Six Players Honored for Men's Soccer as BIG EAST Announces Year-End Awards

NEW YORK - Six Xavier men's soccer players received year-end awards from the BIG EAST on Friday, highlighted by senior Cory Brown's third straight First Team All-BIG EAST selection.

Matt Vasquenza, Simen Hestnes and Cam Taylor were all picked for Second Team All-BIG EAST honors, while Samuel Buzzas and Zach Nelson were each named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team.

The six awards tied a program record, as XU also had six players honored in 2014. The Musketeers have had at least one player on the league's first team during all five years in the BIG EAST. Xavier was shut out of the major awards for the first time since 2012, snapping a stretch of five consecutive years with a postseason player of the year honor.

Brown, who was named preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, earned his third straight First Team All-BIG EAST selection. The Nelson, New Zealand native has started all 17 matches, playing a part in five shutouts and adding two assists from the backline.

For his career, Brown has played a part in 30 career shutouts and has been named all-conference in all four of his years on campus. Brown was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List at the beginning of the season and is widely considered to be one of the best players in college soccer.

Vasquenza was tabbed to the league's second team for the first time in his career and is tied for the XU team lead with 18 points (7g, 4a). The senior forward from East Hampton, Conn. has tallied three game-winners this season and has moved into the top-10 in program history in points, goals and assists this season.

Hestnes, a transfer from LIU Brooklyn, has made a huge impact in his first year in the Musketeer midfield. The junior earned second team honors and is tied for the team lead with 18 points (6g, 6a).

Taylor earned his first postseason league honor, being named to the second team after making 16 starts in the back four and scoring 16 points to rank third for the team (6g, 4a).

Buzzas was named to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team after making 17 starts at center back and scoring two goals, while playing a part in five shutouts. Nelson joined him on the squad after making 13 starts in goal, making 38 saves and posting a 1.32 goals against average.

XU begins the BIG EAST Championships on Saturday at 7 p.m., hosting Providence in the quarterfinal round at XU Soccer Complex.

The winner will travel to play No. 1 seed Butler on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis, Ind.

FULL LIST OF AWARDS

BIG EAST Co-Offensive Players of the Year
Brandon Guhl, Butler, So., F
Ricky Lopez-Espin, Creighton, Sr., F

BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year
Harry Cooksley, St. John's, Sr., M

BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
David Enstrom, St. John's, Sr., D

BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year
Eric Dick, Butler, RS-Sr.

BIG EAST Freshman of the Year
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Fr., F

BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year
Butler (Head Coach Paul Snape)

All-BIG EAST First Team
Brandon Guhl, Butler, So., F *
Ricky Lopez-Espin, Creighton, Sr., F *
Mac Steeves, Providence, RS-Sr., F
Harry Cooksley, St. John's, Sr., M
Christopher Lema, Georgetown, Sr., M
Lewis Suddick, Butler, So., M
Cory Brown, Xavier, Sr., D
David Enstrom, St. John's, Sr., D
Brendan McDonough, Georgetown, Jr., D
Lucas Stauffer, Creighton, Sr., D
Eric Dick, Butler, RS-Sr., GK

All-BIG EAST Second Team
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Fr., F
Declan McCabe, Georgetown, Sr., F
Matt Vasquenza, Xavier, Sr., F
Andres Arcila, Seton Hall, Jr., M
Noah Franke, Creighton, Sr., M
Simen Hestnes, Xavier, Jr., M
Luka Prpa, Marquette, So., M
Shane Bradley, Villanova, So., D
Joe Moulden, Butler, Jr., D
Cameron Taylor, Xavier, RS-Jr., D
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Jr., GK

BIG EAST All-Freshman Team
Kuba Polat, Creighton, Fr., M *
Istvan Wilhelms, DePaul, Fr., M
Derek Dodson, Georgetown, Fr., F *
Jacob Montes, Georgetown, Fr., M *
Sean O'Hearn, Georgetown, Fr., D
Manuel Cukaj, Marquette, Fr., D
Matt DePerro, Providence, RS-Fr., F
Jack Shearer, St. John's, Fr., F *
Theo Quartey, Villanova, Fr., M
Samuel Buzzas, Xavier, RS-Fr., D
Zach Nelson, Xavier, RS-Fr., GK

* - denotes unanimous selection

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