Men's Soccer Meets No. 18 Butler in BIG EAST Regular Season Finale

Thursday, November 3

XU Soccer Complex

7 p.m.

Xavier University

No. 18/25/20 Butler

Men's Soccer Meets No. 18 Butler in BIG EAST Regular Season Finale

11.02.16 | Men's Soccer

Musketeers host Bulldogs in match with significant seeding implications

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletics Communication

CINCINNATI – Battling for a top-seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Championships, Xavier men's soccer meets No. 18 Butler in a critical home match on Thursday night at XU Soccer Complex. First touch is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be carried live on the BIG EAST Digital Network.

With one tilt left in the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. Seven teams remain in the race, jockeying for the top-six spots in the league, in what has been a wide open league all year.

Thursday's match will be the second straight home match against the No. 18-ranked team in the NSCAA Poll for Xavier, which dispatched then-No. 18 Creighton by a score of 2-1 last Wednesday.

THE MATCHUP

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (8-6-3, 4-3-1 BIG EAST CONFERENCE)
vs. No. 18 BUTLER BULLDOGS (10-5-1, 5-3 BIG EAST CONFERENCE)
Match Info: Thursday, November 3 – 7 p.m. – Xavier Soccer Complex
Follow: Live Stats | Watch (BEDN) | @XavierMSOC

ABOUT BUTLER

2016 Record: 10-5-1 (5-3 BIG EAST Conference)
Last Result: W, 2-1 vs. Marquette on Saturday, Oct. 29
Key Players: David Goldsmith (11 G, 3 A, 68 SH), Lewis Suddick (9 G, 2 A, 40 SH), Jared Timmer (2 G, 8 A, 20 SH)
In Goal: Eric Dick (16 GS, 18 GA, 1.09 GAA, 53 SV, 5 SHO)

Notable:
• Butler has been as high as No. 7 in the NSCAA Poll this season and come into Thursday's match No. 18. The Bulldogs are also ranked 20th by Top Drawer Soccer and 25th by College Soccer News.
• Butler has struggled on the road this season with a 1-4-1 record. The Bulldogs are 7-1 at home and 2-0 in neutral settings.
• Senior forward David Goldsmith has 40 career goals for Butler, ranking third amongst active Division I men's soccer players.
• Freshman Lewis Suddick gives the Bulldogs two dangerous attacking weapons. Both were ranked highly in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 100, as Goldsmith checked in 10th and Suddick was ranked 13th in the annual rankings of college soccer's top players.
• The Bulldogs are 9-1 when scoring multiple goals this season, but have scored just two goals total in their other six matches (1-4-1).
• BU's 1.94 goals per game average ranks 17th nationally, while the team's 5.94 points per game average ranks 12th.
• Butler has outshot its opposition 253-196, including a 113-75 edge in shots on goal. The Bulldogs average 15.8 shots per match, which ranks 11th nationally and second in the BIG EAST. Butler also puts a good number of shots on frame, ranking ninth nationally with a 7.1 shot on goal average.
• Four of Butler's five losses have come at the feet of teams ranked in the Top 50 of the RPI: Denver (16), Indiana (18), Creighton (36) and DePaul (50). Out Monday, Xavier ranks 48th in this week's RPI poll.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series 11-5, but just 3-2 since the 2012 season.
• Then-No. 14 Xavier won 2-0 at home, ending Butler's season in the last meeting at XU Soccer Complex on Nov. 7, 2014. The win clinched a first round tournament bye and second-place finish for XU in the 2014 BIG EAST standings. Matt Vasquenza (28') and Jalen Brown (67') had the goals and each assisted on the other's score as well. Then-senior Will Walker also assisted on both goals.

PLAYIN' IN A TRAVELING BAND

• Last Wednesday's home match at Xavier Soccer Complex was just the Musketeers' third true home match of the season after playing six straight matches off campus during field repairs.
• The Xavier Soccer Complex was temporarily unplayable due to severe flooding in and around the Norwood area in late August.
• XU's is 2-1 overall in true home matches, beating Evansville 3-1 back on Friday, Aug. 26 and No. 18 Creighton on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The Musketeers' lone loss came against SIUE in a 1-0 match on Tuesday, Oct. 18.
• Despite the challenge of playing away from XU Soccer Compex, XU went 4-0-2 in home matches away from home. The Musketeers drew with Dartmouth at UC on Sept. 5 and then ran off four "home" wins, including victories against Cincinnati (at NKU), DePaul (at UC), St. John's (at Walnut Hills HS) and Belmont (at NKU). On Saturday, Oct. 15, Xavier drew with Villanova 2-2 in its final match at Gettler Stadium.
• During the homeless stretch, the Musketeers competed at UC's Gettler Stadium three times, NKU Soccer Stadium twice and at local Walnut Hills High School.

