Men's Soccer Horizon League Play Begins Friday

Men's Soccer Schedule

Men's soccer kicks off Horizon League play on Friday night and continues throughout the weekend, as eight conference matchups line the schedule Friday and Sunday.   

No. 17 Butler starts the weekend in Green Bay, as the undefeated Bulldogs meet the 3-1-1 Phoenix.  Butler and Green Bay enter Friday night's match ranked second (15) and fourth (10), respectively, in points in the conference.

The teams sit at the top of the ledger in goal scoring through each of their five matches, as Butler leads the Horizon League with 14 goals and a 2.8 goals per game average.  Green Bay is immediately behind the Bulldogs in both categories with 11 goals and a 2.2 goals per game average; the difference has been defensively, where Butler is allowing 0.4 goals per game, compared to the Phoenix's 1.5.

Butler senior Ben Sippola (Northfield, Minn.) is sixth nationally, averaging 2.2 points per game; Friday night's match will feature the league's last two men's soccer players of the week, as Sippola and Green Bay's Tony Walls (Wauwatosa, Wis.) clash at midfield.

For a complete preview of the match, click here.

In other league play on Friday, UIC (2-3-0) hosts Cleveland State (2-4-0) at 8 p.m. ET, while Valparaiso (5-0-1) brings its league-leading defense into a home match against Milwaukee (1-3-2).  The Crusaders have permitted just one goal on the year, as two-time Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year Ryan Schwarz (Rockford, Ill.) has not allowed a goal in 317 minutes of play this season.

Loyola (0-5-1) hosts Detroit (1-4-1) at 8 p.m. ET on Friday in a match that can be seen on the Horizon League Network.

The Ramblers will kick off Sunday's slate, as they host Cleveland State at 2 p.m. ET from Loyola Soccer Park.  Detroit wraps up their road trip in the Windy City when they meet UIC at 4 p.m. ET, while Butler finishes their Wisconsin swing at 4 p.m. ET against Milwaukee.  The Bulldogs and Panthers will play at Concordia University.

Wright State and Valparaiso conclude the weekend of conference matches at 7 p.m. ET, while Green Bay hosts Bradley in a non-conference clash.