Since beginning its inaugural and final season with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the eight-member Butler women’s golf squad has proven capable of holding its own.

Coming off a sweep at the Bulldog Florida Invitational in Jacksonville last week, senior Julia Porter said she is thoroughly impressed with what she’s seen this year.

“The team does a great job of being intrinsically motivated,” Porter said. “I don’t often have to redirect them or ask them to focus. They know the goals for the season (winning the MAAC) and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve them.”

While coach Bill Mattingly hasn’t been informed of the Big East move details, he is setting his sights on the MAAC Championships starting April 26 in Orlando.

“We are looking forward to competing in conference championship at the end of April,” he said. “Both Jenna Peters and Isabella Lambert are having excellent sophomore seasons, and senior Julia Porter has been an excellent senior leader on and off the course.”

After a breakout season in which she possesses the teams’ lowest scoring average, Lambert is confident in her team’s ability to face tougher competition in the Big East next year.

“I am excited for the new conference because even though I know it will be tougher and harder competition,” Lambert said, “it will in turn make us push ourselves to rise to the occasion. I expect that the competition next year will be tough, but I know my team and I will be pushing ourselves to get to the next level and compete.”