Xavier, Kentucky Set for NCAA Tournament Matchup

Thursday, November 16

Cincinnati, Ohio

7 p.m.

Xavier University

Kentucky

Tickets

Xavier, Kentucky Set for NCAA Tournament Matchup

11.15.23 | Men's Soccer

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First touch is set for 7 p.m. from Corcoran Field

By: Greg Lautzenheiser, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier men's soccer plays host to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 16. First touch is set for 7 p.m. from Corcoran Field.

Xavier is competing in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Musketeers also competed in the NCAA Tournament in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Xavier is 3-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches.

Xavier earned the automatic bid from the BIG EAST by winning the conference tournament on Sunday, Nov. 12 at the Maryland SoccerPlex on Boyds, Md. The Musketeers defeated No. 3 Georgetown, 5-4, in penalty kicks to capture the program's first BIG EAST Championship (joined the conference in 2013). Xavier has now won three conference titles in program history (2023, 2010, 2011).

GAME INFORMATION

XAVIER MUSKETEERS (9-3-6) vs KENTUCKY WILDCATS (7-7-4)
Game Info - Thursday, Nov. 16 - 7 p.m. ET - Corcoran Field (1,000)
Live Stats - bit.ly/3MLHdGK
Watch Live (ESPN+) - bit.ly/3szWaoC

ABOUT KENTUCKY

2023 Record: 7-7-4 (3-3-3 Sun Belt)
2022 Record: 15-1-5 (5-0-3 Sun Belt)
2022 Postseason: NCAA Tournament - Second Round
Series History: Xavier trails, 3-8-3
Last meeting: Kentucky 2, Xavier 1 (OT) - Feb. 9, 2021 (Lexington, Ky.)

NOTABLES
• Kentucky is 4-1 in its last five matches with three shutouts. The Wildcats are 3-5-1 away from home this season. Kentucky is one of five Sun Belt teams competing in the NCAA Tournament.
• Sophomore Max Miller earned All-Sun Belt Second Team honors. The defender has logged a team-high 1,601 minutes and has helped the defense record a 1.17 goals against average with six shutouts.
• Isaiah Chisolm leads the team in points with 10 (three goals, four assists). Logan Dorsey and Mason Visconti both have a team-high four goals on the season. Casper Mols has a 7-5-4 record between the pipes with a 1.19 goals against average, 59 saves and six shutouts.

SERIES HISTORY

• Xavier trails the all-time series with Kentucky, 3-8-3. The Musketeers are 2-3-2 vs the Wildcats since 2012.

• The Wildcats won the last meeting between the two schools, 2-1 (OT), on Feb. 9, 2021 in Lexington, Ky. Xavier's last win over Kentucky was on Sept. 14, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio (W, 2-1).

• The two teams are meeting in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. Xavier's first ever NCAA Tournament win was over the Wildcats, 1-0, on Nov. 15, 2012 in Lexington, Ky.

XU NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY

2014 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Nov. 20 vs Monmouth - W, 2-1 (2OT)
Nov. 23 vs Indiana - W, 2-1
Nov. 30 vs Creighton - L, 2-1

2012 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Nov. 15 vs Kentucky - W, 1-0
Nov. 18 vs Indiana - L, 4-1

2011 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Nov. 17 vs West Virginia - L, 2-1 (OT)

2010 NCAA TOURNAMENT
Nov. 18 vs West Virginia - L, 4-2

ALL-BIG EAST HONOREES

• Dylan Kropp and Makel Rasheed were named to the All-BIG EAST Teams on Nov. 7. Both players earn all-conference honors for the second time in as many seasons.

• Rasheed was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team after earning second-team honors in 2022. The Rockville, Md., native has helped the Musketeers post a 0.82 goals against average and eight shutouts this season, both ranking second in the BIG EAST.

• Rasheed and the defensive back line have only allowed 14 goals this season, ranking second in the BIG EAST and 22nd in the NCAA. He has also added two goals this season.

• Kropp was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team after earning third-team honors in 2022. The Columbus, Ohio, native has helped the Musketeers post a 0.82 goals against average and eight shutouts this season, both ranking second in the BIG EAST.

• Kropp and the defensive back line have only allowed 14 goals this season, ranking second in the BIG EAST and 22nd in the NCAA. He leads all Xavier field players in minutes played with 1,476.

