Xavier University Athletics
Saturday, September 30
XU Soccer Complex
7 PM
Xavier University
vs
Providence
Men's Soccer Returns Home for BIG EAST Matchup Against Providence
09.25.17 | Men's Soccer
Musketeers off to 1-1 start in league play, unbeaten in seven of eight matches overall
CINCINNATI – Unbeaten in seven of eight, but coming off a disappointing road loss last Saturday, Xavier men's soccer returns home looking for a rebound performance against league rival Providence. First touch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at XU Soccer Complex.
The Musketeers (5-2-2) saw their longest unbeaten streak since 2014 snapped at seven straight matches at St. John's on Saturday, but were coming off a grueling stretch that included back-to-back results against Top 15 opponents.
The loss came on the heels of a 1-0 overtime win over No. 9 Georgetown and a road draw against No. 15 Kentucky.
vs. PROVIDENCE FRIARS
Match Info: Saturday, Sept. 30 – 7 p.m. – XU Soccer Complex
2017 Record: 2-6-1, 0-1-1 BIG EAST Conference
2016 Record: 15-7, 7-2 BIG EAST Conference
Postseason: BIG EAST Semifinals, NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
Notable:
• Picked to win the BIG EAST, the Friars are off to a 0-1-1 start in league play. PC tied DePaul, 0-0, and lost to Butler at home, 1-0, in its first two league matches.
• After a 2-2 start, PC enters Saturday on a three-match slide and is 0-4-1 in its last five.
• The Friars have been to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals twice in the last three years and won three NCAA matches last year before falling 1-0 in double overtime to UNC.
• Providence leads the all-time series 3-1-1 with all five meetings coming since the two schools joined the BIG EAST in 2013.
• BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Colin Miller returns for Providence in addition to four other all-league honorees. Mac Steeves, one of the top scorers in the league, and Dominik Machado, a 2016 All-BIG EAST preseason selection, are also back after missing the 2016 season with injuries.
• PC and XU met in the 2014 BIG EAST Championship match during memorable seasons for both sides. Providence won the match 2-1 en route to its first-ever appearance in the College Cup, while XU was awarded an at-large bid and advanced to its first-ever Sweet 16.
MEN'S SOCCER ALUMNI REUNION: Former men's soccer student-athletes are invited for a reunion and recognition of the 5-year anniversary of the 2012 NCAA team. XU will also be honoring members of the 1992 MCC Championship team prior to the match.
CINCINNATI CHAPTER ALUMNI EVENT: Pre-game tailgate in the parking lot with free food for alumni that register in advance. More information will be sent to the Cincinnati Chapter Alumni.
FACULTY/STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT: Xavier faculty/staff can receive up to 4 complimentary tickets and participate in the alumni chapter tailgate.
POST-GAME PENALTY KICKS: Kids 8th grade & under can participate in penalty kicks on the field following the game.
(NEW!) STUDENT GIVEAWAY: The first 250 students in attendance will receive a Xavier soccer t-shirt.
• With a 1-1 record in 2017, Xavier is now 22-12-4 (.632) in BIG EAST play since joining the conference ahead of the 2013 season.
• The Musketeers have never finished below fifth-place or missed qualifying for the BIG EAST Championships.
• Xavier has reached the league semifinals in 2013 and 2015, while also appearing in the 2014 title match against Providence. Last season, XU was eliminated in the quarterfinal round at Creighton.
• Xavier has faced 26 United Soccer Coaches-ranked opponents in the last seven years.
• Since 2010, Xavier boasts an 11-10-5 overall record against USC ranked opposition, including wins against No. 22 Boston College and No. 9 Georgetown as well as a draw at No. 15 Kentucky this season.
• The Musketeers are also an incredible 7-2-1 against the Top-10 in that time frame, including wins at No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Creighton last fall. In 2014, the Musketeers claimed victories against No. 5 Indiana and No. 8 Georgetown on the way to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth.
*National statistic rankings current as of 9/26*
• No. RV/19 Xavier saw a seven match unbeaten streak snapped at St. John's on Saturday, falling 3-0 at Belson Stadium.
• Xavier was held scoreless for the first time this season and moves to 2-1-2 on the road this season.
• It was the first shutout against XU in 13 matches, dating back to Oct. 18, 2016. Including exhibitions and spring games, it was the first time in 21 matches the Musketeers have been held scoreless.
• XU's unbeaten streak of seven straight was snapped. It was the longest for the Musketeers since a nine-game spurt in 2014.
• The loss snapped a four match unbeaten streak against the Red Storm. XU still holds a 3-2-1 edge in the all-time series.
• The Musketeers held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
• Curtis Hansford received a red card in the 34th minute, forcing XU to play down a man while already trailing in the match.
• The red card was the first since 2015 for Xavier.
• Xavier has outscored its opposition 15-10 this season, holding a 116-99 edge in shots and a 66-24 advantage in corner kicks. XU also has a 46-34 edge in shots on goal against its opposition.
