Xavier University Athletics
Tuesday, October 2
XU Soccer Complex
7 PM
Xavier University
vs
Santa Clara
Men's Soccer Returns Home for Non-Conference Showdown with Santa Clara
10.01.18 | Men's Soccer
CINCINNATI - Xavier men's soccer looks to return to form at home after suffering back-to-back road setbacks last week, hosting Santa Clara in a non-conference showdown on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Xavier Soccer Complex.
The consecutive losses came on the heels of a seven match unbeaten streak to start the season, which had Xavier unanimously in the national polls for the first time this season.
Xavier is now 3-2-4 (1-1-1 BIG EAST) with another home match coming up on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Villanova.
Santa Clara (4-5) enters Tuesday night on a roll, winning its last three matches after a 1-5 start. The stretch has included road wins over Cal Poly and Georgia State, as well as a 3-2 overtime win at home against Cal.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOGO NIGHT: The team's social media accounts with post a BOGO graphic on match day and fans that retweet, repost or share the graphic with receive a FREE ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. Simply show the staff at the ticket tent your post to receive the offer.
vs. SANTA CLARA BRONCOS
Match Info: Tuesday, Oct. 2 – 7 p.m. – XU Soccer Complex
2018 Record: 4-5, 0-0 West Coast Conference
2017 Record: 3-13-1, 3-3-1 West Coast Conference
Postseason: N/A
Notable:
• The Broncos enter Tuesday riding a three-match win streak after a 1-5 start. Santa Clara has road wins at Cal Poly and Georgia State in the last two weeks and also picked up a 3-2 overtime win over Cal last Saturday.
• Santa Clara struggled early last season, but went 3-4-1 in its last eight matches and will look to build on that in 2018.
• The Broncos lead the all-time series 1-0 with the only meeting coming way back in 1998.
• Xavier lost 2-0 at Providence, dropping the Musketeers to 1-1-1 to start BIG EAST play.
• Providence took control of the all-time series, 4-3-1, with all of the matchups coming since XU joined the league.
• Xavier was held scoreless for the fourth time in nine matches.
• The two sides were even in shot attempts at 10-10, but Providence held a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
• Xavier held a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks.
• Zachary Miller made three saves in goal.
• Samson Sergi took a match-high five shots.
• After nine matches, Xavier ranks 31st in the nation in shutout percentage (.444) and 69th in team goals against average (1.032).
• XU also ranks 26th nationally in shots per game (14.44) and tied for 60th nationally in shots on goal per match (5.56).
• XU's goal differential for the year is 14-10 and the Musketeers are outshooting their opposition 130-98. XU also holds a 50-49 edge in shots on goal.
• The Musketeers hold a 51-42 edge in corner kicks against their opposition this season.
• Xavier began the season unbeaten in seven matches (3-0-4) for the first time since a program record 14-match unbeaten streak to start the 2012 season.
• Balanced offense has become a hallmark for Xavier and the team already has eight different players with an assist this season as well as nine different goal scorers.
• Head coach Andy Fleming moved to 95-50-28 (.630) with a loss on Saturday and is five wins from 100 in his career.
• Xavier was ranked in all three national polls for the first time this fall on Sept. 25, checking in at No. 20 in the College Soccer News Top 30 and No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. Xavier was rated the highest in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 25, ranking 18th overall.
• The Musketeers have received votes in the coaches poll in five of seven weeks.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last six years by the United Soccer Coaches.
• The Musketeers have been nationally-ranked in at least one major college soccer poll (United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News, Soccer America) in every season since 2011.
• XU is 0-1 after a loss in 2018, but has bounced back after losses consistently under head coach Andy Fleming compiling a record of 24-12-4 (.650) after a loss.
• With a 1-1-1 record in 2018, Xavier is now 27-16-5 (.615) 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 in five seasons in the league.
• Xavier has reached the league semifinals twice (2013, 2015) and has appeared in the title game twice (2014, 2017). Xavier was defeated in the quarterfinals at Creighton in 2016.
• Xavier is currently riding a 12-match unbeaten streak at home, including a 2-0-2 mark in 2018.
• The Musketeers' last loss at XU Soccer Complex came on Friday, August 25 against Loyola Chicago in the 2017 season opener.
• The Musketeers are 16-3-4 (.783) at home since the start of the 2016 season.
• Xavier is 56-16-9 (.747) at Xavier Soccer Complex since Andy Fleming took over the program in 2010.
