Men's Soccer Heads to Oregon State for Friday Night Match

CINCINNATI - After back-to-back shutouts to start the season, Xavier men's soccer returns to action in the Pacific Northwest on Friday night facing Oregon State at 9 p.m. at Lorenz Field.

The Musketeers (1-0-1) are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll after one week of play and saw senior Simen Hestnes turn in a hat trick in the season opener against Cincinnati Christian last Friday. For his efforts, he was named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll on Monday.

Xavier also generated some buzz with an impressive 1-0-1 exhibition record against a pair of top-10 opponents prior to the regular season, defeating No. 2 Indiana 2-1 on Sunday, Aug. 12 and drawing against No. 7 Michigan State in a 0-0 match.

Overall, eight starters are back for XU after an 11-6-3 campaign in 2017 that saw the Musketeers reach the BIG EAST Championships title game.

THE OPPONENT

at OREGON STATE BEAVERS
Match Info: Friday, Aug. 31 – 9 p.m. – Lorenz Field
2017 Record: 7-11, 4-6 Pac-12
Postseason: N/A

Notable:
• Oregon State begins a new chapter as Terry Boss took over the program in late December, returning to the Beavers after four years at Virginia. Boss helped the Cavaliers to four NCAA Tournaments and was a part of the staff that led the 'Hoos to the 2014 national title.
• The Beavers last made the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
• This year's meeting will be the first-ever between the two programs.

NOTABLE

• After two matches, Xavier ranks second in the nation with an average of 22 shots per game and fourth in the nation with an average of 10.5 shots on goal per game.
• XU has allowed just four shots in two matches to start the season, outshooting its opposition 48-4.
• The Musketeers now hold a 16-3 edge in corner kicks against their opposition this season.
• Xavier has not allowed a goal during the regular season and has played six straight scoreless halves going back to its final exhibition, a 0-0 draw against preseason No. 7 Michigan State.

LAST TIME OUT

• Xavier dominated possession but settled for a 0-0 draw against Northwestern in Chicago, marking a second straight shutout to begin the season.
• Xavier took a 10-2 advantage in corners and outshot Northwestern 22-3, but could not cash in on several dangerous opportunities including a late clearance off the line in double overtime.
• Zachary Nelson played the full match and came away with a second straight shutout in goal. The redshirt sophomore did not have to make a save in the match, as Northwestern mustered just three shots.
• 11 different players took a shot for XU. Payton Miller had a pair of shots on goal to lead the team, while Tomek Pauer and Simen Hestnes were each also credited with one shot on goal apiece.
• Head coach Andy Fleming moved to 93-48-25 since taking over at Xavier and remains seven wins from the 100-win plateau.

WEEKLY AWARDS

NAME	AWARD	LINK
Simen Hestnes	BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll (8/27)	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

PRESEASON NATIONAL RANKINGS

• Xavier is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches preseason Top 25 poll, marking the first time XU has been listed in the preseason poll since 2016.
• The Musketeers received votes in the poll last season after a season-long six match unbeaten streak in mid-September.
• Historically, the Musketeers have cracked the poll regularly since 2010 and have been ranked inside the top-10 three times in the last six years.
• XU was one of four BIG EAST teams to show up in the preseason poll, including No. 9 Butler and No. 13 Georgetown. Creighton was also listed as receiving votes.

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.
• 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.

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