• XU's recent seven match unbeaten streak was its longest since a nine-match spurt from 9/20-10/29, 2014.
• The Musketeers have been outshot just three times this season, two of those times coming against Top 15 opponents.
• Six different Musketeers have recorded an assist this season while four XU players already have two goals (Matt Vasquenza, Cam Taylor, Samson Sergi, Simen Hestnes).
• Newcomer Simen Hestnes leads Xavier with 11 points (3g, 5a).
• Samson Sergi has goals in five of XU's last eight matches.
• 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.
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 (5-2-2) saw their longest unbeaten streak since 2014 snapped at seven straight matches at St. John's on Saturday, but were coming off a grueling stretch that included back-to-back results against Top 15 opponents.
The loss came on the heels of a 1-0 overtime win over No. 9 Georgetown and a road draw against No. 15 Kentucky.
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THE OPPONENT |
vs. PROVIDENCE FRIARSMatch Info: Saturday, Sept. 30 – 7 p.m. – XU Soccer Complex
2017 Record: 2-6-1, 0-1-1 BIG EAST Conference
2016 Record: 15-7, 7-2 BIG EAST Conference
Postseason: BIG EAST Semifinals, NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals
Notable:
• Picked to win the BIG EAST, the Friars are off to a 0-1-1 start in league play. PC tied DePaul, 0-0, and lost to Butler at home, 1-0, in its first two league matches.
• After a 2-2 start, PC enters Saturday on a three-match slide and is 0-4-1 in its last five.
• The Friars have been to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals twice in the last three years and won three NCAA matches last year before falling 1-0 in double overtime to UNC.
• Providence leads the all-time series 3-1-1 with all five meetings coming since the two schools joined the BIG EAST in 2013.
• BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Colin Miller returns for Providence in addition to four other all-league honorees. Mac Steeves, one of the top scorers in the league, and Dominik Machado, a 2016 All-BIG EAST preseason selection, are also back after missing the 2016 season with injuries.
• PC and XU met in the 2014 BIG EAST Championship match during memorable seasons for both sides. Providence won the match 2-1 en route to its first-ever appearance in the College Cup, while XU was awarded an at-large bid and advanced to its first-ever Sweet 16.
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PROMOTIONS |
MEN'S SOCCER ALUMNI REUNION: Former men's soccer student-athletes are invited for a reunion and recognition of the 5-year anniversary of the 2012 NCAA team. XU will also be honoring members of the 1992 MCC Championship team prior to the match.
CINCINNATI CHAPTER ALUMNI EVENT: Pre-game tailgate in the parking lot with free food for alumni that register in advance. More information will be sent to the Cincinnati Chapter Alumni.
FACULTY/STAFF APPRECIATION NIGHT: Xavier faculty/staff can receive up to 4 complimentary tickets and participate in the alumni chapter tailgate.
POST-GAME PENALTY KICKS: Kids 8th grade & under can participate in penalty kicks on the field following the game.
(NEW!) STUDENT GIVEAWAY: The first 250 students in attendance will receive a Xavier soccer t-shirt.
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BIG (EAST) SUCCESS |
• With a 1-1 record in 2017, Xavier is now 22-12-4 (.632) in BIG EAST play since joining the conference ahead of the 2013 season.
• The Musketeers have never finished below fifth-place or missed qualifying for the BIG EAST Championships.
• Xavier has reached the league semifinals in 2013 and 2015, while also appearing in the 2014 title match against Providence. Last season, XU was eliminated in the quarterfinal round at Creighton.
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XAVIER AGAINST THE BEST |
• Xavier has faced 26 United Soccer Coaches-ranked opponents in the last seven years.
• Since 2010, Xavier boasts an 11-10-5 overall record against USC ranked opposition, including wins against No. 22 Boston College and No. 9 Georgetown as well as a draw at No. 15 Kentucky this season.
• The Musketeers are also an incredible 7-2-1 against the Top-10 in that time frame, including wins at No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Creighton last fall. In 2014, the Musketeers claimed victories against No. 5 Indiana and No. 8 Georgetown on the way to the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 berth.