NO HARM, NO FOUL

• Xavier has long been one of the fewest penalized teams in the nation, and 2016 has been no exception. The Musketeers have been charged with just 13 yellow cards (no reds) this season. Only 13 teams have fewer yellows this season.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier lost for the third time in four matches, getting beat by a late Seton Hall goal in a 2-1 road setback on Saturday.
• Samson Sergi and Brahan Gamarra teamed up on the equalizer early in the second half, both notching their first career points.
• Xavier is now 21-10-4 (.657) in league play since joining the BIG EAST ahead of the 2013 season.
• Seton Hall improved to 2-1-1 at home in league play with the win.
• SHU picked up its first win in the series on Saturday night. Xavier now leads the all-time series against Seton Hall 3-1 and has out-scored SHU 10-3 in those matchups.
• SHU outshot XU 13-12 and 5-3 in shots on goal. Corners were even at 4-4.
• Creighton and Villanova both lost on Saturday, leaving Xavier still in a tie for third-place in the BIG EAST standings with one regular season match to go.

FINISHING STRONG

• Xavier has scored 16 of its 25 goals in the second half this season, out-scoring its opposition 17-12 after halftime.
• XU has also outshot its foes 118-104 in the second half and 20-16 in overtime.

SHARING IS CARING

• Sporting a typically-balanced offensive attack, Xavier has received goals from 10 different players while 10 Musketeers have contributed assists.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

• Xavier ranks 46th in the nation in total points (80), 53rd in points per game (4.71) and 59th in total goals (25).
• XU ranks 24th in assists per game (1.76) and 16th in total assists (30).

SHOTS FIRED

• Xavier has been one of the top teams in the nation at generating scoring chances this fall.
• The Musketeers have outshot their opponents 243-213, including a 98-88 edge in shots on goal.
• The Musketeers are 33rd in the nation with 14.29 shots per game and also rank 53rd in shots on goal per match with an average of 5.76.
• Individually, Majed Osman rates 33rd in the NCAA with 3.35 shots per game and 119th with 1.18 shots on goal per game.

KEEPING IT CLEAN

• Sophomore Colin Hanley has stabilized the goalkeeper position over the last 11 matches for XU, posting four shutouts to go with a 1.08 GAA.
• He ranks 77th in the nation with a 1.08 GAA and 52nd in saves per match (4.17). His save percentage is 51st in the country (.794).
• Hanley made his season debut on Sept. 13 in a 2-0 loss at nationally-ranked Louisville. Since then, he has allowed just 11 goals in over 1,010 minutes.
• Prior to the Marquette match, Hanley's GAA in BIG EAST action had been a sterling 0.58 with three shutouts in six starts.

BIG (EAST) SUCCESS

• With a 4-3-1 record in 2016, Xavier is now 21-10-4 (.657) in BIG EAST play since joining the conference ahead of the 2013 season.
• The Musketeers have never finished below fourth in the BIG EAST standings.
• In three years in the league, Xavier has never failed to advance to the BIG EAST Tournament – reaching the semifinals in 2013 and 2015, while also appearing in the 2014 title match against Providence.
• Xavier still has the opportunity to finish anywhere from sixth to second in the league standings, depending on a number of potential scenarios.
• Currently tied with Creighton and Villanova, XU holds a tiebreaker over the Bluejays due to a head-to-head win. Villanova and Xavier tied in the regular season matchup, which means the tiebreaker involving those two will involve comparing head-to-head records against the top team in the league standings.
• A number of scenarios are possible, but Butler is the only team with a chance to earn a share of the league's regular season title. Four teams are still in the mix for a bye in the first round of the BIG EAST Championships, which will begin on Sunday, Nov. 6 at campus sites.

