On Oct. 3, the Butler women’s soccer team traveled to Chicago to face off against DePaul in a conference matchup. Entering this game, the Bulldogs had only beaten the Blue Demons on the road once, back in 2022. Despite these previous negative results, the Dawgs brought a new energy onto the turf.
Entering the 73rd minute of the match, the Bulldogs were down 2-1. Junior defender Gemma Gillespie notched a goal to bring the game back to 2-2. Five minutes later, she scored again to help the Dawgs win the game 3-2.
“The two goals came within five minutes [of each other],” Gillespie said. “To be fair to my teammates, I didn’t really have to do much. [I] just [got] a little touch on both of them.”
Playing on DePaul’s home turf is not an easy task, according to co-head coach Tari St. John. The Blue Demon’s field doubles as the softball field, so the markings can be confusing to follow. The L Train — Chicago’s elevated train system — also runs overhead, which makes it difficult to communicate on the turf.
“Anytime we get a point, let alone three points at DePaul, it’s a really good day for us.” St. John said.
Gillespie’s timely goals earned her Big East Defensive Player of the Week.
“[It is] more than goals and assists for [Gillespie],” St. John said. “She is just leading in those moments, and the byproduct sometimes is goals and assists.”
Junior forward Ceilidh Whynott was roommates with Gillespie during their first year on campus. They have grown together both on and off the field, as teammates and friends.
“No one was surprised we scored [and] no one was surprised it was [Gillespie].” Whynott said.
Heading into every game, a player comes up with a “Word of the Day.” This word acts as a mantra for each game. Redshirt first-year goalkeeper Julia Lorenzi gave the word “perseverance.” The Bulldogs’ mentality throughout the DePaul game was all about the idea of not giving up.
“We came from behind two times [in the match],” Gillespie said. “Our word [of the day] was perseverance. It was very fitting for us [because we] persevered through all of [the game].”
Perseverance was especially powerful for Gillespie, as she had been subbed off the field for a quick break after scoring her first goal. She came back into the game and scored her second goal only a few moments later.
“She subbed in as a difference maker,” Whynott said. “She was [getting a break] after playing a bunch, and she just hopped back on.”
Soccer was Gillespie’s first love as a child. She began playing when she was five and never turned back.
“I was in a couple other [sports growing up], but soccer stuck,” Gillespie said. “I have an older brother that I looked up to, who played as well, and that was kind of my first ambition of staying in [soccer and] getting better.”
Gillespie was able to learn a lot from her brother growing up; now, she carries those lessons and many of her own down to her younger sister.
“I have a little sister who I became a mentor to, soccer-wise,” Gillespie said. “Those are the people that fuel me.”
Gillespie has spent her entire collegiate career with Butler. Her first year, she scored zero goals and only played in 10 matches. During her sophomore season, she tallied her first goal and started in all 17 matchups. Now, 11 games into her junior campaign, Gillespie has scored four goals while maintaining her starting spot.
“The uniqueness of [Gillespie] is [that] she’s so adaptable in her style of leadership.” St. John said. “I can tell any freshman [to look at] Gemma and [I say], ‘Just do what she’s doing.’ How she prepares for training, how she trains, and so on; Just model yourself after Gemma. She [is an] outstanding leader [and] she can lead in any different way that’s needed in the moment.”
St. John is not the only one who sees Gillespie as a leader — her whole team does.
“[Gillespie] is a very vocal person,” Whynott said. “She uses her voice well, [and] she is good at directing people. She has a pretty good tone when doing it. People listen to her [and] she leads by example. I know people look up to her and will follow her when she’s doing the right thing.”
For Gillespie, the world of soccer extends well beyond Indianapolis. The defender has been called up to represent Puerto Rico’s national team three separate times.
“I played with the [Puerto Rico] U20s in February of my sophomore year,” Gillespie said. “That was my first call-up. [Since then, I have been] able to work my way up to the full team call-up. This past summer, [I] played with them in the Central American Games.”
On the Puerto Rican team, there were 20 players, whose ages range from as young as 17 up into their 30s.
“I [am] playing with grown women, which is very different [from] here when I’m playing with 18-year-old girls,” Gillespie said. “It’s super cool.”
Playing at the international level allowed Gillespie to learn from other athletes, both as players and people. Her national team teammates have experiences outside of the collegiate level of competition.
“Those girls are amazing,” Gillespie said. “Not just in talent, but they’re super sophisticated because they’re older than me. The way that they carry themselves, I take a lot of lessons each time that I go.”
In conference play, the Bulldogs have had three draws in five games. Despite the frustration that may come with drawing instead of winning, the team is holding strong.
“Across the Big East right now, everybody is tying,” Gillespie said. “[We’re] not getting caught up in the results and [moving] on to the next one, but [we’re] also not overlooking the fact that we are getting shutouts, and we’re coming back from some deficits. There are still good things that come from each performance.”
Gillespie has become a core piece of Butler’s lineup. Her teammates see not only the defender’s skills as a physical threat improving, but also see her leadership skills growing as well. As such, the team looks to her when they are in a moment of need.
“In terms of leadership, [Gillespie] is the player [who will] put an arm around a player that needs it,” St. John said. “[She] will be the first one to give [a teammate] a hug and put an arm around [them]. There are times when training isn’t up to the standard we want, and [Gillespie] will be the one driving that, saying, ‘This isn’t good enough. We need to be better’. She can hold players accountable. She’s got the respect of the entire team.”