Xavier Tops Rio Grande in Exhibition Action, 2-0

CINCINNATI – Just one day into preseason, Xavier faced Rio Grande in early exhibition action on Thursday night at Xavier Soccer Complex.

The Musketeers were a bit rusty in the first of two 30-minute periods, getting outshot 5-3 by the Red Storm – who were the 2015 NAIA National Champions. In the second, XU imposed its will a bit more and had a 7-3 shot advantage, including a 58th minute strike from Jalen Brown.

Due to the 90-degree-plus heat, the two sides reduced the third period to 20-minutes.

A mostly even third period resulted in a 10-8 final edge in shots for the Musketeers.

HOW THEY SCORED

· 21' | Xavier got on the scoreboard first late in the first period when Brahan Gamarra lofted a ball into the box. The ball found the head of a Rio Grande defender and skipped past the keeper to make it a 1-0 lead for the Musketeers.
· 58' | Jalen Brown busted through the Rio Grande backline and buried a shot to the far right post to make it a 2-0 lead.

UP NEXT

· The Musketeers continue exhibition play on Saturday, August 21 at Maryland. First touch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Ludwig Field.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

· Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last six seasons and is poised for another strong run in 2016.
· The Musketeers finished 2015 at 12-6-1 overall, marking a sixth straight season with at least 10 wins – one of just 12 programs that can claim the feat.
· Last fall also marked Xavier's third straight finish in the top-four of the BIG EAST.
· XU was ranked in the nation's top-10 by the NSCAA for the third time in four years, while knocking of the national No. 1 (Creighton) and No. 2 (Notre Dame) on the road last season. The Musketeers are widely believed to be the first program to ever knock off both a No. 1 and a No. 2 on the road in the same season.

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