2016 BIG EAST STANDINGS

#	TEAM	OVERALL (%)	BIG EAST (%)	PTS
1.	Providence	11-5 (.688)	6-2 (.750)	18
2.	Butler	10-5-1 (.656)	5-3 (.625)	15
t3.	Villanova	9-6-2 (.588)	4-3-1 (.562)	13
t3.	Creighton	8-5-3 (.594)	4-3-1 (.562)	13
t3.	Xavier	8-6-3 (.562)	4-3-1 (.562)	13
6.	DePaul	9-6-2 (.588)	4-4 (.500)	12
7.	Georgetown	6-8-2 (.438)	3-3-2 (.500)	11
8.	St. John's	6-6-4 (.500)	2-4-2 (.375)	8
9.	Seton Hall	4-10-2 (.312)	2-5-1 (.312)	7
10.	Marquette	4-7-4 (.400)	1-5-2 (.250)	5

* Standings current through 11/1

2016 BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

• Cam Taylor was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday after supplying three points, including the golden goal, in a 2-1 win over No. 18 Creighton last week.
• Xavier has had eight different players honored on 12 different occasions by the BIG EAST this season.

NAME	AWARD (DATE)
Cam Taylor	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (10/31)
Matt Nance	BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (10/17)
Colin Hanley	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (10/17)
Colin Hanley	BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (10/10)
Cory Brown	BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (10/10)
Jalen Brown	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (10/10)
Jalen Brown	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/26)
Cory Brown	BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (9/19)
Majed Osman	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/19)
Derrick Otim	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/12)
Jake Ciricillo	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/5)
Jalen Brown	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (8/29)

XAVIER AGAINST THE BEST

• Xavier has faced 22 NSCAA-ranked opponents in the last six-plus seasons.
• Since 2010, Xavier boasts an 9-9-4 overall record against NSCAA ranked opposition.
• The Musketeers are an incredible 6-2-1 against the Top-10, including wins at No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Creighton last fall.
• In 2014, the Musketeers also claimed victories against No. 5 Indiana and No. 8 Georgetown.

XAVIER MEN'S SOCCER VS. THE NSCAA TOP 25 (SINCE 2010)
Home: 2-1-2 | Away: 3-4-1 | Neutral: 4-4-1

DATE	LOCATION	OPPONENT	RESULT
Nov. 13, 2010	Charlotte, N.C. (N)	#15 Charlotte	T, 0-0 (PK Win) *
Sept. 16, 2011	Evanston, Ill. (N)	#13 Northern Illinois	W, 1-0
Oct. 28, 2011	Charlotte, N.C. (A)	#16 Charlotte	L, 1-0
Nov. 10, 2011	St. Louis, Mo. (N)	#8 Charlotte	W, 2-1 (OT) *
Aug. 25, 2012	Cincinnati, Ohio (H)	#20 Northwestern	T, 1-1 (2OT)
Nov. 9, 2012	Charlotte, N.C. (N)	#25 Saint Louis	L, 1-0 *
Oct. 5, 2013	Omaha, Neb. (A)	#4 Creighton	L, 2-0
Oct. 12, 2013	Cincinnati, Ohio (H)	#9 Georgetown	W, 2-0
Aug. 31, 2014	Madison, Wis. (A)	#21 Wisconsin	L, 4-0
Oct. 18, 2014	Cincinnati, Ohio (H)	#6 Creighton	T, 1-1
Oct. 25, 2014	Milwaukee, Wis. (A)	#15 Marquette	W, 1-0
Oct. 29, 2014	Washington, D.C. (A)	#13 Georgetown	L, 1-0
Nov. 14, 2014	Philadelphia, Pa. (N)	#8 Georgetown	W, 1-0 ^
Nov. 16, 2014	Philadelphia, Pa. (N)	#23 Providence	L, 2-1 ^
Nov. 23, 2014	Bloomington, Ind. (N)	#5 Indiana	W, 2-1 %
Nov. 30, 2014	Omaha, Neb. (N)	#9 Creighton	L, 2-1 %
Sept. 15, 2015	South Bend, Ind. (A)	#2 Notre Dame	W, 1-0
Oct. 3, 2015	Cincinnati, Ohio (H)	#16 Georgetown	L, 1-0
Oct. 28, 2015	Omaha, Neb. (A)	#1 Creighton	W, 2-1
Nov. 12, 2015	Washington, D.C. (N)	#16 Georgetown	L, 1-0
Sept. 2, 2016	Charlottesville, Va. (A)	#12 Virginia	T, 1-1 (2OT)
Oct. 26, 2016	Cincinnati, Ohio (H)	#18 Creighton	W, 2-1 (2OT)

POSTSEASON LEGEND
* Atlantic 10 Tournament
^ BIG EAST Tournament
% NCAA Tournament

GETTING UP OFF THE MAT

• Xavier has bounced back after losses consistently under head coach Andy Fleming.
• Since 2010, XU has compiled a record of 20-9-4 (.667) after a loss.

