No. 4 IU men's soccer will play host to Butler on Tuesday night for the Hoosiers' final nonconference matchup of the regular season.
IU is 18-0-2 in the team’s last 20 matches at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Butler will come into the match with a 3-8-2 record.
Here are three things to know about the Bulldogs before the Hoosiers look to remain undefeated on their home field.
Failed expectations
Coming into the 2018-19 season, Butler was the No. 9 team in the country according to the United Soccer Coaches poll. This matchup was supposed to be another top-10 clash for the Hoosiers.
Butler didn’t meet those expectations, though, and has struggled in multiple facets this season. Butler fell out of the rankings by week two and have been shut out four times already this season.
The Bulldogs have allowed more goals than they’ve scored this season. Butler has given up at least two goals in 10 out of 13 matches overall.
Butler did beat then-No. 16 Western Michigan, but has lost four straight matches by a combined 9-2 score.
Leaning on Guhl
One of the bright spots for Butler this season has been the play of junior forward Brandon Guhl.
He came into the season as part of the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List, the preseason Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Top Drawer Soccer Men’s Preseason Best XI Third Team.
The Southern Methodist University transfer has lived up to those lofty expectations. He leads the Bulldogs with six goals, 26 shots and 14 points.
Guhl has picked up a brace twice this season against Western Michigan and Marshall. In the Bulldogs last game against DePaul, Guhl had the final goal as he finished in a cross to secure the 3-1 win.
In-state battle
The matchup between IU and Butler has seen some competitive contests.
Last season ended in a scoreless draw with each team only managing to take eight shots apiece. IU won in 2016 when both teams were ranked No. 6 in the country.
The Hoosiers had 31 shots in the match and saw themselves down 2-0 before scoring three goals to eventually win in overtime. Senior midfielders Trevor Swartz and Austin Panchot each had a goal in the win.
IU holds a 22-4-4 record advantage and has only lost to Butler three times in the past 15 matchups.
“It’s been some battles through the years,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said. “Butler has been a little bit unfortunate this year with some of their results. I think their record is really deceiving. They’re going to be motivated to get another result on Tuesday.”
