SEASON PREVIEW: Men's Soccer Gears Up for 2018 Season

CINCINNATI – Xavier men's soccer enters the 2018 season with some unfinished business after reaching the title match of the 2017 BIG EAST Championships for the second time in four seasons.

Although XU won 11 matches with results against respected programs like Boston College, Harvard, Providence, Georgetown, Butler and Kentucky, the Musketeers came up short in overtime against Georgetown and narrowly missed out on an NCAA Tournament berth for the third straight season.

With 21 letterwinners back, including eight starters, the Musketeers look to take a step forward in 2018 with a nice balance of established veterans and some rising underclassmen who could take a big step forward.

In order to take a step forward in 2018, Xavier will need to further balance what could be a strong offensive team with an improved defensive effort. Last season's squad was inconsistent in the back at times and conceded 26 goals, which was the most for an Andy Fleming unit at Xavier.

XU will have to replace two all-time program greats in Cory Brown and Matt Vasquenza, but the Musketeers figure to have a bit more depth in 2018 with a strong recruiting class and a large group of rising upperclassmen.

Brown, one of the top defenders in college soccer, was XU's fourth MLS SuperDraft selection in the last seven years following the season.

Since joining the BIG EAST, Xavier has been one of the most consistent programs in the country and ranks among the top of the conference in total wins, top-four finishes and conference tournament berths since 2013.

Overall, the Musketeers have appeared in four of the last eight NCAA Tournaments and made four conference championship appearances since head coach Andy Fleming arrived on campus in 2010. Fleming enters his ninth season with a 92-48-24 (.634) overall record and is XU's all-time leader in terms of win percentage.

With a typical season, Fleming should reach the 100-win plateau this fall.

OPENING NIGHT

The regular season begins on Friday, August 24 as the Musketeers host Cincinnati Christian at XU Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

Xavier plays 20 matches and nine home dates in 2018, facing six NCAA Tournament sides from 2017, including its exhibitions against No. 2 Indiana and No. 7 Michigan State. XU still has regular season tilts scheduled against Georgetown, St. John's, Western Michigan and Butler.

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.

2018 POSITION-BY-POSITION PREVIEW

UP TOP

Key Returners: Samson Sergi
Player to Watch: Felix Boe-Tangen
Notable Losses: Matt Vasquenza

Samson Sergi returns for his redshirt junior season after turning in a breakout performance in 2017, tying for the team lead with nine goals and adding an assist in 20 matches.

XU loses leading scorer Matt Vasquenza up top, where his leadership and 22 points (9 goals, 4 assists) will be missed. An Academic All-American in 2017, Vasquenza finished his XU career among XU's all-time leaders with 69 points (26 goals, 17 assists).

Vasquenza also consistently found goals in big moments for the Musketeers, including the go-ahead goal in the 29th minute of a 2-1 win at No. 5 Indiana in the 2014 NCAA Tournament -- the score that sent XU to its first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. His 89th minute score during a 2-1 win at No. 1 Creighton in 2015 gave Xavier its first-ever win over a United Soccer Coaches top-ranked team.

THE MIDFIELD

Key Returners: Derrick Otim, Simen Hestnes, Sean Wilson, Jacob Goodall
Player to Watch: Tomek Pauer
Notable Losses: Josh Grant

Simen Hestnes could be in for a big senior year as the Norwegian returns as a preseason All-BIG EAST selection after scoring seven goals and adding seven assists during his junior season.

Tomek Pauer, a grad transfer from Hamburg, Germany, has great size and strength figures to provide an immediate impact as a defensive-minded midfielder. Pauer is a seasoned international player and made over 100 appearances in Regionalliga in his home country.

On the outside of the midfield, Jacob Goodall possesses a powerful left leg and led XU with eight assists in 2017. Derrick Otim has also been a steady presence as a holding midfielder for Xavier, providing 1,703 minutes over 20 matches last season.

Sean Wilson will be a player to watch in 2018 as the athletic midfielder appeared in just over 700 minutes of action last season, but fought some injury issues.

Bryce Curran, Grant Dumler and Joash Sutherland will all factor into the midfield equation as well, as all three provided valuable depth and minutes last season.

THE BACKLINE

Key Returners: Matt Nance, Cameron Taylor, Samuel Buzzas
Player to Watch: Taylor Crull
Notable Losses: Cory Brown

While Xavier has to replace an all-time program great at center back, the Musketeers do have the luxury of bringing back three starters from a unit that has a chance to take a big step forward in 2018.

Despite Brown's individual prowess, the unit was collectively young last season and conceded 26 goals overall, which was the most for the program since Fleming's arrival in 2010.

Taylor, a preseason All-BIG EAST selection, emerged as a dominant player last season and should continue to grow with another full season of experience. He joins forces with BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection Samuel Buzzas, who provides great size in the middle of the defense.

Matt Nance returns for a fifth season after missing his senior campaign recovering from a knee injury. An energetic outside back, Nance was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection following the 2016 season.

IN GOAL

Key Returners: Zachary Nelson, Colin Hanley

After two years with a bit of uncertainty at the goalkeeper spot, Xavier has the luxury of returning two goalies with plenty of experience in 2018.

Nelson made 13 starts en route to BIG EAST All-Freshman Team honors last season before succumbing to an injury during the back end of the season. He posted a 6-3-2 record and a 1.32 GAA to go with 38 saves.

Hanley returns for his senior season after starting seven matches down the stretch for XU in 2017, posting a 1.07 GAA and 14 saves to help the Musketeers reach the BIG EAST Championship match. Hanley came up huge in the BIG EAST Semifinals at Butler, helping XU advance with a big time performance in penalty kicks.

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