YEAR	RECORD AFTER LOSS
2010	3-2-1
2011	3-0-1
2012	2-0-0
2013	3-3-0
2014	4-1-0
2015	2-2-1
2016	3-1-1
7 Seasons	20-9-4 (.667)

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

• Xavier has played the 45th most difficult schedule in the nation thus far with a combined opponent record of 117-98-43 (.537).
• The Musketeers were also rated 48th in the latest NCAA RPI rankings, released on Monday, Oct. 31.
• Six BIG EAST teams are in the top-50 in terms of schedule strength, ranging from Georgetown (8), Creighton (24), Butler (25), Villanova (29), Seton Hall (39) and Xavier (45). Nine of the league's teams are in the top-75, including Marquette (62), Providence (64) and DePaul (75).

XU PICKED FOURTH IN BIG EAST

• The Musketeers were picked to finish fourth in the league's annual coaches poll, coming in behind two preseason top-10 teams in Creighton and Georgetown. XU also received a first-place vote in the poll for the first time.
• Matt Vasquenza and Cory Brown were both selected to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team, as Brown was named the BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
• The prediction ties the highest for XU since entering the league in 2013. XU was picked fourth last season, seventh in 2014 and fifth in 2013.
• XU lived up to its prediction last season, finishing fourth in the league at 5-3-1. The Musketeers have been inside the top-four in each of its first three seasons in the BIG EAST.

WHAT'S BACK

• Xavier returns 16 players, including eight starters, from last season's 12-win team.
• The roster consists of 10 freshmen, seven sophomores, six juniors and four seniors.
• Four of Xavier's top five offensive options are back, as returners Jalen Brown, Matt Vasquenza, Majed Osman and Walker Andriot took a combined 122 shots in 2015. Those four players accounted for 53 percent of Xavier's 229 total shots in 2015.
• XU's typically-balanced offense saw 12 players record an assist or score a goal last season. Eight of the goal-scorers return in 2016, while nine players return who contributed an assist.
• The senior class of Jalen Brown, Todd Pratzner, Jake Ciricillo, Walker Andriot and Majed Osman have helped XU to a 38-20-5 (.643) record since 2013.
• The Musketeers return 52 percent of their goal-scoring (15-of-29) and 56 percent of their points (44-of-78).

HOLES TO FILL

• XU is holding auditions to replace a BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year for the second straight season after losing Dallas Jaye (13 GS, 0.63 GAA) to graduation. Jaye succeeded 2014 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Eric Osswald.
• Leading scorer Alex Ridsdale (8g, 1a) was also lost to graduation.
• A key piece in the midfield, Kyle Martin graduated after starting 47 matches since 2013.
• Right back Chris Moore also graduated after making 58 career starts since 2013.
• The 2015 senior class of Dallas Jaye, Vince Shaw, Alex Ridsdale, Calum Latham, Kyle Martin, Rhodes Moore and Chris Moore left Xavier with 51 wins – tied for the most by any graduating group.
• In addition to player turnover, XU has an entirely new look on the sidelines with Ernie Yarborough, Garrett McLaughlin, Chris Black and Cam Olson all beginning their first year with the program. Former assistants John Michael Hayden (Louisville) and Charles Rodriguez (Stanford) took new jobs in the collegiate ranks, while goalkeeper coach Jamie Starr (FC Cincinnati) and Director of Operations Luke Spencer (FC Cincinnati) joined the USL.

CORY BROWN COLLECTING HONORS

• For a second straight preseason, Cory Brown has racked up an impressive collection of preseason honors. The junior from Nelson, New Zealand is considered one of the best defenders in college soccer and was on the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List as a sophomore.

2016 HONORS FOR BROWN:
• BIG EAST Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
• Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
• College Soccer News Preseason All-America Second Team
• Top Drawer Soccer Men's Preseason Best XI Third Team
• College Soccer News National Team of the Week (10/10)
• 2x BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (9/19, 10/10)

PRESEASON WRAP

• Xavier posted a 1-1 record in a pair of exhibitions, defeating the 2015 NAIA National Champs, Rio Grande (OH), 2-0 at home and falling 3-1 at No. 4 Maryland.
• Jalen Brown (2g) scored unassisted in both matches for the Musketeers and could be primed for a big season after leading XU in shots in 2015.

AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE

· 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.