Men's Soccer to Host Annual "Devin's Game" on Saturday at Xavier Soccer Complex

CINCINNATI – Xavier men's soccer hosts Michigan State for the Fifth Annual Down Syndrome Awareness Spring Classic on Saturday, April 23 at Xavier Soccer Complex. First touch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

Admission to the match is $5 per person with a portion of proceeds benefitting "Devin's Team" as part of the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati Annual Buddy Walk. The team is named for head coach Andy Fleming's daughter, Devin, who was born with Down Syndrome in 2011.

In just five years, Devin's Team has established itself as one of the highest-earning teams in Cincinnati and all of Ohio.

Devin's Game has become a special event in the community over the past five years, averaging approximately 1,200 fans and raising over $55,000 for DSAGC since 2011.

Following the match, all kids eighth grade and below are invited to participate in post-game penalty kicks on the field.

THE MATCHUP

• Xavier (2015 Record: 12-6-1, 5-3-1 BIG EAST) put up its sixth straight season with 10+ wins last fall, finishing fourth in the BIG EAST regular season standings and advancing to the BIG EAST Tournament semifinals. On Sept. 15, 2015 Xavier downed No. 2 Notre Dame, 1-0, in South Bend, Ind. for the highest-ranked win in program history. Just over a month later, the Musketeers topped that feat with a convincing 2-1 victory at No. 1 Creighton.
• Michigan State (2015 Record: 8-9-2, 2-4-2 B1G) advanced to its 25th Big Ten Tournament in 2015 and is one year removed from back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The program has made 17 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time.

ABOUT DEVIN

• Devin turns five on May 2 and has completed two years of pre-school at Terrace Park Elementary.
• Next year, she will attend kindergarten at Mariemont Elementary. Devin loves going to the park and playing on the swings, especially pushing her friends and classmates.
• Devin also participates in swimming lessons and will go to Melodic Connections Music Camp this summer – in addition to summer tutoring at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati.
• Most importantly, she loves to yell, "Go X!" and make the X sign with her arms.

WHAT IS DSAGC?

• The Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati (DSAGC) is a 501C-3 non-profit organization established in 1981 with a history of responding to the changing needs of individuals with Down syndrome.
• The DSAGC serves southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana including Hamilton, Butler, Brown, Clermont, Warren, Highland, Clinton, Adams, Boone, Campbell, Kenton and Dearborn counties. The organization's constituency is comprised of 1,300 individuals with Down syndrome of all ages, 3,000 family members and over 300 local professionals.
• The DSAGC is funded primarily through special events, such as the Buddy Walk. Other sources of revenue include donations and foundation support. The DSAGC is self-sustaining. The funds raised by the organization remain in the local community.

ALUMS IN THE PROS

• At least 18 players to have appeared in the match have gone on to play professionally, including seven former Musketeers.
• Xavier: Nick Hagglund, Matt Walker, Will Walker, Eric Osswald, Dallas Jaye, Luke Spencer, James Queree
• Other Schools: Harrison Shipp (Notre Dame), Justin Morrow (Notre Dame), Will Trapp (Akron), Scott Caldwell (Akron), DeAndre Yedlin (Akron), Chad Barson (Akron), Bryan Gallego (Akron), Reinaldo Brenes (Akron), Aodhan Quinn (Akron), Zac Portillos (Akron), Eric Stevenson (Akron)

Schedule

Upcoming Events