Sergi's Brace Leads Men's Soccer Past Providence in BIG EAST Quarterfinals

Saturday, November 4

XU Soccer Complex

7 p.m.

Xavier University

11-5-2, 5-4 be

No. 5 Providence

5-8-5, 2-2-5BE

Providence

Xavier

Sergi's Brace Leads Men's Soccer Past Providence in BIG EAST Quarterfinals

11.04.17 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

Musketeers will play Butler for trip to title game on Wednesday in Indianapolis

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Samson Sergi scored twice and Simen Hestnes added the exclamation point to lead Xavier men's soccer in a 3-0 win over Providence in the BIG EAST Championships Quarterfinals.

Xavier improved to 11-5-2 with the win and will head back to the tournament's semifinal round for a third time since 2013, while Providence ends its season at 5-8-5 overall.

Junior goalkeeper Colin Hanley came up with some big saves in the second half to keep the Friars off the board, keeping his third clean sheet in five starts with three saves on the night.

NEXT UP

• Xavier advances to the BIG EAST Championships semifinal round for the third time since 2013 and will face Butler on Wednesday, Nov. 8 in Indianapolis. First touch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the match will air live on the BIG EAST Digital Network. Stay tuned to GoXavier.com and follow @XavierMSOC on Twitter for the latest updates.

NOTABLE

• Providence had a 17-16 edge in shots, but the Musketeers held a 6-2 lead in corner kick opportunities. Xavier has now out-cornered its opponents 130-64 this season.
• Xavier evens the all-time series with Providence at 3-3-1, including a pair of wins this season by an aggregate score of 7-1.
• XU improved to 3-4 all-time in the BIG EAST Championships and 7-5-3 in conference tournaments under head coach Andy Fleming.
• Xavier improved to 24-11-4 (.667) under Andy Fleming following a loss.
• The Musketeers will be gunning for their second-ever appearance in the BIG EAST Championship match on Wednesday. XU last reached the final in 2014, falling 2-1 against Providence before rebounding to reach the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
• Since 2013, the No. 4 seed in the BIG EAST Championships has reached the tournament's final round three times in four tries.
• Xavier is now 8-1 at XU Soccer Complex this season and hasn't lost at home since its opener on August 25.
• Simen Hestnes' three point match gave him a team-best 21 points for the season (7g, 7a).
• Samson Sergi's brace gave him the team lead with nine goals this season.
• Jacob Goodall's assist on Hestnes' goal gave him the team lead with eight helpers on the year.
• Goodall is now the sixth Musketeer to record at least 10 points for the season.
• XU's shutout was its sixth of the season and the third of the year with Colin Hanley in net.

HOW THEY SCORED

6' | Xavier 1-0 | Samson Sergi struck early, re-directing a left-footed chip from Cory Brown to the near post to get XU on the board.
24' | Xavier 2-0 | Samson Sergi tallied for a second time, finishing off a free kick by Simen Hestnes to extend the XU lead.
62' | Xavier 3-0 | Simen Hestnes finished on a breakaway, taking in a long volley from Jacob Goodall down the left side and beating the PC keeper far post to seal the final score.

HIGHLIGHTS