Providence Captures BIG EAST Men's Soccer Crown
Nov. 16, 2014
CHESTER, Pa. - Providence midfielder Daniel Neustadter scored with 9:14 remaining to lift Providence to a 2-1 victory in the championship game of The BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship presented by New York Life Sunday night at PPL Park.
Neustadter scored the game-winning goal when he re-directed a crossing pass from the right side by Rob Bialy and beat Xavier goalkeeper Vince Shaw to the short side.
The Friars, who were the No. 4 seed in the tournament, earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. The conference crown is the first in league history for Providence (13-4-2) after three previous appearances in the final, including last year. Xavier (13-5-2), the No. 2 seed, was making its first appearance in the championship game in its second season in the BIG EAST.
Providence's Markus Naglestad, who scored the Friars' first goal, was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player. He also scored a goal earlier in the week in a 2-1 win over Villanova in a first-round game. Providence senior defender Brandon Adler was selected as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player.
Xavier's Alex Ridsdale opened the scoring at 22:12 when he scored unassisted off a scramble, pushing a shot past Providence goalkeeper Keasel Broome.
Providence quickly tied the game 1-1 when Naglestad took a pass in the center box from Julian Gressel, settled the ball and blasted it into the right corner of the net at 25:06.
For the game, Xavier outshot Providence 15-13 and held a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Broome made four saves for the Friars and Shaw had two for the Musketeers.
The loss was Xavier's first in regulation since a 4-0 defeat against Wisconsin in the second game of the season on Aug. 31. Providence and Xavier played a scoreless tie on Oct. 4.
Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive Player
Markus Nagelstad, Providence
Tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player
Brandon Adler, Providence
All-Tournament Team
Markus Naglestad, Providence
Brandon Adler, Providence
Julian Gressel, Providence
Keasel Broome, Providence
Jalen Brown, Xavier
Garrett Halfhill, Xavier
Will Walker, Xavier
Arun Basuljevic, Georgetown
Austin Martz, Georgetown
Fabian Herbers, Creighton
Timo Pitter, Creighton