Butler, Detroit, Wright State Trying to Join Milwaukee at Top

Women's Soccer Schedule

Milwaukee has generated the majority of headlines throughout the women's soccer world, and deservedly so. However, several teams in the Horizon League are gearing up for the conference season with strong play in non-conference action, setting themselves up to challenge the 11-time regular season champions.

The Panthers continue their home stretch of playing ranked opponents on Sunday, when No. 24 Wisconsin pays a visit to Engelmann Stadium. It was the Badgers who ended Milwaukee's season last year, taking a 2-1 contest in the opening round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.

Last fall, Butler used an early goal and stout defense to knock off Milwaukee, 1-0, at Engelmann Stadium. That win proved crucial to the Bulldogs collecting a share of the Horizon League regular-season title and hosting the League tournament. This year, the Bulldogs are off to a 4-2 start to the year, having won three of their last four matches.

Butler goes to the Kentucky Invitational this weekend, where they face Southeast Missouri State (3-1-0) on Friday night before meeting Louisville (1-3-1) on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Detroit holds a 5-2-1 mark after a 6-0 rout of Madonna on Thursday. With 28 goals on the year (albeit with 16 coming in two matches against non-Division I opponents), the Titans are well ahead of the other eight teams in the Horizon League. Of the top eight players in the League in points, five of them hail from Detroit, with Abby McCollum's 14 points ranking just behind Sarah Hagen's 16.

After spending last weekend in Reno, Nev., Detroit heads to Richmond, Ky., on Saturday, for a match with Eastern Kentucky.

Against very stout competition, Wright State has compiled a 3-2-1 record. Meeting Power 6 conference opponents in each of their last three matches, the Raiders have gone 0-2-1, falling in the final minutes at Auburn and battling then-No. 7 Ohio State in a 2-1 setback. Sophomore Brooke McCurdy has been a rock in net for Wright State, compiling a 0.66 goals against average in six matches.

One of the two teams to knock off Milwaukee in conference play last year, the Raiders are at the RedHawk Shootout this weekend, where they will play East Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Around the League:
- Cleveland State ventures west, heading to Rocky Mountain territory for matches with Wyoming and the Air Force Academy. The Vikings' Sunday match with the Falcons figures to be extremely poignant, coming on the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. On the field, senior Natalie Daniels once again finds herself atop the team lead with six points after leading the team in points as a freshman with 16 and again last year with 23.

- Green Bay heads on the road to South Dakota State and Northern Iowa this weekend, with senior keeper Maddie Drusch approaching several records.  Drusch made five stops Sunday against NDSU to raise her career saves total to 331, which is just 21 behind the school record of 352 held by former standout Laura Sandt (1994-97). In addition, last Wednesday's 0-0 tie at South Dakota marked the 14th career shutout for the senior, a figure that ranks second on the school's all-time list behind Barb Singer (17.5 shutouts, 1990-93).

- After a 1-0 home setback to DePaul, Loyola ventures to Ames, Iowa, for a Sunday meeting with Iowa State. Through six matches, Loyola's keepers - Katie Groesch and Monica Gonyo - have combined to turn in four shutouts. Loyola appears to be well on its way to besting last season’s total of seven shutouts in 18 matches.

- Valparaiso meets two Summit League opponents this weekend, traveling down I-65 for a Friday match with IUPUI before a Sunday contest at Eastern Illinois. A year after leading the Crusaders with four goals, Casey Pedersen scored her second goal of the season in Sunday’s loss at Liberty.  The fifth-year senior is the only Crusader with more than one tally this season.

- Youngstown State meets two Mid-American Conference foes on Friday and Sunday, traveling to Kent State for the first match of the weekend before welcoming Bowling Green to Stambaugh Stadium. Underclassmen have been leading the Penguins, with freshman Jade Flory tallying five goals and 11 points in her first six collegiate matches. In net, sophomore Ali Viola has gone 3-1-1, turning away 22 saves and posting a GAA of 0.60.