NOTABLES

• Jonny Mennell (9-3-6) made a career-high seven saves and recorded his ninth shutout of the season vs No. 3 Georgetown on Nov. 12. The Asheville, N.C., native now has a 0.77 goals against average on the year with 59 saves. The 0.77 goals against average ranks third in single-season school history, while the nine shutouts ranks tied for second.

• Xavier has not allowed a goal for 463 straight minutes. The Musketeers have not allowed a goal since Oct. 21 at Villanova. Xavier has not lost a match since Sept. 23 vs No. 16 Georgetown at Corcoran Field (L, 2-1).

• Xavier is 5-0-5 in its last 10 matches with a 0.29 goals against average and seven shutouts. The Musketeers have only allowed three goals during that span. Nine different players have scored during the team's 10-match unbeaten streak, paced by Guilherme Vivaldini and Grayson Elmquist who each have two goals.

• Twelve different Musketeers have scored a goal this season. Eleven different players have also recorded an assist.

• Jonny Mennell ranks second in the BIG EAST in goals against average (0.77) and first in shutouts (9).

• Xavier has only allowed 14 goals this season, ranking second in the BIG EAST. Xavier ranks tied for 10th in the NCAA in fewest goals allowed this season.

• A win on Thursday would be the program's first 10-win season since 2017. Xavier has 13, 10-win seasons all-time.

• Xavier opened BIG EAST action with a 4-1 win vs DePaul on Sept. 16 at Corcoran Field. The four-goal performance was the most goals scored in a BIG EAST match by the Musketeers since Oct. 31, 2018 vs Butler (W, 5-3).

BIG EAST WEEKLY HONORS

Oct. 31 - Jonny Mennell - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Oct. 31 - Makel Rasheed - BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week
Oct. 16 - Jonny Mennell - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 16 - Makel Rasheed - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 12 - Jonny Mennell - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Oct. 2 - Nathan Trickett - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Oct. 2 - Makel Rasheed - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Aug. 28 - Seydou Diop - BIG EAST Freshman of the Week
Sept. 5 - Jerome Jolly - BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll

RASHEED - PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST

• Makel Rasheed was named to the Preseason All-BIG EAST Team on Aug. 15 after helping the Musketeers post a 0.89 goals against average and eight shutouts last season. The defender was drafted by Nashville SC in MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas, taken as the seventh pick (65th overall) in the third round. Rasheed also earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Team.

SCHEDULE NOTES

• Six of Xavier's opponents were ranked or receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top-25 Poll: Creighton (No. 8), Marshall (No. 11), Georgetown (No. 17), Akron (No. 22), Providence (RV) and Ohio State (RV). The Musketeers also played Western Michigan (RV) in exhibition action.

• Xavier played seven non-conference matches, four at home and three on the road. The Musketeers opened the home portion of their schedule vs Wright State on Thursday, Aug. 24. Xavier also played home non-conference matches vs Oakland (Aug. 27), Cleveland State (Sept. 4).

• Xavier's remaining non-conference road matches were at Marshall (Sept. 1), UTRGV (Sept. 11), Duquesne (Sept. 19) and Ohio State (Oct. 3).

• The Musketeers opened BIG EAST action vs DePaul on Friday, Sept. 15 at Corcoran Field. Xavier's other three home BIG EAST contests were vs Georgetown (Sept. 23), Akron (Oct. 14) and Butler (Oct. 18).

• Xavier's four BIG EAST road matches were at Creighton (Sept. 29), Marquette (Oct. 7), Villanova (Oct. 21) and UConn (Oct. 28).

• Xavier faced six teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last season, including College Cup participant Creighton. Cleveland State, Ohio State, Marshall, Georgetown and Seton Hall all joined the Bluejays in the NCAA Tournament. The Musketeers also take on Western Michigan who participated in the NCAA Tournament during exhibition play.

• Xavier has posted a 53-28-16 (.629) non-conference record since 2013. The Musketeers have recorded an 29-8-6 (.744) record at home in those matches.

• Xavier is 75-31-17 (.679) at Corcoran Field since the start of the 2010 season.

ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS

• Xavier returns two of its top three point leaders from last season, led by Fabrizio Bernal De La Garza who had nine points (four goals, one assist). Jerome Jolly added eight points (three goals, two assists).

• Defensively, Xavier returns Makel Rasheed and Dylan Kropp. Both players helped the Musketeers post a 0.89 goals against average (23rd in NCAA) with eight shutouts (10th in NCAA). Xavier finished the year ranked tied for fourth in single-season school history in shutouts (8) and fourth in single-season school history in goals against average (0.89).

