Peabody boasts nation's top men's soccer goals-against average

Oct. 11, 2005

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INDIANAPOLIS -- It's not often when someone can improve his situation by not competing. Butler University men's soccer goalkeeper Frank Peabody is the exception to that rule, though, based on the latest national statistical rankings released by the NCAA on Monday (Oct. 10).

The senior sat out his team's two matches last week, but moved up to claim the nation's best goals-against-average through Sunday (Oct. 9).The Bulldog netminder owns the top mark in all of Division I, a 0.250 goals-against average, having allowed only two goals in 720 minutes of action. He has six shutouts already this season, and took over the top spot on the GAA charts when San Diego State's Tally Hall allowed three goals in two matches last week. UCLA's Eric Reed is now second in the country at 0.341, followed by Hall (0.346), Jason Landers of St. John's (0.346) and Evan Bush of top-ranked Akron (0.374).

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.

The Butler senior isn't the only Horizon League representative on the national charts, however. Cleveland State University goalkeeper Anthony DeMarco stands fourth in the nation with his 7.00 saves-per-game pace which includes three contests with ten or more stops.

Offensively, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee junior Craig Mallace is now tied for seventh at 0.75 assists per game, with nine helpers in 12 appearances. Combined with his three goals, Mallace shares the Horizon League lead with 15 points. University of Illinois at Chicago sophomore Pavle Dundjer joins Mallace on the national assist chart, sharing ninth place at 0.70 set-ups per game (seven assists in ten outings) this season. Dundjer also has matched Mallace with 15 points (four goals plus those seven assists).

As a team, Butler is eighth in the nation with a 0.50 goals-against-average. Peabody and back-up netminder Mike Sims have combined to yield only six goals in 1,080 minutes this season, helping the Bulldogs to a 9-3-0 start. The team's .750 winning percentage is tied for 17th-best in the nation. Sims will carry much of the burden over the next three weeks, however, with Peabody sidelined at least that long due to an elbow injury suffered in practice last week.

NCAA Individual Statistical Leaders
through matches of Oct. 9, 2005

Assists Per GameGPAAPG
1.Ryan Solle, Wake Forest10121.20
2.Sascha Kljestan, Seton Hall11121.09
3.Scott Jones, UNC Greensboro1090.90
4.Jorden Holder, Central Connecticut State870.88
4.Luccas Scudeler, Florida International870.88
T-7.Craig Mallace, UW-Milwaukee1290.75
T-9.Pavle Dundjer, UIC1070.70

Goals Against AverageGPMin.GAGAA
1.Frank Peabody, Butler872020.250
2.Eric Reed, UCLA979130.341
3.Tally Hall, San Diego State11104140.346
4.Jason Landers, St. John's11104040.346
5.Evan Bush, Akron1196340.374

Saves Per GameGPSvs.SPG
1.Donnie Henderson, Centenary10787.80
2.Eric Sullivan, Niagara11857.73
3.Todd Dohlman, Missouri-Kansas City10767.60
4.Anthony DeMarco, Cleveland State11777.00
5.Felipe Carvalho, Georgia State10696.90