• Senior midfielder Simen Hestnes is off to fast-paced start in 2018, leading Xavier with 13 points (4g, 5a) in nine matches. He has one assist in each of Xavier's last three matches.
• Hestnes ranks tied for 51st nationally with 1.44 points per match. His four goals rank tied for 88th nationally, while his 13 points rank 49th.
• Hestnes scored or assisted in all three goals during XU's 3-1 win over rival Cincinnati in the "Crosstown Derby" on Friday, Sept. 7.
• Hestnes began the season with his first career hat trick, scoring three times in just 32 minutes in a 6-0 win over Cincinnati Christian.
• Hestnes transferred to Xavier from LIU Brooklyn before his junior season and is XU's leading returning scorer after recording 21 points (7g, 7a) in 2017.
• The Oslo, Norway native has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice in the first five weeks and was a preseason All-BIG EAST selection.
• Xavier saw its season-opening shutout streak come to an end against UC on Friday, Sept. 7 after 364:41 minutes of scoreless soccer.
• XU's three match shutout streak to start the season was the longest for the program since the Musketeers had three consecutive shutouts from Oct. 4-11 during the 2016 season, a span of 279:07 minutes without allowing a goal.
• Xavier's last four match shutout streak was from Sept. 15-26 during the 2015 season, which tied a program record from 1988 and 2014. The shutout streak stretched a total of 485.38 minutes, including the second half of a 2-1 win over UC on Sept. 11, 2015.
• Xavier has faced 30 United Soccer Coaches-ranked opponents since Andy Fleming took over the program in 2010, including No. 6 Kentucky and No. 20 Notre Dame this season.
• In the Fleming era, Xavier boasts an 11-13-7 overall record against USC ranked opposition, including wins over No. 9 Georgetown and No. 22 Boston College last season.
• XU has a home draw against No. 6 Kentucky this season and is 0-1-1 against ranked opponents in 2018.
• The Musketeers are also an incredible 7-2-2 against the Top-10 in that time frame, including wins at No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Creighton in 2015. 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.
BIG EAST Major Awards
BIG EAST Weekly Awards
• Xavier wrapped the 2018 preseason with a 1-0-1 record against a pair of vaunted opponents.
• The Musketeers topped preseason No. 2 Indiana by a score of 2-1 on the road on Sunday, Aug. 12. Bryce Curran and Cameron Belle supplied the goals in the first period of the match.
• XU then closed exhibition action on Friday, Aug. 17 with a 0-0 draw against preseason No. 7 Michigan State.
• Xavier was picked third in the BIG EAST preseason poll, receiving 60 points for its highest-ever preseason ranking. Xavier had previously been picked as high as fourth in the 2016 preseason poll.
• Cameron Taylor and Simen Hestnes were also picked to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team, giving XU multiple players on that team for the third time in six seasons.
PRESEASON POLL
1. Georgetown (7) - 79
2. Butler (3) - 73
3. Xavier - 60
T4. Creighton - 54
T4. Providence - 54
6. Marquette - 37
7. St. John's - 33
8. Villanova - 31
9. Seton Hall - 20
10. DePaul - 9
• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last eight seasons.
• The Musketeers have won 10 or more matches in seven of the last eight seasons.
• Xavier was the only program in the nation with five consecutive major conference awards from 2012-16, including 2016 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Cory Brown.
• XU has qualified for five consecutive BIG EAST Championships, including trips to the title game in 2014 and 2017.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last six years by the United Soccer Coaches. The Musketeers have been nationally-ranked in at least one major college soccer poll (United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News, Soccer America) in every season since 2011.
• 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.
• Four XU players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the last seven years, including 2018 third rounder Cory Brown.
The consecutive losses came on the heels of a seven match unbeaten streak to start the season, which had Xavier unanimously in the national polls for the first time this season.
Xavier is now 3-2-4 (1-1-1 BIG EAST) with another home match coming up on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Villanova.
Santa Clara (4-5) enters Tuesday night on a roll, winning its last three matches after a 1-5 start. The stretch has included road wins over Cal Poly and Georgia State, as well as a 3-2 overtime win at home against Cal.
 |
PROMOTIONS |
SOCIAL MEDIA BOGO NIGHT: The team's social media accounts with post a BOGO graphic on match day and fans that retweet, repost or share the graphic with receive a FREE ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. Simply show the staff at the ticket tent your post to receive the offer.
|
|
THE OPPONENT |
vs. SANTA CLARA BRONCOS
Match Info: Tuesday, Oct. 2 – 7 p.m. – XU Soccer Complex
2018 Record: 4-5, 0-0 West Coast Conference
2017 Record: 3-13-1, 3-3-1 West Coast Conference
Postseason: N/A
Notable:
• The Broncos enter Tuesday riding a three-match win streak after a 1-5 start. Santa Clara has road wins at Cal Poly and Georgia State in the last two weeks and also picked up a 3-2 overtime win over Cal last Saturday.
