Sophomore goalkeeper Addison Ash recalls the decision to play goalkeeper at Butler as an easy one. Ash grew up near Butler and enjoyed playing soccer and basketball at camps hosted on campus. In addition, she has a family connection with the Bulldogs — her mom is an alumna.
What once began as a familiar place for Ash to attend summer camps has now become the place where she is building the next chapter of her soccer career.
Before Butler, Ash played club soccer with Indy Eleven Academy. Her team was a national playoff qualifier for four consecutive years, posting a 74-6-7 record and making it to the 2024 ECNL Championship.
At Hamilton Southeastern High School, Ash earned three varsity letters while helping her team go 54-8-9 and capturing a conference championship in 2023. Additionally, Ash was named Player of the Match in the sectional championship against Noblesville.
Those experiences helped to grow Ash’s game and form her skills to bring to the collegiate level at a program she has admired since she was young.
“Playing at Butler honestly means a lot,” Ash said. “Having that outside perspective of wanting to come here and wanting to play one day definitely makes me look back and remember why I’m still playing.”
With many games under her belt, Ash has established herself as a key part of the Butler defense. She started all 17 matches as a first-year goalkeeper, recorded 50 saves, had a .727 save percentage and allowed 1.17 goals against average. She also recorded three solo shutouts and one combined shutout.
Those experiences starting at goalie last season gave Ash valuable experience and helped her understand her capabilities coming into her sophomore campaign. The biggest change she felt coming into sophomore year is her stronger belief in herself and her abilities.
“Having a team that supports me and puts trust in me has definitely given me the confidence to perform the way I have,” Ash said. “I think having a team you can rely on — and if you do mess up, they’re not mad at you, but instead they’re supporting you and wanting the best for you — definitely makes it so much easier and allows me to calm down and play the way I want to play.”
Ash felt that her first season was for learning, making mistakes and growing from them. She learned to take every game step-by-step and to control what she can, rather than focusing on the tough moments.
As her sophomore year is now reaching its halfway point, Ash’s hard work has not gone unnoticed by older players like junior defender Gemma Gillespie.
“I think she has really fallen into her role as a super vocal leader,” Gillespie said. “Her ability to direct us and having a voice that I believe in as a center-back [is something] I am really appreciative of. She’s grown in confidence in her own play, which has helped me to feel more confident in her behind me.”
Through the season, Ash has continued to build on what she established in her first year. In both seasons, she now has 96 saves in 28 starts, eight shutouts and a combined save percentage of .776. These numbers do not just highlight her ability to make great saves, but also the trust her teammates and coaches place on her.
Teammates like Gillespie also emphasize Ash’s positive attitude as one of her defining traits. Ash shows up to practice with high energy and a positive attitude. She is a boost to the team when they are tired or down from consecutive games.
“She’s just a blessing to be around,” Gillespie said. “[She is a] super fun girl [and] fun spirit [who is] always willing to go the extra mile for her teammates, always checking in on other girls.”
Co-head coach Tari St. John also notices Ash’s competitive drive and the optimistic mindset she carries.
“Even more important than consistency of play, she’s a really consistent person,” St. John said. “In terms of the type of mood she’s going to come to practice with, she’s always going to be upbeat.”
St. John believes that the ability to celebrate other’s achievements is a reflection of the type of teammate Ash is and also contends that Ash brings her contributions to the team past being the goalkeeper.
“In the world that we live in right now, [Ash’s] ability to so easily celebrate others’ success, she almost does it daily,” St. John said. “She’s so incredibly caring of her teammates and just loves to be able to take part in celebrating anyone’s success.”
While Ash compliments other’s successes, she is not short of them herself. Her huge saves and strong play this season have earned her recognition in the Big East conference, where she has been named Goalkeeper of the Week twice.
Ash continues to be the definition of a teammate even in her success, highlighting her team’s value and their contributions to her playing so well.
“The recognition is obviously something that is so cool to see,” Ash said. “But it is honestly just an attribution to the team we have.”
This mindset has been a constant during Ash’s time at Butler. From her first season adjusting into the collegiate level, to her sophomore season where she has grown into a more confident and vocal leader, Ash has continued to improve while also putting the team first.
Now, the place Ash used to come frequently for summer camps is where she is making her mark. With the trust of her teammates behind her and more experience, Ash will continue to build on her success as the Bulldogs progress through the season.
Ash is grateful to call Butler home and enjoys the culture that has shaped her experience.
“I love the fact that I get to wake up every day and be around people that I love,” Ash said. “[I also love] the culture that Butler has on and off the field, whether [I am] with teammates or friends in classes.”