Men’s soccer keeps streaking with road win

By: Kyle Isaacs

With only one game remaining before the Big East Tournament, the Xavier men’s soccer team is rolling through its conference schedule.

The Musketeers netted their sixth consecutive win on Saturday night after traveling to Philadelphia, Pa. and coming away with a 1-0 victory over Villanova.

The win moves the Musketeers’ record to 10-5-2 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

The Musketeers walked away with a gritty win, despite being outshot 14-6 and allowing seven shots on goal to Xavier’s two

After 87 minutes of play, senior midfielder Matt Walker took a pass from fellow senior midfielder Gino De Paoli and placed the ball in the low right corner of the net to give the Musketeers a lead that they would not relinquish.

In addition to securing the win, the score also marked Walker’s third game-winner of the season.

The Wildcats won a corner kick in the closing minutes, but the Xavier defenders were able to diffuse the situation and close out the game.

The Xavier defense held its own on Saturday night, helping junior goalkeeper Eric Osswald keep a clean sheet for the game, his sixth of the year.

Osswald stopped all seven shots on goal, helping push the men’s team to its fourth consecutive 10-win season.

“This was a great road win against a team that posted four wins in their last five outings,” head coach Andy Fleming said. “Our back four and goalkeeper were on top of their games today.”

The win also marked the third straight conference road win for the men’s soccer team, who will look to extend the streak on Friday night against Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind.

The match will mark the end of the Musketeers’ successful regular season.

Postseason play will begin for the men’s team on Nov. 15, when it will search for a Big East Championship in its inaugural season in the conference.