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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Photo by: Drake Harlett
Emme Butera Named 2026 Midfielder to Watch
August 07, 2026 | Women's Soccer
Two-Time All-MAC Selection Begins Senior Season With Falcons
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BGSU Strategic Communications) -- Bowling Green State University women's soccer standout Emme Butera has been named to the IWSOC and United Soccer Coaches 2026 Preseason Midfielders to Watch list, the organizations announced on Friday afternoon (Aug. 7). Butera was one of 45 NCAA Division-I women's soccer midfielders, and the only one from the Mid-American Conference, named to the list.
Butera, a native of Willoughby Hills, Ohio (Willoughby South), was named to the All-MAC First Team last season after earning all-conference second-team accolades the previous year. She also was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Fourth Team in 2025.
Butera, a senior in 2026, was one of just three players to start all 22 matches last season, and played 1,992 of the 2,016 total minutes. She scored seven points on a goal and a BGSU-high five assists in 2025, with six of those seven points coming in MAC matches. Butera played the entirety of the match in 21 of BG's 22 contests. Primarily a midfielder (obviously), she also spent time on the back line over the last few regular-season matches, and was a key reason why the Falcons allowed just 13 goals last season.
Butera has played in all 58 of BGSU's matches since coming to Northwest Ohio, and she has started all 40 games over the last two seasons. She has 14 career points on three goals and eight assists.
The men's and women's soccer Players to Watch lists are compiled by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start of the season. The lists include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2025 who are scheduled to return for the 2026 season.
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BGSU finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 10-3-9, and the Falcons went 4-1-7 in Mid-American Conference play. BG finished sixth in the 13-team league, then proceeded to advance past third-seeded Buffalo and second-seeded Miami in the MAC Tournament, making it all the way to the championship match.
After hosting Purdue in an exhibition match on Wednesday, the 2026 Falcons conclude the exhibition portion of the schedule tomorrow (Saturday, August 8) at Notre Dame. Then, the Orange and Brown will prepare for the regular-season opener, vs. Robert Morris on Sunday afternoon, August 16, at Cochrane Stadium. First touch for the opener is set for 1:00 p.m., and admission is free.
For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer) and Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer), as well as on the web at BGSUFalcons.com.
Butera, a native of Willoughby Hills, Ohio (Willoughby South), was named to the All-MAC First Team last season after earning all-conference second-team accolades the previous year. She also was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Fourth Team in 2025.
Butera, a senior in 2026, was one of just three players to start all 22 matches last season, and played 1,992 of the 2,016 total minutes. She scored seven points on a goal and a BGSU-high five assists in 2025, with six of those seven points coming in MAC matches. Butera played the entirety of the match in 21 of BG's 22 contests. Primarily a midfielder (obviously), she also spent time on the back line over the last few regular-season matches, and was a key reason why the Falcons allowed just 13 goals last season.
Butera has played in all 58 of BGSU's matches since coming to Northwest Ohio, and she has started all 40 games over the last two seasons. She has 14 career points on three goals and eight assists.
The men's and women's soccer Players to Watch lists are compiled by the Division I All-America Committees to promote college soccer leading up to the official start of the season. The lists include United Soccer Coaches All-Americans and All-Region players from 2025 who are scheduled to return for the 2026 season.
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BGSU finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 10-3-9, and the Falcons went 4-1-7 in Mid-American Conference play. BG finished sixth in the 13-team league, then proceeded to advance past third-seeded Buffalo and second-seeded Miami in the MAC Tournament, making it all the way to the championship match.
After hosting Purdue in an exhibition match on Wednesday, the 2026 Falcons conclude the exhibition portion of the schedule tomorrow (Saturday, August 8) at Notre Dame. Then, the Orange and Brown will prepare for the regular-season opener, vs. Robert Morris on Sunday afternoon, August 16, at Cochrane Stadium. First touch for the opener is set for 1:00 p.m., and admission is free.
For more information on the women's soccer program, follow the Falcons on Twitter/X (@BGSU_Athletics and @BGSU_WSoccer) and Instagram (bgsu_wsoccer), as well as on the web at BGSUFalcons.com.
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