• Santa Clara struggled early last season, but went 3-4-1 in its last eight matches and will look to build on that in 2018.
• The Broncos lead the all-time series 1-0 with the only meeting coming way back in 1998.
|
|
LAST TIME OUT |
• Xavier lost 2-0 at Providence, dropping the Musketeers to 1-1-1 to start BIG EAST play.
• Providence took control of the all-time series, 4-3-1, with all of the matchups coming since XU joined the league.
• Xavier was held scoreless for the fourth time in nine matches.
• The two sides were even in shot attempts at 10-10, but Providence held a 5-3 edge in shots on goal.
• Xavier held a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks.
• Zachary Miller made three saves in goal.
• Samson Sergi took a match-high five shots.
|
|
NOTABLE |
• After nine matches, Xavier ranks 31st in the nation in shutout percentage (.444) and 69th in team goals against average (1.032).
• XU also ranks 26th nationally in shots per game (14.44) and tied for 60th nationally in shots on goal per match (5.56).
• XU's goal differential for the year is 14-10 and the Musketeers are outshooting their opposition 130-98. XU also holds a 50-49 edge in shots on goal.
• The Musketeers hold a 51-42 edge in corner kicks against their opposition this season.
• Xavier began the season unbeaten in seven matches (3-0-4) for the first time since a program record 14-match unbeaten streak to start the 2012 season.
• Balanced offense has become a hallmark for Xavier and the team already has eight different players with an assist this season as well as nine different goal scorers.
• Head coach Andy Fleming moved to 95-50-28 (.630) with a loss on Saturday and is five wins from 100 in his career.
|
|
X IN THE RANKINGS |
• Xavier was ranked in all three national polls for the first time this fall on Sept. 25, checking in at No. 20 in the College Soccer News Top 30 and No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. Xavier was rated the highest in Top Drawer Soccer's Top 25, ranking 18th overall.
• The Musketeers have received votes in the coaches poll in five of seven weeks.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last six years by the United Soccer Coaches.
• The Musketeers have been nationally-ranked in at least one major college soccer poll (United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News, Soccer America) in every season since 2011.
|
|
GETTING UP OFF THE MAT |
• XU is 0-1 after a loss in 2018, but has bounced back after losses consistently under head coach Andy Fleming compiling a record of 24-12-4 (.650) after a loss.
|
|
BIG (EAST) SUCCESS |
• With a 1-1-1 record in 2018, Xavier is now 27-16-5 (.615) 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 in five seasons in the league.
• Xavier has reached the league semifinals twice (2013, 2015) and has appeared in the title game twice (2014, 2017). Xavier was defeated in the quarterfinals at Creighton in 2016.
|
|
HOME SWEET HOME |
• Xavier is currently riding a 12-match unbeaten streak at home, including a 2-0-2 mark in 2018.
• The Musketeers' last loss at XU Soccer Complex came on Friday, August 25 against Loyola Chicago in the 2017 season opener.
• The Musketeers are 16-3-4 (.783) at home since the start of the 2016 season.
• Xavier is 56-16-9 (.747) at Xavier Soccer Complex since Andy Fleming took over the program in 2010.
|
|
SIMEN SAYS "SCORE" |
• Senior midfielder Simen Hestnes is off to fast-paced start in 2018, leading Xavier with 13 points (4g, 5a) in nine matches. He has one assist in each of Xavier's last three matches.
• Hestnes ranks tied for 51st nationally with 1.44 points per match. His four goals rank tied for 88th nationally, while his 13 points rank 49th.
• Hestnes scored or assisted in all three goals during XU's 3-1 win over rival Cincinnati in the "Crosstown Derby" on Friday, Sept. 7.
• Hestnes began the season with his first career hat trick, scoring three times in just 32 minutes in a 6-0 win over Cincinnati Christian.
• Hestnes transferred to Xavier from LIU Brooklyn before his junior season and is XU's leading returning scorer after recording 21 points (7g, 7a) in 2017.
