BIG EAST Notes (PDF)
2016 Men's Soccer Championship Central
NEW YORK – The 2016 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep starts Sunday afternoon with both first round matches on the BIG EAST Digital Network. No. 6 DePaul plays at No. 3 Villanova first at 1 p.m., followed by No. 5 Xavier at No. 4 Creighton at 4 p.m. Both times are Eastern.
In both match ups, neither teams have played each other in the BIG EAST Championship. Winner of the DePaul/Villanova contest will face No. 2 seed Butler on Semifinal Thursday (Nov. 10) at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis. No. 1 seed Providence will play the winner of the Xavier/Creighton matchup also at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Friars played both teams in the 2014 Championship en route to a tournament title.
Matchup: No. 6 DePaul at No. 3 [RV] Villanova
Time: 1 p.m. (ET)
Live Stats: GameTracker
Live Video: BEDN
Last Meeting: Villanova (10-6-2, 5-3-1) netted a season high four goals Saturday on their way to a 4-2 BIG EAST victory over DePaul (9-7-2, 4-5-0) at the Higgins Soccer Complex on Oct. 1. Scoring for Villanova was Miguel Polley, Zach Zandi and Christopher Bared. The Wildcats were also able to tack on a tally from an own goal scored by DePaul. DePaul’s two goals were scored by Hans Wustling and Simon Megally. The Wildcats had a 2-0 advantage for much of the first half before Wustling scored less than two minutes before the end of the first period. Villanova had taken a 4-1 lead by the 82nd minute. VU keeper Will Steiner made six saves. Despite the loss, DePaul outshot Villanova 16-12.
In The BIG EAST Championship: First meeting
DePaul In The BIG EAST Championship: 3-6-2; Eighth appearance (Last 2015)
Villanova In The BIG EAST Championship: 3-12-2; 14th appearance (Last 2014)
Matchup: No. 5 Xavier at No. 4 [24] Creighton
Time: 4 p.m. (ET)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Live Video: BEDN
Last Meeting: Xavier (8-7-3, 4-4-1) celebrated its first league match on the new turf surface with a 2-1 double-overtime win over then-No. 18 Creighton (9-5-3, 5-3-1) on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Cam Taylor collected his first career golden goal in the 106th minute. The sophomore defender found a deflection at the back post, coming off a free kick by Matt Nance, and headed it to the left of CU goalkeeper Alex Kapp to seal the win. The win snapped a two-match skid for Xavier. Creighton’s Ricky Lopez-Espin scored the opening goal in the contest in the 53rd minute, giving the Bluejays a 1-0 lead in the second half. With 10 minutes left in regulation, XU’s Matt Vasquenza evened the score heading in a throw in by Taylor. The 2-1 win came nearly a year to the day after XU knocked off then-No. 1 Creighton at home (Oct. 28, 2015).
In The BIG EAST Championship: First meeting
Creighton In The BIG EAST Championship: 1-3-0; Fourth appearance; 2015 Runner Up (Last 2015)
Xavier In The BIG EAST Championship: 2-3-0; Fourth appearance; 2014 Runner Up (Last 2015)