Bulldogs Return Home to Host UT-Martin Sunday

2012 Butler Women's Soccer

Following a historic win at Purdue Wednesday night, the Butler women's soccer team will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts UT-Martin in a non-conference match Sunday afternoon at the Butler Bowl.

Wednesday's victory marked the Bulldogs (3-2-0) first ever win over Purdue and first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2008. However, Butler will now shift its focus to the Skyhawks (1-2-0) of the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Through the first five games of the season, the Bulldogs have benefited tremendously from solid performances by underclassmen.

Butler's four goal scorers thus far are all underclassmen: freshmen Sophia Maccagnone and Addision Schaar and sophomores Elise Kotsakis and Kelly Mahoney. Defending the net for the Bulldogs, freshman Mackenzie Hopkins has recorded three shutouts in four starts.

Butler head coach Tari St. John says one key to the freshmen's success has been the depth and talent of the upperclassmen surrounding them.

"There is no pressure on our freshmen to do well," St. John said. "They have the talent to have big games, but they don't have to in order for us to win."

UT-Martin is one of five remaining non-conference opponents before the Bulldogs kick off league play Sept. 29 versus Saint Louis.

The Skyhawks return eight starters from last year's squad that won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship. Under the guidance of third-year head coach Phil McNamara, UT-Martin advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history before falling to Memphis in the first round.

When the Skyhawks arrive at the Butler Bowl on Sunday, they will have faced three opponents from power conferences: Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Purdue.

Sunday's match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.