Musketeer Defenders Score, Keep Clean Sheet in 3-0 Win Against Belmont

Tuesday, October 11

NKU Soccer Stadium (Northern Kentucky University)

7:30 p.m.

Xavier University

7-3-2, 3-1BIG EAST

Belmont

1-9-3, 0-3-2Horizon

Belmont

Xavier

Photo by: Doug Cochran

Musketeer Defenders Score, Keep Clean Sheet in 3-0 Win Against Belmont

10.11.16 | Men's Soccer

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

Cam Taylor, Matt Nance and Todd Pratzner all find the net in third straight shutout win

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletics Communication

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Xavier men's soccer continued to ride its defense, getting a third straight shutout – in addition to three tallies by defenders – en route to a dominating 3-0 win over Belmont on Tuesday night at NKU Soccer Stadium.

The Musketeers improved to 7-3-2, getting a fifth shutout in six outings and improving to 5-1 in their last six. The Bruins dropped to 1-9-3 overall with the loss.

In an interesting twist, the backline helped keep the shutout and supplied all the offense as Cam Taylor, Matt Nance and Todd Pratzner all had goals. Xavier defenders also had three assists (two by Josh Grant and one by Matt Nance), giving them an impressive nine points total for the night.

HOW THEY SCORED

• 24' | Xavier | Cam Taylor put a header into the right corner, finishing off a corner kick by Matt Nance inside the six-yard box.
• 52' | Xavier | Matt Nance finished from the left side of the box, gathering a tapper from Matt Vasquenza and putting XU up 2-0. Josh Grant was also credited with an assist on the initial service.
• 55' | Xavier | Todd Pratzner hit a low-liner to the left side off a rebound, following a shot attempt by Josh Grant, to put XU up 3-0.

NOTABLE

• Xavier has now recorded shutouts in three straight matches, including five of its last six outings.
• The Musketeers are now 5-0-1 at "home" this season, despite playing five of those six matches away from Xavier Soccer Complex due to ongoing field repairs.
• Colin Hanley and Jake Ciricillo split time in net, combining for a shutout. Hanley made the night's only save for XU, lowering his season GAA to 0.58.
• XU outshot the Bruins 19-1 overall and had a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.
• Majed Osman had a team-high four shots, while 10 total Musketeers had attempts.
• Cam Taylor scored his first career-goal, putting in the game-winner in the 24th minute.
• Nine different Musketeers have now scored goals this season.
• Josh Grant had a season-best two assists and is now tied for the team lead with four helpers on the year.
• Xavier's 10 points and 19 shots were its second-most of the season. The team's nine shots on goal tied a season-high.
• Matt Nance had his first career three-point match, which tied a season-high for Xavier. He is the third XU player to have a three-point match this season.

UP NEXT

• Xavier returns to BIG EAST action on Saturday, Oct. 15 against Villanova. The match will be played at the University of Cincinnati at 3:30 p.m. ET.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST

• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last six seasons.
• 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.