• The Oslo, Norway native has been named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice in the first five weeks and was a preseason All-BIG EAST selection.
|
|
XU'S STINGY START |
• Xavier saw its season-opening shutout streak come to an end against UC on Friday, Sept. 7 after 364:41 minutes of scoreless soccer.
• XU's three match shutout streak to start the season was the longest for the program since the Musketeers had three consecutive shutouts from Oct. 4-11 during the 2016 season, a span of 279:07 minutes without allowing a goal.
• Xavier's last four match shutout streak was from Sept. 15-26 during the 2015 season, which tied a program record from 1988 and 2014. The shutout streak stretched a total of 485.38 minutes, including the second half of a 2-1 win over UC on Sept. 11, 2015.
|
|
XAVIER AGAINST THE BEST |
• Xavier has faced 30 United Soccer Coaches-ranked opponents since Andy Fleming took over the program in 2010, including No. 6 Kentucky and No. 20 Notre Dame this season.
• In the Fleming era, Xavier boasts an 11-13-7 overall record against USC ranked opposition, including wins over No. 9 Georgetown and No. 22 Boston College last season.
• XU has a home draw against No. 6 Kentucky this season and is 0-1-1 against ranked opponents in 2018.
• The Musketeers are also an incredible 7-2-2 against the Top-10 in that time frame, including wins at No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Creighton in 2015. 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.
|
|
2018 AWARDS |
BIG EAST Major Awards
| NAME | AWARD | LINK |
| Simen Hestnes | Preseason All-BIG EAST | Story |
| Cameron Taylor | Preseason All-BIG EAST | Story |
BIG EAST Weekly Awards
| NAME | AWARD | LINK |
| Simen Hestnes | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (8/27) | Story |
| Zachary Nelson | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/3) | Story |
| Simen Hestnes | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/10) | Story |
| Zachary Nelson | BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week (9/17) | Story |
| Cameron Belle | BIG EAST Freshman of the Week (9/17) | Story |
| Matt Nance | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/17) | Story |
| Zachary Nelson | BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (9/24) | Story |
|
|
PRESEASON WRAP-UP |
• Xavier wrapped the 2018 preseason with a 1-0-1 record against a pair of vaunted opponents.
• The Musketeers topped preseason No. 2 Indiana by a score of 2-1 on the road on Sunday, Aug. 12. Bryce Curran and Cameron Belle supplied the goals in the first period of the match.
• XU then closed exhibition action on Friday, Aug. 17 with a 0-0 draw against preseason No. 7 Michigan State.
|
|
PRESEASON POLL/HONORS |
• Xavier was picked third in the BIG EAST preseason poll, receiving 60 points for its highest-ever preseason ranking. Xavier had previously been picked as high as fourth in the 2016 preseason poll.
• Cameron Taylor and Simen Hestnes were also picked to the preseason All-BIG EAST Team, giving XU multiple players on that team for the third time in six seasons.
PRESEASON POLL
1. Georgetown (7) - 79
2. Butler (3) - 73
3. Xavier - 60
T4. Creighton - 54
T4. Providence - 54
6. Marquette - 37
7. St. John's - 33
8. Villanova - 31
9. Seton Hall - 20
10. DePaul - 9
|
|
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE |
• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last eight seasons.
• The Musketeers have won 10 or more matches in seven of the last eight seasons.
• Xavier was the only program in the nation with five consecutive major conference awards from 2012-16, including 2016 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year Cory Brown.
• XU has qualified for five consecutive BIG EAST Championships, including trips to the title game in 2014 and 2017.
• XU has been ranked in the nation's top-10 three times in the last six years by the United Soccer Coaches. The Musketeers have been nationally-ranked in at least one major college soccer poll (United Soccer Coaches, Top Drawer Soccer, College Soccer News, Soccer America) in every season since 2011.
• 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.
• Four XU players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the last seven years, including 2018 third rounder Cory Brown.
Players Mentioned
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
MF
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's Soccer
GK
/ Men's Soccer
F
/ Men's Soccer
D
/ Men's SoccerINTERVIEW | Coach Higgins at Northern Kentucky
Wednesday, September 24
INTERVIEW | Cooper Forcellini at Northern Kentucky
Wednesday, September 24
HIGHLIGHTS | Men's Soccer at St. John's
Saturday, September 20
INTERVIEW | Gabriel Kuffel vs Siena
Sunday, September 14