WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the second time in three years, Georgetown delivered in double overtime as senior midfielder Declan McCabe scored the golden goal for the Hoyas in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Xavier to close out the 2017 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship presented by Jeep.
In front of a hometown crowd at Shaw Field, No. 2 seed Georgetown (14-3-2) earned the league’s automatic qualifier for the NCAA Championship. McCabe, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player, scored in the 108th minute, sending it in off a free kick. McCabe finished with four points with a goal and two assists for the tournament.
No. 4 seed Xavier (11-6-3) led 1-0 on a penalty kick goal in the 49th minute from senior forward Matt Vasquenza. The goal was the ninth this season for the All-BIG EAST Second Team honoree. The PK was awarded after a Hoya defender was called for a handball on the goal line.
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year Derek Dodson scored the equalizer for the Hoyas in the 62nd minute, scoring on the right side of the box. His goal was assisted by McCabe. For Dodson it was his 10th goal of the season.
McCabe scored the game-winner as the match neared the end of the second OT with a shootout threatening. McCabe’s goal curled to the upper 90, top left.
Winning keeper, junior Hoya JT Marcinkowski, was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the tournament. Marckinkowski had three saves in Sunday’s final match and four in the semifinal against St. John’s allowing just two goals for the tournament.
Dodson was also named to the All-Tournament squad for the champion Hoyas along with senior midfielder Christopher Lema. For Xavier, Vasquenza was joined on the All-Tournament team by junior midfielder Simen Hestnes and redshirt junior defender Cameron Taylor.
It is the second tournament title for the Hoyas, who have appeared in the championship game six times. It was the 12th time a BIG EAST Championship final went to overtime. The last time there was an overtime match was the 2015 final where the Hoyas defeated Creighton by the same score in the second overtime.
Xavier finished as the runner-up for the second time. In 2014, the Musketeers fell 2-1 to Providence. Since 2013, the No. 4 seed in the BIG EAST Championship has reached the tournament’s final round four times in five tries.
The BIG EAST men’s soccer squads will wait to hear their fate on Monday as the NCAA tournament bracket is announced at 1 p.m. on NCAA.com. Georgetown is one of 24 automatic qualifiers. There are 24 at-large bids up for grabs. There are 16 seeded teams who will host and receive a bye to the second round. NCAA First Round action gets underway on Nov. 16. Georgetown was picked as No. 9 seed overall when the NCAA did their pretournament committee rankings following matches played through Oct. 22.
2017 BIG EAST Men’s Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Joe Moulden, Butler
Keiran Geldenhuys, Butler
Harry Cooksley, St. John’s
Alistair Johnston, St. John’s
Simen Hestnes, Xavier
Cameron Taylor, Xavier
Matt Vasquenza, Xavier
Derek Dodson, Georgetown
Christopher Lema, Georgetown
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown
Declan McCabe, Georgetown
Most Outstanding Defensive Player: JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Jr., GK
Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Declan McCabe, Georgetown, Sr., M
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. 2 Georgetown 2, No. 4 Xavier 1 (2OT)