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KEY STATS |
| STAT | XU | PC |
| Goals | 15 | 10 |
| Goals Allowed | 10 | 15 |
| Goals Per Game | 1.67 | 1.11 |
| Shots On Goal | 46 | 55 |
| Shots Per Game | 12.9 | 12.0 |
| Shots Allowed Per Game | 11.0 | 13.6 |
| Assists | 17 | 11 |
| Corner Kicks | 66 | 54 |
| Corner Kicks Allowed | 24 | 58 |
| Penalty Kicks | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Yellow Cards | 9 | 10 |
| Red Cards | 1 | 1 |
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XU IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS |
*National statistic rankings current as of 9/26*
TEAM
| STAT | RANK | # |
| Assists Per Game | 26 | 1.89 |
| Corner Kicks Per Game | 6 | 7.33 |
| Points Per Game | 39 | 5.22 |
| Scoring Offense | 47 | 1.67 |
| Shots Per Game | 62 | 12.89 |
| Shots On Goal Per Game | 92 | 5.11 |
| Total Assists | 15 | 17 |
| Total Goals | 33 | 15 |
| Total Points | 31 | 47 |
| W-L-T % | 47 | .667 |
INDIVIDUAL
| NAME | STAT | RANK | # |
| Simen Hestnes | Assists Per Game | 25 | 0.56 |
| Josh Grant | Assists Per Game | 21 | 0.57 |
| Jacob Goodall | Assists Per Game | 53 | 0.44 |
| Cameron Taylor | Game Winning Goals | 38 | 2 |
| Zach Nelson | Goalie Minutes Played | 16 | 869:38 |
| Zach Nelson | Goals Against Average | 78 | 1.04 |
| Zach Nelson | Total Shutouts | 40 | 3 |
| Jacob Goodall | Total Assists | 30 | 4 |
| Josh Grant | Total Assists | 30 | 4 |
| Simen Hestnes | Total Assists | 13 | 5 |
| Cameron Taylor | Total Goals | 72 | 4 |
| Samson Sergi | Total Goals | 38 | 5 |
| Simen Hestnes | Total Points | 66 | 11 |
| Samson Sergi | Total Points | 83 | 10 |
| Cameron Taylor | Total Points | 107 | 9 |
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LAST TIME OUT |
• No. RV/19 Xavier saw a seven match unbeaten streak snapped at St. John's on Saturday, falling 3-0 at Belson Stadium.
• Xavier was held scoreless for the first time this season and moves to 2-1-2 on the road this season.
• It was the first shutout against XU in 13 matches, dating back to Oct. 18, 2016. Including exhibitions and spring games, it was the first time in 21 matches the Musketeers have been held scoreless.
• XU's unbeaten streak of seven straight was snapped. It was the longest for the Musketeers since a nine-game spurt in 2014.
• The loss snapped a four match unbeaten streak against the Red Storm. XU still holds a 3-2-1 edge in the all-time series.
• The Musketeers held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks.
• Curtis Hansford received a red card in the 34th minute, forcing XU to play down a man while already trailing in the match.
• The red card was the first since 2015 for Xavier.
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XAVIER WHEN... |
| WHEN | RECORD |
| Outshooting Opponent | 4-1-1 |
| Shots Even | 1-0-0 |
| Outshot | 1-1-1 |
| After A Win | 3-0-2 |
| After A Loss | 1-0-0 |
| After A Tie | 1-1-0 |
| Scoring 0 Goals | 0-1-0 |
| Scoring 1 Goal | 1-1-2 |
| Scoring 2 Goals | 1-0-0 |
| Scoring 3 Goals | 3-0-0 |
| Scoring 4 Goals | 0-0-0 |
| Taking More Corners Than Opponent | 5-2-1 |
| Taking Less Corners Than Opponent | 0-0-1 |
| Leading At Half | 3-1-0 |
| Trailing At Half | 1-1-0 |
| Tied At Half | 1-0-2 |
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MULTI-GOAL/ASSIST 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 FACED/SAVES |
| Aug. 27 | Drake | Nelson (1) | 3-0 | 5/1 |
| Sept. 1 | at Harvard | Nelson (2) | 3-0 | 7/3 |
| Sept. 16 | #9 Georgetown | Nelson (3) | 1-0 (OT) | 16/3 |
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NOTABLE |
• Xavier has outscored its opposition 15-10 this season, holding a 116-99 edge in shots and a 66-24 advantage in corner kicks. XU also has a 46-34 edge in shots on goal against its opposition.
• XU's recent seven match unbeaten streak was its longest since a nine-match spurt from 9/20-10/29, 2014.
• The Musketeers have been outshot just three times this season, two of those times coming against Top 15 opponents.
• Six different Musketeers have recorded an assist this season while four XU players already have two goals (Matt Vasquenza, Cam Taylor, Samson Sergi, Simen Hestnes).
• Newcomer Simen Hestnes leads Xavier with 11 points (3g, 5a).
• Samson Sergi has goals in five of XU's last eight matches.
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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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2017 HONORS |
| NAME | BIG EAST AWARDS (Date) | RELEASE |
| Cam Taylor | BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (8/28) | Link |
| Simen Hestnes | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/11) | Link |
| Cam Taylor | BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week (9/18) | Link |
| Zach Nelson | BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (9/18) | Link |
| Samson Sergi | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/18) | Link |
| NATIONAL AWARDS (Date) | ||
| Samson Sergi | College Soccer News National Team of the Week (9/18) | Link |
| Cam Taylor | United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Week (9/19) | Link |
| Cam Taylor | NCAA Soccer National Player of the Week (9/20) | 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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/ Men's SoccerHIGHLIGHTS | Men's Soccer at Marquette
Saturday, October 04
HIGHLIGHTS | Men's Soccer vs Providence
Sunday, September 28
INTERVIEW | Coach Higgins at Northern Kentucky
Wednesday, September 24
INTERVIEW | Cooper Forcellini at Northern Kentucky
Wednesday, September 24