WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University men’s soccer team will travel to Big East Runner Up Xavier in the NCAA Tournament First Round, the NCAA today announced on its selection show. The Hawks (11-3-6) earned the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s automatic bid by winning three games in the MAAC Championship.
“We’re excited,” said Monmouth Head Coach Robert McCourt. “This is the bonus round so we’re going out there to try to get a win and give everything we have. I know a little bit about Xavier. I know their coach. They’re a well-coached team, for sure. I think it’s a good match-up for us and we’re excited about it.”
The Hawks earned their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years under McCourt on Dave Nigro’s (Marlboro, N.J./Marlboro) golden goal in a 2-1 double overtime win over Fairfield in the MAAC Championship Final. Monmouth hosted NCAA Tournament First Round match-ups against Connecticut (2009), Dartmouth (2010) and Stony Brook (2011), while traveling to St. John’s in 2006. The Hawks advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 2009 and 2011, falling at Harvard and Connecticut, respectively.
Xavier, ranked No. 11 in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire National Rankings, reached the Big East Championship Final before falling to No. 23 Providence, 2-1. The Musketeers started the season inauspiciously with losses to Lipscomb and then-No. 21 Wisconsin. But since that time, they’ve gone 13-3-2, including wins over then-No. 15 Marquette and No. 8 Georgetown. They also tied then-No. 6 Creighton and played Providence to a scoreless draw during conference play. Xavier posted a 2-3-2 record against five teams in this year’s tournament field.
The Musketeers are led by Will Walker, who has compiled 19 points on five goals and nine assists. Matt Vasquenza is Xavier’s top goal scorer with six to go along with four assists. Alex Ridsdale and Jalen Brown have scored four goals apiece, while dishing out three and two assists, respectively. Garrett Halfhill has also chipped in with three goals and an assist, while Walker Andriot and Cory Brown have each scored two goals and distributed two assists. Josh Grant has also scored twice, while Kyle Martin and Owen Steinwall have dished out five and four assists, respectively.
Eric Osswald has seen the majority of time in net this season for Xavier. However, Vince Shaw got the start in the Big East Championship Final. Osswald has posted an 0.65 goals against average and a .803 save percentage with 11 shutouts. In three games, Shaw has compiled a 1.82 goals-against average and a .429 save percentage.