• Makel Rasheed was drafted by Nashville SC in MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas, taken as the seventh pick (65th overall) in the third round. Rasheed also earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Team.

• Dylan Kropp was named to the All-BIG EAST Third Team, one of only three freshmen who picked up all-conference honors. He was named to the TopDrawerSoccer Freshman Best XI First Team.

• Xavier added 12 newcomers to the roster, including four transfers: Cooper Forcellini (Bellarmine) Michael Rogalski (Bradley), Matthew Senanou (North Carolina) and Guilherme Vivaldini (North Carolina).

JOHN HIGGINS - HEAD COACH

• John Higgins was named the new men's soccer coach in March of 2022. He joined the Musketeers from the University of Indianapolis where he compiled a 150-56-29 overall record in 12 seasons with the Greyhounds. He now has a 169-61-41 overall record in 13 seasons as a head coach.

• In year one at Xavier, he led the Musketeers to a No. 9 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Poll on Oct. 19 - matching the highest ranking in program history (was also ranked No. 9 on Oct. 28, 2014).

• Higgins also saw two players taken in the MLS SuperDraft 2023 presented by adidas. Xavier had two players taken in the same draft for the first time in program history. Cole Jensen was the 18th overall pick (first round), while Makel Rasheed was taken as the seventh pick in the third round (65th overall). Three player also earned All-BIG EAST honors, highlighted by Jenen who was named the BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year.

• Higgins finished the 2021 fall season ranked fourth in the USC Top-25 Poll after posting an 18-1-3 record and advancing to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships. All told, he posted a 31-1-7 record over two seasons in 2021 (spring season due to COVID-19 pandemic).

• The three-time Great Lakes Valley Conference 'Coach of the Year' owns a 7-3-1 (.625) record in NCAA Tournament action and finished GLVC Tournament play with an 18-3-5 (.750) mark. He finished his coaching career at UIndy as the program's all-time leader in wins (150) and winning percentage (.700).

• Higgins led the Greyhounds to a total of six conference championships from 2010-21, including three regular-season titles and three tournament championships. All told, he has made five NCAA Tournaments with two national semifinal appearances.

• The Dunfermline, United Kingdom, native coached 54 All-GLVC selections at UIndy along with seven All-Midwest Region honorees and two All-Americans. Academically, the Greyhounds have earned the USC Team Academic Award in each season under Higgins.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Xavier men's soccer has reached the NCAA Tournament in four of the last 13 seasons. The Musketeers have also won 10 or more matches in seven of the last 13 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.

• Xavier has qualified for seven of the last 10 BIG EAST Championships, including trips to the title game in 2014 and 2017.

• Xavier has been ranked in the nation's top-10 four times in the last 10 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.

• Xavier was ranked as high as No. 9 on Oct. 19, 2022 - matching the highest ranking in program history (was also ranked No. 9 on Oct. 28, 2014).

• In 2015, Xavier knocked off the national No. 1 (Creighton) and No. 2 (Notre Dame) on the road. 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.

• Six Xavier players have been selected in the MLS SuperDraft in the last 11 years, including Cole Jensen and Makel Rasheed in 2022.

XAVIER MLS DRAFT HISTORY

2022 - Cole Jensen - GK - 1st Round (18th) - Inter Miami CF
2022 - Makel Rasheed - D - 3rd Round (65th) - Nashville FC
2018 - Cory Brown - D - 3rd Round (62nd) - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
2017 - Jalen Brown - MF/F - 2nd Round (38th) - NYC FC
2014 - Nick Hagglund - D - 1st Round (10th) - Toronto FC
2013 - Luke Spencer - F - 1st Round (23rd) - New England Revolution

2023 PRESEASON COACEHS' POLL

EAST DIVISION
(first-place votes)
1. Georgetown (11) - 66
2. Providence (1) - 56
3. St. John's - 40
4. Seton Hall - 36
5. Connecticut - 24
5. Villanova - 24

MIDWEST DIVISION
(first-place votes)
1. Creighton (8) - 63
2. Butler (2) - 50
3. Akron (2) - 48
4. Xavier - 39
5. Marquette - 29
6. DePaul - 17

UP NEXT

• The winner of Thursday's match travels to Notre Dame on Sunday, Nov. 19. First touch is set for 5 p.m. ET from Alumni Soccer Stadium.