Xavier University Athletics
Men's Soccer Announces 2016 Spring Slate
01.22.16 | Men's Soccer
Musketeers will host four exhibitions at XU Soccer Complex
CINCINNATI – Xavier men's soccer announced its typical rigorous spring schedule on Thursday, featuring four friendlies at XU Soccer Complex.
Xavier will host Cincinnati's newest professional franchise, FC Cincinnati, on March 18 at 7 p.m. in what will be a highly-anticipated match. FC Cincinnati will be competing in its first season as part of the United Soccer League in 2016.
The Musketeers also play host to Saint Louis and Cedarville before capping the spring with the Fifth Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Spring Classic on April 23, as Xavier hosts Michigan State at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the match benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati's Annual Buddy Walk.
"Like we've been able to do in each of the past few years, we will once again play a very challenging spring slate as we look to get our program back to the into the NCAA tournament. The schedule presents college soccer's marquee program in Indiana, along with national mainstays in Saint Louis and Michigan State. Cedarville has become a highly-contested, tightly-played annual spring game for us and is a perennial NCAA tournament team. Most importantly, we will face FC Cincinnati in one of its first games as the team begins to prepare for an inaugural season as our city's professional soccer side. They have done a remarkable job of putting a team together and we are excited to showcase each of our teams to the community on a Friday night. Add in our annual edition of Devin's Game and I think there's a lot to be excited about as a fan and loads of challenges ahead for our players." – Head Coach Andy Fleming
• Indiana (2015 Record: 13-5-3, 4-3-1 B1G) is coming off a season which ended in the NCAA Tournament Third Round against Wake Forest, 1-0. Semifinalists in the 2015 Big Ten Tournament, the Hoosiers are one of the premier programs in college soccer with 29 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (40 overall) and eight national championships.
• FC Cincinnati (2015 Record: N/A) was announced as the 26th franchise in the United Soccer League on Aug. 12, 2015 and will be competing in its first season in 2016. The club is coached by former U.S. National Team star John Harkes and will play its home matches at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium.
• Saint Louis (2015 Record: 8-7-2, 4-2-2 A-10) is one year removed from a 14-win season and has been nationally-ranked in each of the last three seasons. A 10-time national championship program, the Billikens have appeared in 48 NCAA Tournaments all-time.
• Cedarville (2015 Record: 15-4-2, 10-2 GMAC) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2015 after winning a third straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship. The NCAA appearance was the first for the program after four seasons as an active NCAA Division II member.
• Michigan State (2015 Record: 8-9-2, 2-4-2 B1G) advanced to its 25th Big Ten Tournament in 2015 and is one year removed from back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The program has made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
Feb. 21, 2016 – at Indiana – 1 P.M.
March 18, 2016 – vs. FC Cincinnati – 7 P.M.
April 2, 2016 – vs. Saint Louis – 1:30 P.M.
April 8, 2016 – vs. Cedarville – 7 P.M.
April 23, 2016 – vs. Michigan State (Devin's Game) – 7:30 P.M.
Xavier will host Cincinnati's newest professional franchise, FC Cincinnati, on March 18 at 7 p.m. in what will be a highly-anticipated match. FC Cincinnati will be competing in its first season as part of the United Soccer League in 2016.
The Musketeers also play host to Saint Louis and Cedarville before capping the spring with the Fifth Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Spring Classic on April 23, as Xavier hosts Michigan State at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the match benefit the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati's Annual Buddy Walk.
 | QUOTABLE |
"Like we've been able to do in each of the past few years, we will once again play a very challenging spring slate as we look to get our program back to the into the NCAA tournament. The schedule presents college soccer's marquee program in Indiana, along with national mainstays in Saint Louis and Michigan State. Cedarville has become a highly-contested, tightly-played annual spring game for us and is a perennial NCAA tournament team. Most importantly, we will face FC Cincinnati in one of its first games as the team begins to prepare for an inaugural season as our city's professional soccer side. They have done a remarkable job of putting a team together and we are excited to showcase each of our teams to the community on a Friday night. Add in our annual edition of Devin's Game and I think there's a lot to be excited about as a fan and loads of challenges ahead for our players." – Head Coach Andy Fleming
| THE COMPETITION |
• Indiana (2015 Record: 13-5-3, 4-3-1 B1G) is coming off a season which ended in the NCAA Tournament Third Round against Wake Forest, 1-0. Semifinalists in the 2015 Big Ten Tournament, the Hoosiers are one of the premier programs in college soccer with 29 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (40 overall) and eight national championships.
• FC Cincinnati (2015 Record: N/A) was announced as the 26th franchise in the United Soccer League on Aug. 12, 2015 and will be competing in its first season in 2016. The club is coached by former U.S. National Team star John Harkes and will play its home matches at the University of Cincinnati's Nippert Stadium.
• Saint Louis (2015 Record: 8-7-2, 4-2-2 A-10) is one year removed from a 14-win season and has been nationally-ranked in each of the last three seasons. A 10-time national championship program, the Billikens have appeared in 48 NCAA Tournaments all-time.
• Cedarville (2015 Record: 15-4-2, 10-2 GMAC) advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2015 after winning a third straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship. The NCAA appearance was the first for the program after four seasons as an active NCAA Division II member.
• Michigan State (2015 Record: 8-9-2, 2-4-2 B1G) advanced to its 25th Big Ten Tournament in 2015 and is one year removed from back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The program has made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.
| FULL SCHEDULE |
Feb. 21, 2016 – at Indiana – 1 P.M.
March 18, 2016 – vs. FC Cincinnati – 7 P.M.
April 2, 2016 – vs. Saint Louis – 1:30 P.M.
April 8, 2016 – vs. Cedarville – 7 P.M.
April 23, 2016 – vs. Michigan State (Devin's Game) – 7:30 P.M.
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