Last Night In #BEfútbol: Aug. 31
NEW YORK -- BIG EAST men’s soccer teams went unbeaten in the first night of the 2019 season with a 9-0-1 record, a win over the preseason No. 3 team and a tie against the nation’s No. 6 team. Xavier headlined the night with a two-goal shutout victory over No. 3 Akron, the 2018 NCAA Championship runner-up, for the Musketeers home-opener. Creighton, receiving votes in the national preseason poll, held on to a 2-2 tie at No. 6 North Carolina in 110 minutes of action.
No. 13 GEORGTOWN 3, RV Syracuse 1
The Hoyas led off opening day with a 3-1 victory over former league rival Syracuse. The Hoyas scored all three goals in the second half. Goal scorers were Derek Dodson (48th minute), JB Fischer (74th minute, corner) and Dante Polvara (75th minute). Syracuse had tied the game in the 50th minute.
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VILLANOVA 5, Delaware 0
A balanced and potent scoring attack helped lift Villanova to a 5-0 victory over Delaware Friday at the Higgins Soccer Complex in the regular season opener for both teams. Conor Bradley scored the game's opening goal and later added an assist in the victory. Evan Vare, Lyam MacKinnon, Anthony Dragisics and Jack Gilliam also found the back of the net in the win for Villanova. MacKinnon had a hand in Villanova's first three goals, earning an assist on the first two scores before scoring one of his own in the 52nd minute. The five goals were the most scored by the Wildcats since Sept. 2, 2017 in a 5-2 win over UMBC at the Higgins Soccer Complex and the most in a season opener since netting five in a win at Manhattan on Aug. 24, 2012.
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DEPAUL 2, Northern Illinois 1
DePaul secured their first victory in their regular season opener with a 2-1 statement win over Northern Illinois in the Chicago Classic at Wish Field on Friday afternoon. Freshman David Gripman netted both goals for DePaul (1-0-0), the first multiple-goal game of his career.
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SETON HALL 6, Central Connecticut State 0
Stephen Elias, playing in his first career game for the Seton Hall, scored a hat trick and needing fewer than 59 minutes to do it as the Pirates dominated from start to finish in a 6-0 victory over Central Connecticut State in the 2019 opener Friday night at Red Bulls Training Facility. In total, nine different Pirates notched at least one point as The Hall posted its highest goal output since a 6-2 win over Penn on Sept. 3, 2007.
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ST. JOHN’S 2, Appalachian State 0
Matt Forster scored the game-winner for St. John's, finding the back of the net for the 10th time in his Red Storm career. Josiah Crawford added an insurance tally in the 71st minute for his first collegiate goal. 2018 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team selection Tani Oluwaseyi picked up an assist on the play.
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PROVIDENCE 4, UMass-Lowell 0
The Friars jumped out in front just 20 seconds into the contest as Davis Smith headed in a cross from Trevor Davock to put Providence up 1-0. Paulo Lima notched his first career goal in the 23rd minute to give the Friars a two-goal cushion. Just three minutes later, Joao Serrano converted on a penalty kick to put Providence up 3-0. The teams combined for four yellow cards in the first half, three assessed to the River Hawks. Providence extended their lead to 4-0 in the 77th minute off of a goal by Andualem Chisholm, his third career goal. Trevor Davock finished the night with two assists. Friday marked the first meeting between the two schools.
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BUTLER 2, Western Michigan 1
Butler picked up the pace in the second half to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit. Western Michigan's Sam Biek netted a free kick from 20 yards out into the upper right 90 to give WMU a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute. The Bulldogs leveled the match less than six minutes into the second half as Brandon Guhl took a pass from Jack Haywood and was able to rip a shot from the right side of the box that got by Broncos keeper Lukas Von Lienen. The teams would trade possession over the next 30 minutes until the Bulldogs were able to string together several chances. In the 85th minute, Wilmer Cabrera, Jr., was able to possess the ball into the top of the box. He was pulled down by a Broncos defender while still being able to get off a shot. He was awarded a penalty kick, and stepped up and deposited the game-winner.
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XAVIER 2, No. 3 Akron 0
Xavier opened the 2019 season with a 2-0 win over No. 3 Akron at the XU Soccer Complex on Friday night. The Musketeers moved to 8-2-2 against top-10 opponents since the 2010 season following the win. In the 12th minute, Karsen Henderlong scored the first goal of his career with header 10 yards out from the Akron goalkeeper. The ball was played in from the left by Payton Miller who picked up his first assist of the season. In the 77th minute, Samson Sergi sealed the victory with a header off a deflected ball played into the box. Matthew Rosenberg (1-0) made six saves in goal in his first career start with the Musketeers. The redshirt-junior has now posted eight career shutouts during his college career (transfer from Central Florida).
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RV CREIGHTON 2, No. 6 North Carolina 2 (2OT)
Creighton opened the Johnny Torres era and its 2019 regular season with a 2-2 double overtime draw against No. 6 North Carolina on Friday night during the Carolina Nike Classic at UNC's new on-campus stadium. Both the Bluejays and Tar Heels moved to 0-0-1. Creighton led 2-0 at the half before North Carolina recorded a pair of second-half goals for the final result. Yudai Tashiro opened the scoring during the 18th minute. Tashiro lined up a free kick from about 25 yards in front of the goal and promptly launched the ball into the top left corner of the net and gave Creighton a 1-0 lead. The Bluejays added to their lead during the 31st minute. Ziyad Fares received a pass from Luke Haakenson about 30 yards from the endline before Fares sprinted down the left-side of the 18-yard box. The Tar Heels held a 16-7 edge in shots to end the match, including 9-4 on goal. Kruse, the BIG EAST Preseason Goalkeeper of the Year, finished the night with seven saves.
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MARQUETTE 2, Alabama-Birmingham 1 (2OT)
Marquette opened its 2019 season in thrilling fashion on Friday night at Valley Fields, defeating the UAB Blazers, 2-1. The two teams were knotted at one apiece after 90 minutes of regulation and the game headed to overtime. In the 107th minute, redshirt sophomore Manuel Cukaj scored the golden goal on a header off a free kick from Connor Alba to clinch the victory.
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#BEfútbol Weekend Results
Friday, Aug. 30
No. 13 GEORGETOWN 3, RV Syracuse 1
VILLANOVA 5, Delaware 0
DEPAUL 2, Northern Illinois 1
SETON HALL 6, Central Connecticut State 0
ST. JOHN’S 2, Appalachian State 0
PROVIDENCE 4, UMass-Lowell 0
BUTLER 2, Western Michigan 1
XAVIER 2, No. 3 Akron 0
RV CREIGHTON 2, No. 6 North Carolina 2 (2OT)
MARQUETTE 2, Univ. Alabama-Birmingham 1
Sunday, Sept. 1
U.C. Davis at MARQUETTE, 1 p.m.
Vermont vs. DEPAUL, 1 p.m.
RV CREIGHTON at No. 4 Wake Forest, 7 p.m.
ST. JOHN’S at RV N.C. State, 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 2
Temple at No. 13 GEORGETOWN, 1 p.m.
Army West Point at SETON HALL, 6:30 p.m.*
RV University of New Hampshire at PROVIDENCE, 7 p.m.
Evansville at BUTLER, 7 p.m.
Eastern Illinois at XAVIER, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
VILLANOVA at William & Mary, 7 p.m.
All times listed are Eastern.
BIG EAST teams are noted in ALL CAPS.
*Played at the Red Bulls Training Facility in Whippany, N.J.