Taylor's Golden Goal Sends Men's Soccer to Massive League Win Over No. 18 Creighton

Wednesday, October 26

XU Soccer Complex

7 p.m.

Xavier University

8-5-3, 4-2-1

No. 18/11/17 Creighton

8-4-3, 4-2-1

OT 3

OT 4

Creighton

Xavier

Taylor's Golden Goal Sends Men's Soccer to Massive League Win Over No. 18 Creighton

10.26.16 | Men's Soccer

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

Musketeers snap two-match losing streak with double overtime goal

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletics Communication

CINCINNATI – Cam Taylor collected his first career golden goal on Wednesday night, playing the hero as Xavier men's soccer dispatched No. 18 Creighton 2-1 at XU Soccer Complex.

The sophomore defender found a deflection at the back post, coming off a free kick by Matt Nance, and headed it to the left of CU goalkeeper Alex Kapp to seal the win.

The win snapped a two-match skid for Xavier, which improved to 8-5-3 (4-2-1 BIG EAST) and vaulted into a three-way tie for second-place in the league with just two regular season matches remaining.

Creighton, which entered the night with sole possession of first, dropped its third match in four outings and is now 8-5-3 (4-2-1 BIG EAST).

HIGHLIGHTS

#BEDN HIGHLIGHT | Matty V equalizes with the header in the 80th minute. #LetsGoX https://t.co/EmmPGgwGCH
— Xavier Men's Soccer (@XavierMSOC) October 27, 2016

#BEDN HIGHLIGHT | Cam Taylor on the back post for the win! #LetsGoX https://t.co/qtAY1vpL9z
— Xavier Men's Soccer (@XavierMSOC) October 27, 2016

Cam Taylor chats with #BEDN after his game-winning goal against Creighton. #LetsGoX https://t.co/0JQKANEfZw
— Xavier Men's Soccer (@XavierMSOC) October 27, 2016

HOW THEY SCORED

• 52 ' | Creighton | Ricky Lopez-Espin drilled his fifth goal of the season from the middle of the box, giving CU a 1-0 lead off a pass from the left flank by Myles Englis.
• 80 ' | Xavier | Matt Vasquenza tipped a header over the CU goalkeeper off a throw-in by Cam Taylor, equalizing the match with his fifth tally of the season. Derrick Otim also got a touch on the play and was credited with an assist.
• 105 ' | Xavier | Cam Taylor got his head on a deflection off a Matt Nance free kick, finishing from the back post to seal the 2-1 win for XU.

NOTABLE

• Cameron Taylor had his first career three-point match, assisting on Matt Vasquenza's equalizer and also providing the game-winning goal in the 105th minute.
• The 2-1 win came nearly a year to the day after XU knocked off then-No. 1 Creighton at home (Oct. 28, 2015).
• XU has now outscored its opposition 16-9 after halftime in 2016.
• Xavier is now 21-9-4 (.677) in league play since joining the BIG EAST ahead of the 2013 season.
• Xavier is now 20-9-4 (.667) coming off a loss under head coach Andy Fleming.
• XU evens the all-time series against Creighton at 2-2-1 with the win – including results in three of the last four meetings. All five matches between the two programs have come since the two became BIG EAST members ahead of the 2013 season.
• Matt Vasquenza's goal was his second in as many matches and lifted him into the team lead for points with 14 (5 G, 4 A).
• Matt Nance assisted on the game-winner, getting his fourth helper of the season on a free kick from the edge of the box. The junior defender is now tied for third on the team with 10 points (3 G, 4 A).
• The win vaulted XU into a three-way tie for second-place in the league standings alongside Creighton and Villanova.
• Xavier was outshot 29-7 overall in the match and ceded a 9-3 edge in corners to Creighton.
• After haltime, however, Creighton's shot advantage narrowed to 11-5.
• Derrick Otim's assist was his first point since Sept. 9 against UC. He is now fifth on the team with eight points (3 G, 2 A).

UP NEXT

• Xavier travels to Seton Hall for its final league road match on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be carried live on the BIG EAST Digital Network.

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.