Men's Soccer Extends Unbeaten Streak Against UC to Nine Straight in 3-1 Win on Friday Night

Friday, September 7

XU Soccer Complex

7 PM

Xavier University

2-0-2

Cincinnati

1-4

Cincinnati

Xavier

Men's Soccer Extends Unbeaten Streak Against UC to Nine Straight in 3-1 Win on Friday Night

09.07.18 | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Season Stats (PDF)

By: Brendan Bergen, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI – Xavier men's soccer moved its unbeaten streak against crosstown rival Cincinnati to nine straight, knocking off the Bearcats 3-1 on Friday night at Xavier Soccer Complex.

The Musketeers waited out some inclement weather and still drew nearly 700 fans for a big rivalry match that has come to be called the "Crosstown Derby."

With the win, Xavier improved to 6-0-3 against the Bearcats since the arrival of head coach Andy Fleming in 2010.

Tomek Pauer and Samson Sergi both tallied for the first time this season in the match with Sergi providing the go-ahead score in the second half. Simen Hestnes also added his team-leading fourth goal late to seal the result.

Overall, the win moved XU to 2-0-2 on the season. UC dropped to 1-4 overall.

NEXT UP

• Xavier remains home for a 7 p.m. match on Tuesday, Sept. 11 against Kentucky. Stay tuned to GoXavier.com and follow @XavierMSOC on Twitter for the latest updates.

NOTABLE

• Xavier is unbeaten in four matches to start the season for the first time since a program record 14-match unbeaten streak to start the 2012 season.
• Cincinnati leads the all-time series 25-14-8, but hasn't had a result against the Musketeers since 2010 and XU holds a 15-7 goal differential over that span.
• The match has been played every season since 1974 and was the 47th all-time meeting between the programs.
• XU's goal differential for the year is now 9-1 and the Musketeers are outshooting their opposition 71-33. XU also holds a 27-11 edge in shots on goal.
• Xavier saw its season-opening shutout streak come to an end after 364:41 minutes of scoreless soccer.
• Redshirt sophomore Zachary Nelson made four saves for the second straight match. Despite conceding his first goal of the season, Nelson now has a 0.27 GAA on the year.
• Tomek Pauer opened the scoring in the sixth minute, tallying for the first time in a Xavier uniform. He now has three points this season (1g, 1a).
• Samson Sergi, playing in his second match of the season and starting for the first time, scored the go-ahead goal in the second half for his first points in 2018.
• Simen Hestnes scored his team-leading fourth goal of the season and added two assists. He leads XU with 10 points this season (4g, 2a).
• Matt Nance contributed an assist as well for his first point of the season.
• Balanced offense has become a hallmark for Xavier and the team already has seven different players with an assist this season as well as six different goal scorers.
• Head coach Andy Fleming moved to 94-48-26 since taking over at Xavier and is now just six wins from 100 in his career.

HOW THEY SCORED

6' | Xavier 1-0 | Tomek Pauer found himself open in the box and launched a low-liner into the net for his first goal as a Musketeer. Assists were credited to Matt Nance and Simen Hestnes on the sequence, which began on a Nance corner kick.
55' | Tied 1-1 | Aerin West scored the equalizer for UC after a ball leaked through the box on a restart.
79' | Xavier 2-1 | Samson Sergi chipped one past the UC keeper off a centering pass from Hestnes following a takeaway in the final third. It was Sergi's first goal of the season and Hestnes' second assist of the night.
87' | Xavier 3-1 | Simen Hestnes intercepted a Bearcat pass in the final third and finished by himself, making a move in the box and finishing a tight angle to the near post to cap a four point night.

VIDEO