NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep did not disappoint on Semifinal Wednesday as the afternoon game came down to an exciting 2-1 finish for Georgetown over St. John’s; and the night cap finished at a 2-2 draw as Xavier advanced over top-seeded Butler with a 4-1 shootout victory.
No. 4 seed Xavier (11-5-3) will now travel to Washington, D.C. to face No. 2 seed Georgetown (13-3-2) in the BIG EAST final on Sunday at 12 p.m. ET on FS2. It will be Georgetown’s sixth appearance in the men’s soccer championship, the second showing for Xavier. The Hoyas will host their second-ever championship final, winning it all in 2015.
For the second-straight year, the BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship will have a No. 2 seed/No. 4 seed final.
The last time a BIG EAST Semifinal contest went to the PK Round was in 2013. Fourth-seeded Providence delivered with a 5-4 finish in the shootout over then No. 1 seed Georgetown to advance to the 2013 championship game. In the history of the BIG EAST tournament, there have been 28 matches that have gone to PK’s.
Xavier 2, Butler 2 (Xavier advances on PK’s, 4-1)
After a scoreless and mostly uneventful first half, four goals were scored in the second 45 minutes to send the game to extra time. With neither side able to tally a golden goal, the match at the Sellick Bowl in Indianapolis went to a shootout. Butler (12-4-2) missed the frame on the first attempt and Xavier keeper Colin Hanley stopped BU’s second-round try. Xavier was successful in all four attempts as the final PK goal was scored by defender Cory Brown. Xavier scored a pair of close-knit goals in the 73rd and 77th minutes as Brown and Matt Vasquenza found the back of the net. Butler answered late in the game, as a pair of defenders, Kieran Geldenhuys and Joe Moulden evened the score in the 79th and 81st minutes. Butler keeper Eric Dick saved a penalty kick in the first overtime to extend the match after the Bulldogs were called for a hand-ball in the box. Dick would finish with nine saves. Xavier outshot Butler 21-10, 11-5 on goal. The Musketeers had control of most of the first half despite a lack of scoring. Dick made four first half saves for Butler.
Georgetown 2, St. John’s 1
It took just 74 seconds for the Hoyas to get on the board as senior forward Zach Knudson sent it to senior forward Declan McCabe on the left side. He passed it to the near post where sophomore forward Achara was charging and he tapped it in in his first start since Oct. 6. The Hoyas continued to look dangerous as Achara and company had a number of good looks that were off target. Despite the strong play and dominating offense, Georgetown could only net one in the first half. Toward the end of the half, St. John’s began to pressure, creating chaos in front of the Hoya net. In the 66th minute, Georgetown senior midfielder Christopher Lema sent a corner into the box and it found the foot of BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Derek Dodson who notched his ninth goal of the season and put the Hoyas up 2-0. The Red Storm made a game of it in the 77th minute as a Georgetown turnover gave the Red Storm the ball and BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year Harry Cooksley connected to make it 2-1. The Hoya defense stood strong for the final 13 minutes of play as St. John’s searched for the equalizer. It would never come and Georgetown held on for the 2-1 victory. St. John’s outshot GU, 19-16, but the Hoyas took seven corner kicks while the Red Storm were awarded four. Georgetown keeper JT Marcinkowski took the win with four saves in the contest. Andrew Withers had the loss tallying six saves on the afternoon.
2017 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship
Presented By Jeep
First Round – Nov. 4 - BEDN
No. 3 St. John’s 3, No. 6 Creighton 1
No. 4 Xavier 3, No. 5 Providence 0
Semifinals - Nov. 8 - BEDN
No. 2 [18] Georgetown 2, No. 3 St. John’s 1
No. 4 Xavier 2, No. 1 seed Butler 2 (2OT)
Xavier advances in PK’s, 4-1
Final - Nov. 12 – FS2
No. 4 Xavier at No. 2 Georgetown, 12 p.m.
All times Eastern - All games played at the higher seed