Atlantic 10 Championship Central
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KINGSTON, R.I. – The 5th-seeded St. Bonaventure women's soccer team opens Atlantic 10 Championship play Thursday at 1:30 p.m. as it takes on 4th-seeded Butler in the Quarterfinal Round from Rhode Island University.
The Bonnies enter the tournament riding a three-game winning streak, including a perfect 2-0 final regular-season weekend which propelled them from out of the eight-team tournament to the 5th seed.
SBU opened the season by playing a difficult non-conference schedule which led to a 0-6-1 record. The Brown and White were shut out in five of their first seven games before earning a 1-0 win at Binghamton which sparked a three-game winning streak to close non-league play.
Since then, the Bonnies have held an impressive 8-4 record, shutting out four teams along the way, to finish the regular season at 8-10-1 and 5-4 in the A-10. They have also had no shortage of goals in A-10 play as six different players have found the back of the net in conference action.
Butler finished the season equally as hot as the Bulldogs are 3-0-1 over their last four contests, earning victories against Temple, George Washington and Charlotte and a draw against Saint Joseph's. The Bonnies defeated Saint Joe's and Temple, but did not play Charlotte or George Washington this season.
The Bulldogs also handed Dayton, a team which upended the Bonnies, 3-0, its only loss of the season. Butler only lost one conference contest in its inaugural season in the A-10, and that came against the other league newcomer, VCU. BU concluded the season at 11-4-4 overall and 5-1-3 in the A-10.
While the Bulldogs are making their first appearance in the A-10 Championship, this is the fifth consecutive year the Bonnies have earned a spot. In each of those five years, Bona has either been a 4 or 5 seed. Up until this year, only the top six of the then-14 team A-10 earned a spot in the tournament.
Butler is led by A-10 Rookie of the Year Sophia Maccagnone, who paces the league in game-winning goals with six – a total which is good for seventh-best in the NCAA. The Bulldogs, who along with VCU, have allowed the fewest amount of goals in the A-10 this season, surrendering just 14 total over their 19 games.
Bonaventure has been well-represented in the conference this week as on Monday sophomore Molly Curry was named the A-10 Player of the Week following her two-goal weekend which spearheaded the Bonnies into postseason play. Then, on Wednesday, redshirt senior Shannon Van Riper was named to the A-10 First Team and Abby Maiello earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team.
The winner of the Bonaventure/Butler contest will advance to the semifinal game to play the victor of top-ranked La Salle and No. 8 Charlotte. The semifinal match would be held on Friday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m.
