Frank Peabody among nation's top goalkeepers

Oct. 3, 2005

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Butler's Peabody among top goalkeepers in nation

Bulldog senior leads NCAA in save pct., second in goals-against average
INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler University men's soccer goalkeeper Frank Peabody spent the last two seasons patiently waiting for his chance to join the Bulldogs' starting line-up. Halfway through the 2005 campaign, the Louisville, Ky., native is making up for lost time.

The junior netminder has ranks among the top goalkeepers in the nation, according to statistics released by the NCAA on Monday afternoon (Oct. 3). Peabody boasts the nation's second-best goals-against average (0.25) and leads all of Division I in terms of save percentage.

He has six shutouts already in 2005, allowing only two goals in 720 minutes. Tally Hall of San Diego State owns the nation's best GAA, yielding only two markers in 842 minutes for a 0.214 goals-against rate. But nobody can match Peabody's .943 save percentage, with the Bulldog veteran stopping 33 of 35 shots on goal in eight appearances. Eric Reed of UCLA is next at .923 (24 saves, two goals allowed).

Peabody appeared in five matches last fall, posting two shutouts and posting a 0.82 GAA as a back-up to then-senior Evan Reinhardt. He played in only three matches in 2003.

Peabody's efforts have helped the Bulldogs fashion an 8-2-0 record through five weeks. That .800 winning percentage is 14th-best in the nation, with Akron and New Mexico still sporting perfect ledgers through nine and eight contests, respectively.

Cleveland State University goalkeeper Anthony DeMarco is also leaving a mark on the national goalkeeping statistics. The freshman ranks third in the country with 7.56 saves per game, trailing only Niagara's Eric Sullivan (8.25) and Missouri-Kansas City netminder Todd Dohlman (7.67) in that category. DeMarco has three double-digit save performances already this season. Wright State University senior Jason Balach is 15th on the same list at 5.67 stops per outing.

Offensively, two Horizon League players start the week ranked among the nation's top 20 playmakers with University of Illinois at Chicago sophomore Pavle Dundjer ninth at 0.75 assists per game. He had two helpers along with a hat trick in UIC's 8-1 victory over Centenary on Sunday (Oct. 2), giving him six assists for the season. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior Craig Mallace stands tied for 13th at 0.67 set-ups per game (six in nine contests).

Butler is back in action Friday (Oct. 7), hosting the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Bulldogs also meet defending League champion UW-Milwaukee on Sunday (Oct. 9).