By: Adam Tortelli
Xavier men’s soccer recorded its biggest win as a new member of the Big East at home on Saturday.
Redshirt junior midfielder Will Walker was able to sneak in two goals against the Georgetown Hoyas squad that entered the Saturday game ranked as No. 9 in the country.
Georgetown opened the game netting a lower corner shot in the 31st minute.
With seconds remaining in the first half, the Muskies answered when junior defenseman Garrett Halfhill delivered his booming pass downfield on a dime to be met by the outside of pursuing Will Walker’s left foot.
The one-touch shot sent the game into halftime knotted up at 1-1.
After battling back and forth for the next 30 minutes of play, sophomore forward Calum Latham and senior midfielder Matt Walker found Will Walker on a give-and-go for the redshirt junior’s second goal of the game.
The Hoyas were given their first Big East loss of the season, now dropping to 9-3-1 (2-1-1 Big East) on the season.
Xavier’s victory boosts its inaugural Big East season to 6-5-2 (2-2-0 Big East).
In addition to Will Walker’s goals, senior goalkeeper Eric Osswald earned his sixth win of the year and recorded four saves behind the defense’s strong play.
Saturday’s win gives the team its first victory at home as a Big East team and marks the first time this season that the team topped a nationally ranked opponent.
It is also the first win over ranked opposition since taking down No. 8 Charlotte during Atlantic 10 tournament play in November, 2011.
Now above .500, the Xavier men’s soccer team looks to make a push as Big East tournament play looms around the corner, with only five games left in the regular season.
Key matches down the stretch include away games at St. John’s on Oct. 19 in Queens, N.Y. and the season finale at Butler on Nov. 8 in Indianapolis, Ind.
Both St. John’s and Butler’s teams have bounced around in the national top-25 rankings all year.
As part of the only two home games remaining in the 2013 season, Seton Hall will come to Cincinnati on Oct. 23.
Senior members of the Musketeer squad will then say goodbye to the Xavier Soccer Complex on Oct. 26 against Providence in the final home game of the year.