MSOC Hosts RV Butler on Friday

MILWAUKEE — The Marquette University men's soccer team (4-4-1, 0-0-1 BIG EAST) returns home this weekend as it jumps back in to BIG EAST play for the remainder of the season. The Golden Eagles will host the RV Butler Bulldogs (5-2-1, 1-0-1 BIG EAST) on Friday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. (CT) at Valley Fields in Milwaukee.

The Bulldogs, who received 13 votes as the third team out in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll, have gotten off to a very strong start to the season. Outscoring opponents by a combined 20-9 on the year, they have been led offensively by freshman attacker Palmer Ault, who has a team-best 14 points on six goals and two assists. 10 different Bulldogs have scored this season.

MIRSBERGER EARNS NATIONAL WEEKLY HONORS

Following a stellar week which involved a hat trick performance and a shutout on the road, senior defender Alex Mirsberger was named to the TopDrawerSoccer National Team of the Week. In Marquette's home win over Milwaukee last Tuesday, the Brookfield, Wisconsin, native scored three goals in the first 33 minutes of action for the first hat trick by a MU player since 2011. This was also the first time since 2019 that a Division I defender had a hat trick.

Against #19 Xavier, Mirsberger helped maintain a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw as the Golden Eagles picked up a big point on the road in their first match of league play. This was the first time all season that Xavier had been held scoreless.

CORNERING THE COMPETITION

Marquette has had one of the league's top scoring offenses this season, due in part to its success in setting up and capitalizing on set piece opportunities. The Golden Eagles currently rank third nationally in corner kicks this season, setting up 8.0 kicks from the flag per game. These opportunities have contributed to the team's 2.44 goals per game average, a mark which is on track to be the best during the Coach Bennett era at Marquette. On the flip side, MU has allowed just 5.9 corners per game to its competition.

SERIES HISTORY

Friday will mark the 15th all-time meeting between Marquette and Butler, a series which dates back to 1990. All-time in the series, MU holds a 7-6-1 advantage and has gone 3-1-1 in the past five meetings. Against the Bulldogs in Milwaukee, MU is 5-2. Last season, the teams met in late October in Indianapolis, where Butler was able to pick up a 2-1 victory with a Quint Breitkreuz golden goal in the 102nd minute of overtime.

vs. Butler (7-6-1)

(Last 5 Meetings)

10/20/21 L 1-2 OT Indianapolis

3/27/21 W 1-0 Milwaukee

3/10/21 T 0-0 2OT Indianapolis

10/23/19 W 3-2 Milwaukee

10/28/18 W 2-1 Indianapolis