfield, freshmen Hayley Jakovich, Isabella Langusch, Jenna Leslie, Allison Klimkowski and Olivia Popovich.
Goalkeeper Toni Bizzarro, who started all 19 games she appeared in last season, returns for her junior season. Bizzarro collected eight wins, including four shutouts last season, making 106 saves for a .828 save percentage with a GAA of 1.09.
Xavier added a pair of freshmen goalkeepers, Olivia Jenkins and Caroline Welsh, to join Bizzarro.

DEWEY NAMED PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST

For a second-straight season, Xavier women's soccer's Samantha Dewey was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team.
The red-shirt junior forward is the first Musketeer to earn preseason conference honor in back-to-back years since joining the conference. Last season, her nomination was the first preseason nod for a Musketeer since Xavier joined the BIG EAST in 2013.
Dewey, a native of Fairland, Ind., appeared in the first five matches in 2017 before sitting out the remainder due to injury. In her shortened season, Dewey still tallied three goals, fourth most on the team. Dewey led the Musketeers in scoring during the first five games of the season, tallying a pair in a win against Cleveland State and scoring the game winner against Ball State. She was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice in the first two weeks of the season.
Prior to the 2017 season, Dewey led the Musketeers in points in each of her two previous seasons at Xavier. After posting 20 points on eight goals and four assists in 2016, Dewey was named Second Team All-BIG EAST, making her the first Musketeer to earn first or second team honors since joining the conference. Dewey was also named to the All-Ohio Second Team after the 2016 season.
As a freshman, Dewey was a unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team after a 22-point rookie campaign. She was twice conference rookie of the week and has earned BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honors fives times in her career.

2017 IN REVIEW

The Musketeers, picked to finish seventh in the BIG EAST, are coming off a fifth-place finish in the 2017 season, which earned the program's first berth to the BIG EAST Championship since joining the conference and the program's first conference championship appearance since 2003.
In Nate Lie's first season as head coach, Xavier finished the season 8-8-4 overall, marking the first season at .500 or above since 2013, when Xavier finished 9-8-1. The Musketeers' record of 4-3-2 in BIG EAST play, posting a winning conference record for the first time since 2005. Xavier finished the regular season with a program-best 14 points in the BIG EAST standings.
The Musketeers limited 16 of 20 opponents to a single goal or less, including every BIG EAST regular season match-up.
In addition to Sydney Schembri's Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors, seniors Tori Doss and Carly Alfano both earned Second Team All-BIG EAST and CoSIDA Academic All-American after last season.