Vasquenza Golden on Senior Night as Men's Soccer Walks Off with 3-2 Win Over Seton Hall

Saturday, October 28

XU Soccer Complex

7 PM

Xavier University

10-4-2, 5-3BE

Seton Hall

5-10-1, 2-6BE

OT 1

Seton Hall

Xavier

Vasquenza Golden on Senior Night as Men's Soccer Walks Off with 3-2 Win Over Seton Hall

10.28.17 | Men's Soccer

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

Musketeers clinch playoff spot for fifth straight year in BIG EAST with overtime win

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Down 2-1 with two minutes to play, Xavier men's soccer battled back to force overtime and won on a golden goal in the 94th minute as Matt Vasquenza capped his senior night with a game-winner to give XU a 3-2 home win over Seton Hall on Saturday night.

Xavier improved to 10-4-2 and 5-3 in the BIG EAST, getting three big points to guarantee a spot in the upcoming BIG EAST playoffs for a fifth straight season. The Musketeers have never missed the league tournament since joining the BIG EAST in 2013.

XU's win also kept the team in fourth-place with 15 points and leaves a variety of postseason scenarios possible for the Musketeers, who are now guaranteed to host a league tournament game and can still finish anywhere from second to fourth in the standings.

Seton Hall was eliminated from BIG EAST Championships and fell to 5-10-1 and 2-6 in the BIG EAST.

XU honored six seniors ahead of first touch tonight, including Josh Grant, Cory Brown, Matt Vasquenza, Ian Vicars, Cam Taylor and Matt Nance.

NOTABLE

• Simen Hestnes' goal was his fifth of the year and gave him 16 points, which ranks second for XU in 2017.
• Matt Vasquenza's goal was his seventh of the season and moved him into a tie for the team lead. He has a team-best 17 points this fall.
• Vasquenza's goal was his 24th in his career, moving him into a tie for ninth all-time at XU with Vladimir Ciric (1995-96).
• The two points gave Vasquenza 64 in his career, moving him into a tie for ninth all-time at XU with Charlie Combs (1991-94).
• Sam Buzzas' late equalizer was his second goal of the season. Cory Brown and Cam Taylor connected for assists on the play, making for a score manufactured by all defenders. Brown's assist was his second of the season, while Taylor's was his third.
• XU now leads the all-time series against Seton Hall, 4-1, and has out-scored the Pirates 13-5 in those matchups.
• The Musketeers improved to 7-1 at home this fall.
• XU has now won at least 10 matches in seven of the last eight seasons.
• Xavier held a 20-12 edge in shots, its second-most shots of the season.
• XU had a 20-3 edge in corner kicks for the night and now has a 117-60 advantage in corner kicks against its opposition this year.
• XU put nine shots on frame for the second straight match, tying for its second-highest total of the fall.
• Junior Colin Hanley made his third straight start, making two saves and improving to 3-0 in net this season.
• The Musketeers are now 26-14-4 (.X) in league play since joining the BIG EAST for the 2013 season.

HOW THEY SCORED

58' | Xavier 1-0 | Simen Hestnes gathered in a rebound off the crossbar and buried a header to put XU up 1-0 in the second half. The opportunity came after a near-miss by Samson Sergi from about 18 yards out.
63' | Tied 1-1 | Andres Arcila scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season for SHU, tying the match with a long arched shot from the top of the box on a free kick opportunity.
86' | SHU 2-1 | Marco Neves broke up the right flank after a turnover by XU and scored to the right post to give SHU a late lead.
89' | Tied 2-2 | Cory Brown sent a long volley into the box from midfield as Cam Taylor got a head on the ball, finding Buzzas right in front of the net for the equalizer
94' | Xavier 3-2 | Matt Vasquenza gathered in a rebound off a save by the SHU keeper and tapped in a shot to the near post for the golden goal.

NEXT UP

• Xavier hits the road for its final regular season match, traveling to Indianapolis, Ind. for a match against Butler on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS