Xavier University Athletics

Men's Soccer Returns Home to Face Cleveland State on Tuesday Night
09.11.17 | Men's Soccer
Musketeers meet the Vikings riding a four match unbeaten streak
CINCINNATI – Xavier men's soccer brings a four match unbeaten streak into its third home match of the year on Tuesday night, hosting Cleveland State at the XU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.
The Musketeers (3-1-1) beat Drake, Harvard and No. 22 Boston College in succession before drawing against UC on Friday in their last outing. XU hasn't lost since falling in overtime during their season opener on Friday, Aug. 25 against Loyola Chicago. During the streak, XU has scored three goals in three of four matches and posted two shutouts.
Cleveland State enters the match at 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Horizon League after defeating IUPUI on Saturday to open conference play.
vs. CLEVELAND STATE VIKINGS
Match Info: Tuesday, Sept. 12 – 7 p.m. – XU Soccer Complex
2017 Record: 2-3, 1-0 Horizon League
2016 Record: 7-8-2, 4-3-2 Horizon League
Postseason: N/A
Notable:
• Cleveland State is off to a 2-3 start this season and will already be playing its fifth road match on Tuesday night. The Vikings are 1-3 away from home this season.
• CSU won its Horizon League opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, scoring in the final minute to defeat IUPUI.
• Five different players have scored a goal for the Vikings. Junior Noah Pio leads the team with 14 shots and is tied with sophomore Gabe Pewu for the team lead in shots on goal (7).
• Sophomore Sebastian Kalk has made all five starts in goal for the Vikings, putting together a 1.60 GAA with 14 saves this season. The Vikings have yet to shutout an opponent.
• The Vikings are under the direction of a new head coach, Kirk Harwat, who was elevated to the top spot for the 2017 season after five years as an assistant with CSU.
• Cleveland State leads the all-time series against XU, 9-1, but the two sides have met just three times (2003, 2004, 2016) since 1994.
• XU won last year's meeting 1-0 on Oct. 4 in Cleveland, Ohio, getting the eventual game-winner on a header by Cory Brown in the 19th minute.
• Xavier trailed for the second straight match, coming from behind to equalize in the 85th minute and earn a 1-1 draw against Cincinnati.
• The match was played before a record crowd of 2,013 at UC's Gettler Stadium.
• XU allowed a restart goal in the 57th minute to trail midway through the second half, but Cam Taylor found the equalizer late to force overtime.
• Taylor's goal was his third of the season. He was assisted by Jacob Goodall, who was credited with his fourth assist of the year (tying him for the team lead with Josh Grant).
• The result was the first tie in the series since 2011. XU is now 5-0-3 against the Bearcats since 2010.
• XU moved its record to 2-0-1 on the road this season.
• Josh Grant, Matt Vasquenza, Simen Hestnes and Samson Sergi went without points for the first time in four matches. The quartet had supplied at least a point in each of the previous three matches.
• Xavier was held to just one goal and is now 0-1-1 when scoring just once this season. The Musketeers have scored three goals in all three of their wins.
• Xavier has outscored its opposition 11-5 this season, holding a 80-51 edge in shots and a 48-16 advantage in corner kicks. XU also has a 35-17 edge in shots on goal against its opposition.
• XU ranks among the top teams in the nation in several offensive categories, including: assists per game (7th, 2.80), corner kicks per game (2nd, 9.60), points per game (11th, 7.20), shots per game (13th, 16.00), shots on goal per game (19th, 7.00), total assists (7th, 14), total goals (17th, 11) and total points (13th, 36).
• Individually, Jacob Goodall and Josh Grant rank eighth in the NCAA in assists per game (0.80) and total assists (4).
• XU tied its longest winning streak from 2016 with three straight victories in the last two weeks. XU's last four-match win streak was Oct. 17-31, 2015.
• XU's four match unbeaten streak is tied for its longest since Oct. 4-15, 2016. The Musketeers' last five match unbeaten streak was Oct. 14-31, 2015.
• The Musketeers have outshot or taken as many shots as their opponent in all five matches this season.
• Six different Musketeers have recorded an assist in the first five matches of the season.
• Four XU players already have two goals this season (Matt Vasquenza, Cam Taylor, Samson Sergi, Simen Hestnes).
• Josh Grant and Jacob Goodall are tied for the team lead with four assists. Both lead the BIG EAST and are among the national leaders in assists and assists per game.
• Newcomer Simen Hestnes leads Xavier with eight points (3g, 2a), including three goals in his last three matches.
• Samson Sergi has goals in three of XU's last four matches.
• Simen Hestnes has goals in two of XU's last three matches.
• Josh Grant has assists in three of XU's last four matches.
• XU is 2-0-1 on the road this season with wins at Harvard and No. 22 Boston College, both coming last weekend.
• Senior forward Matt Vasquenza has been one of the team's go-to scorers throughout his career and is starting to make his mark in the program's all-time record book.
• Vasquenza currently has 53 points and sits just outside the all-time top-10, needing just a goal to tie Martin Hernandez (12th, 55).
• Vasquenza needs four goals to get into the top-10 in career tallies. He currently has 19, trailing Charlie Combs (10th, 23).
• His second assist at Harvard (9/1) moved him into a tie for 10th all-time at Xavier.
XU MEN'S SOCCER INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS
Points
Goals
Assists
Senior defender Cory Brown, a native of Nelson, New Zealand, has collected an impressive list of awards during the preseason:
BROWN'S 2017 PRESEASON HONORS
• MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
• Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (second straight season)
• Unanimous selection to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
• Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Second Team
• College Soccer News Preseason All-America Second Team
• No. 13 on Top Drawer Soccer list of best players in college soccer
• Xavier has bounced back after losses consistently under head coach Andy Fleming, including this year's 3-0 win over Drake.
• Since 2010, XU has compiled a record of 21-10-4 (.657) after a loss.
• Xavier ended the 2017 preseason with a 1-1-1 record, including a 3-0 win over Marian (Ind.) and a 1-1 draw against ACC foe Duke.
• In the result against Duke, XU outshot the Blue Devils 15-6 and had a 12-5 edge in corners.
• Matt Vasquenza scored goals in all three preseason games after scoring in each of the Musketeers' spring matches as well, giving him a goal in nine straight exhibitions.
• Xavier returns 19 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's team, including its leading scorer in Matt Vasquenza and top defender in Cory Brown.
• The roster consists of eight freshmen, 10 sophomores, seven juniors and four seniors. 10 of those players are newcomers to the roster, including transfers Sean Wilson (UNC) and Simen Hestnes (LIU Brooklyn).
• XU's leading scorer in 2016, Matt Vasquenza brings back 17 career goals and should reach the top-10 in program history with another productive season.
• XU's typically-balanced offense saw 11 players record an assist or score a goal last season. Seven players who contributed points last season return to this year's roster, although senior Matt Nance (3g, 4a) will miss the season with an injury.
• The senior class of Cory Brown, Matt Vasquenza, Matt Nance and Josh Grant have led the team to a 35-20-6 (.623) record since 2014.
• The Musketeers bring back 59.3 percent (16-of-27) of their scoring and 59.8 percent (52-of-87) of their points.
• Midfielders Jalen Brown and Majed Osman departed after combining for 107 shots and eight goals last season. Both offensive weapons made 19 starts and leave big shoes to fill in the Musketeer midfield.
• Another midfielder, Walker Andriot, transferred to Louisville for his final season of eligibility after contributing a goal and three assists in 19 starts last season.
• Longtime stalwart Todd Pratzner graduated after making 70 career starts at center back for XU.
• In addition to player turnover, XU has an entirely new look on the sidelines with David Costa, Kevin Reiman and Jamie Starr all new additions to the coaching staff. Starr returns to XU as goalkeepers coach after spending over a year with the USL club FC Cincinnati.
1. Providence (9) – 81 pts.
2. Creighton (1) – 70
3. Butler – 68
4. Villanova – 52
5. Georgetown – 46
6. Xavier – 45
7. Marquette – 30
8. St. John's – 27
9. DePaul – 21
10. Seton Hall – 10
First place votes in ( )
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Mac Steeves, Providence, RS-Sr., F *
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Cory Brown, Xavier, Sr., D *
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Jr. *
2017 Men's Soccer Preseason All-BIG EAST #
Ricky Lopez-Espin, Creighton, Sr., F
Mac Steeves, Providence, RS-Sr., F
Harry Cooksley, St. John's, So., F ^
Lewis Suddick, Butler, So., M
Jared Timmer, Butler, Jr., M
Christopher Lema, Georgetown, Sr., M
Luka Prpa, Marquette, So., M
Andreas Bartosinksi, Villanova, Sr., M
Lucas Stauffer, Creighton, Jr., D
Mark Jecewiz, Providence, RS-Jr., D
Cory Brown, Xavier, Sr., D ^
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Jr., GK
• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last seven seasons.
• The Musketeers have won 10 or more matches in six of the last seven seasons.
• Xavier is the only program in the nation with five consecutive major conference awards, including 2016 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Cory Brown.
• XU has qualified for four consecutive BIG EAST Championships, including a trip to the title game in 2014.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last five years. by the NSCAA.
• In 2015, XU knocked off 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.
• Three XU players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the last six years, including 2017 second rounder Jalen Brown (38th overall).
The Musketeers (3-1-1) beat Drake, Harvard and No. 22 Boston College in succession before drawing against UC on Friday in their last outing. XU hasn't lost since falling in overtime during their season opener on Friday, Aug. 25 against Loyola Chicago. During the streak, XU has scored three goals in three of four matches and posted two shutouts.
Cleveland State enters the match at 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the Horizon League after defeating IUPUI on Saturday to open conference play.
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THE OPPONENT |

Match Info: Tuesday, Sept. 12 – 7 p.m. – XU Soccer Complex
2017 Record: 2-3, 1-0 Horizon League
2016 Record: 7-8-2, 4-3-2 Horizon League
Postseason: N/A
Notable:
• Cleveland State is off to a 2-3 start this season and will already be playing its fifth road match on Tuesday night. The Vikings are 1-3 away from home this season.
• CSU won its Horizon League opener on Saturday, Sept. 9, scoring in the final minute to defeat IUPUI.
• Five different players have scored a goal for the Vikings. Junior Noah Pio leads the team with 14 shots and is tied with sophomore Gabe Pewu for the team lead in shots on goal (7).
• Sophomore Sebastian Kalk has made all five starts in goal for the Vikings, putting together a 1.60 GAA with 14 saves this season. The Vikings have yet to shutout an opponent.
• The Vikings are under the direction of a new head coach, Kirk Harwat, who was elevated to the top spot for the 2017 season after five years as an assistant with CSU.
• Cleveland State leads the all-time series against XU, 9-1, but the two sides have met just three times (2003, 2004, 2016) since 1994.
• XU won last year's meeting 1-0 on Oct. 4 in Cleveland, Ohio, getting the eventual game-winner on a header by Cory Brown in the 19th minute.
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LAST TIME OUT |
• Xavier trailed for the second straight match, coming from behind to equalize in the 85th minute and earn a 1-1 draw against Cincinnati.
• The match was played before a record crowd of 2,013 at UC's Gettler Stadium.
• XU allowed a restart goal in the 57th minute to trail midway through the second half, but Cam Taylor found the equalizer late to force overtime.
• Taylor's goal was his third of the season. He was assisted by Jacob Goodall, who was credited with his fourth assist of the year (tying him for the team lead with Josh Grant).
• The result was the first tie in the series since 2011. XU is now 5-0-3 against the Bearcats since 2010.
• XU moved its record to 2-0-1 on the road this season.
• Josh Grant, Matt Vasquenza, Simen Hestnes and Samson Sergi went without points for the first time in four matches. The quartet had supplied at least a point in each of the previous three matches.
• Xavier was held to just one goal and is now 0-1-1 when scoring just once this season. The Musketeers have scored three goals in all three of their wins.
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XAVIER WHEN... |
WHEN | RECORD |
Outshooting Opponent | 3-1-1 |
Shots Even | 1-0-0 |
Outshot | 0-0-0 |
After A Win | 2-0-1 |
After A Loss | 1-0-0 |
Scoring 1 Goal | 0-1-1 |
Scoring 2 Goals | 0-0-0 |
Scoring 3 Goals | 3-0-0 |
Scoring 4 Goals | 0-0-0 |
Taking More Corners Than Opponent | 3-1-1 |
Taking Less Corners Than Opponent | 0-0-0 |
Leading At Half | 2-1-0 |
Trailing At Half | 1-0-0 |
Tied At Half | 0-0-1 |
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MULTI-POINT MATCHES |
DATE | OPPONENT | PLAYER | POINTS |
Aug. 27 | Drake | Josh Grant | 2 (2 A) |
Aug. 27 | Drake | Jacob Goodall | 2 (2 A) |
Sept. 1 | at Harvard | Simen Hestnes | 4 (2 G) |
Sept. 1 | at Harvard | Matt Vasquenza | 2 (2 A) |
Sept. 4 | at Boston College | Simen Hestnes | 3 (1 G, 1 A) |
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SHUTOUTS |
DATE | OPPONENT | GOALKEEPER | SCORE | SHOTS ALLOWED/SAVES |
Aug. 27 | Drake | Nelson (1) | 3-0 | 5/1 |
Sept. 1 | at Harvard | Nelson (2) | 3-0 | 7/3 |
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NOTABLE |
• Xavier has outscored its opposition 11-5 this season, holding a 80-51 edge in shots and a 48-16 advantage in corner kicks. XU also has a 35-17 edge in shots on goal against its opposition.
• XU ranks among the top teams in the nation in several offensive categories, including: assists per game (7th, 2.80), corner kicks per game (2nd, 9.60), points per game (11th, 7.20), shots per game (13th, 16.00), shots on goal per game (19th, 7.00), total assists (7th, 14), total goals (17th, 11) and total points (13th, 36).
• Individually, Jacob Goodall and Josh Grant rank eighth in the NCAA in assists per game (0.80) and total assists (4).
• XU tied its longest winning streak from 2016 with three straight victories in the last two weeks. XU's last four-match win streak was Oct. 17-31, 2015.
• XU's four match unbeaten streak is tied for its longest since Oct. 4-15, 2016. The Musketeers' last five match unbeaten streak was Oct. 14-31, 2015.
• The Musketeers have outshot or taken as many shots as their opponent in all five matches this season.
• Six different Musketeers have recorded an assist in the first five matches of the season.
• Four XU players already have two goals this season (Matt Vasquenza, Cam Taylor, Samson Sergi, Simen Hestnes).
• Josh Grant and Jacob Goodall are tied for the team lead with four assists. Both lead the BIG EAST and are among the national leaders in assists and assists per game.
• Newcomer Simen Hestnes leads Xavier with eight points (3g, 2a), including three goals in his last three matches.
• Samson Sergi has goals in three of XU's last four matches.
• Simen Hestnes has goals in two of XU's last three matches.
• Josh Grant has assists in three of XU's last four matches.
• XU is 2-0-1 on the road this season with wins at Harvard and No. 22 Boston College, both coming last weekend.
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VASQUENZA MAKES HIS MARK |
• Senior forward Matt Vasquenza has been one of the team's go-to scorers throughout his career and is starting to make his mark in the program's all-time record book.
• Vasquenza currently has 53 points and sits just outside the all-time top-10, needing just a goal to tie Martin Hernandez (12th, 55).
• Vasquenza needs four goals to get into the top-10 in career tallies. He currently has 19, trailing Charlie Combs (10th, 23).
• His second assist at Harvard (9/1) moved him into a tie for 10th all-time at Xavier.
XU MEN'S SOCCER INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS
Points
# | Name | Years | Points |
1. | Doug Tegge | 1991-94 | 129 |
2. | Tom Holton | 1988-91 | 108 |
3. | Luke Spencer | 2009-12 | 79 |
4. | Maurice Schilten | 1994-95 | 76 |
Matt Walker | 2010-13 | 76 | |
6. | Koen Kuiken | 1997-00 | 71 |
7. | Jim Sandmann | 1972-82 | 69 |
8. | Josh Hammerschmidt | 1997-00 | 67 |
9. | Charlie Combs | 1991-94 | 64 |
10. | Will Walker | 2011-14 | 59 |
11. | Mike Mossel | 1992-93 | 58 |
12. | Martin Hernandez | 1984-87 | 55 |
13. | Matt Vasquenza | 2014-Present | 53 |
Goals
# | Name | Years | Goals |
1. | Doug Tegge | 1991-94 | 51 |
2. | Tom Holton | 1988-91 | 49 |
3. | Koen Kuiken | 1997-00 | 30 |
4. | Jim Sandman | 1972-82 | 29 |
Luke Spencer | 2009-12 | 29 | |
6. | Maurice Schilten | 1994-95 | 26 |
Matt Walker | 2010-13 | 26 | |
8. | Mike Mossel | 1992-93 | 25 |
9. | Vladimir Ciric | 1995-96 | 24 |
10. | Charlie Combs | 1991-94 | 23 |
-- | Matt Vasquenza | 2014-Present | 19 |
Assists
# | Name | Years | Assists |
1. | Josh Hammerschmidt | 1997-00 | 29 |
2. | Doug Tegge | 1991-94 | 27 |
3. | Maurice Schildten | 1994-95 | 24 |
Matt Walker | 2010-13 | 24 | |
5. | Will Walker | 2011-14 | 23 |
6. | Luke Spencer | 2009-12 | 21 |
7. | Rob Bakker | 1998-01 | 19 |
8. | Charlie Combs | 1991-94 | 18 |
9. | John McVey | 1979-81 | 17 |
10. | David Spaccarelli | 1997-98 | 15 |
Martin Hernandez | 1984-87 | 15 | |
Matt Vasquenza | 2014-Present | 15 |
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CORY COLLECTS ACCOLADES |
Senior defender Cory Brown, a native of Nelson, New Zealand, has collected an impressive list of awards during the preseason:
BROWN'S 2017 PRESEASON HONORS
• MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List
• Preseason BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (second straight season)
• Unanimous selection to Preseason All-BIG EAST Team
• Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Second Team
• College Soccer News Preseason All-America Second Team
• No. 13 on Top Drawer Soccer list of best players in college soccer
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BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS |
NAME | AWARD (DATE) | RELEASE |
Cam Taylor | BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (8/28) | Link |
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GETTING UP OFF THE MAT |
• Xavier has bounced back after losses consistently under head coach Andy Fleming, including this year's 3-0 win over Drake.
• Since 2010, XU has compiled a record of 21-10-4 (.657) after a loss.
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PRESEASON WRAP-UP |
• Xavier ended the 2017 preseason with a 1-1-1 record, including a 3-0 win over Marian (Ind.) and a 1-1 draw against ACC foe Duke.
• In the result against Duke, XU outshot the Blue Devils 15-6 and had a 12-5 edge in corners.
• Matt Vasquenza scored goals in all three preseason games after scoring in each of the Musketeers' spring matches as well, giving him a goal in nine straight exhibitions.
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WHAT'S BACK |
• Xavier returns 19 letterwinners and seven starters from last season's team, including its leading scorer in Matt Vasquenza and top defender in Cory Brown.
• The roster consists of eight freshmen, 10 sophomores, seven juniors and four seniors. 10 of those players are newcomers to the roster, including transfers Sean Wilson (UNC) and Simen Hestnes (LIU Brooklyn).
• XU's leading scorer in 2016, Matt Vasquenza brings back 17 career goals and should reach the top-10 in program history with another productive season.
• XU's typically-balanced offense saw 11 players record an assist or score a goal last season. Seven players who contributed points last season return to this year's roster, although senior Matt Nance (3g, 4a) will miss the season with an injury.
• The senior class of Cory Brown, Matt Vasquenza, Matt Nance and Josh Grant have led the team to a 35-20-6 (.623) record since 2014.
• The Musketeers bring back 59.3 percent (16-of-27) of their scoring and 59.8 percent (52-of-87) of their points.
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HOLES TO FILL |
• Midfielders Jalen Brown and Majed Osman departed after combining for 107 shots and eight goals last season. Both offensive weapons made 19 starts and leave big shoes to fill in the Musketeer midfield.
• Another midfielder, Walker Andriot, transferred to Louisville for his final season of eligibility after contributing a goal and three assists in 19 starts last season.
• Longtime stalwart Todd Pratzner graduated after making 70 career starts at center back for XU.
• In addition to player turnover, XU has an entirely new look on the sidelines with David Costa, Kevin Reiman and Jamie Starr all new additions to the coaching staff. Starr returns to XU as goalkeepers coach after spending over a year with the USL club FC Cincinnati.
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BIG EAST PRESEASON POLL |
1. Providence (9) – 81 pts.
2. Creighton (1) – 70
3. Butler – 68
4. Villanova – 52
5. Georgetown – 46
6. Xavier – 45
7. Marquette – 30
8. St. John's – 27
9. DePaul – 21
10. Seton Hall – 10
First place votes in ( )
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BIG EAST PRESEASON HONORS |
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Mac Steeves, Providence, RS-Sr., F *
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Cory Brown, Xavier, Sr., D *
Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Jr. *
2017 Men's Soccer Preseason All-BIG EAST #
Ricky Lopez-Espin, Creighton, Sr., F
Mac Steeves, Providence, RS-Sr., F
Harry Cooksley, St. John's, So., F ^
Lewis Suddick, Butler, So., M
Jared Timmer, Butler, Jr., M
Christopher Lema, Georgetown, Sr., M
Luka Prpa, Marquette, So., M
Andreas Bartosinksi, Villanova, Sr., M
Lucas Stauffer, Creighton, Jr., D
Mark Jecewiz, Providence, RS-Jr., D
Cory Brown, Xavier, Sr., D ^
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Jr., GK
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AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE |
• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last seven seasons.
• The Musketeers have won 10 or more matches in six of the last seven seasons.
• Xavier is the only program in the nation with five consecutive major conference awards, including 2016 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Cory Brown.
• XU has qualified for four consecutive BIG EAST Championships, including a trip to the title game in 2014.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last five years. by the NSCAA.
• In 2015, XU knocked off 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.
• Three XU players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the last six years, including 2017 second rounder Jalen Brown (38th overall).
Players Mentioned
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