Completed Event: Men's Soccer at Rutgers on August 21, 2025 , Loss , 0, to, 1
Men's Soccer
at Rutgers
Final
0
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1
Providence College Athletics
Thursday, November 9
Boyds, Md. / Maryland SoccerPlex
4:00 PM
Providence College
vs
Xavier University
Photo by: Brian Foley for Foley Photograph
No.3 Men's Soccer Will Play No.2 Xavier in BIG EAST Semifinals
11/8/2023 12:02:00 PM | Men's Soccer
This will be the first match between the two teams in 2023
PROVIDENCE TO FACE NO. 2-SEED XAVIER IN BIG EAST TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL MATCH... No.3 Providence College will play the 2023 BIG EAST Midwest Divison Champion, No.2 Xavier University on Thursday, Nov. 8 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
FRIARS ENTER BIG EAST TOURNAMENT AS THE NO.3-SEED...
Providence men's soccer enters the BIG EAST Tournament as the No.3-seed for the sixth time in program history. The Friars have posted a 3-2 record when entering tournament play as the No.3-seed.
23RD APPEARANCE ALL-TIME IN BIG EAST TOURNAMENT
The Providence Friars have qualified for the BIG EAST Tournament 23 times in program history. Providence has posted an all-time record of (23-21-21) in BIG EAST Tournament action.
FRIARS VS. XAVIER ALL-TIME PLAYOFF SERIES
Providence and Xavier have faced off two times in the BIG EAST Tournament. Providence and Xavier stand 1-1 in the all-time series playoff record. This will be the first time the two teams play each other in a BIG EAST Semifinal match. This match marks the Friars' 16th appearance in a BIG EAST Semifinal.
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE
The Friars have advanced to the BIG EAST Championship game six times in program history. Additionally, Providence has earned one BIG EAST Tournament Championship title. In 2014, then No.4-Seed Providence defeated then No.2-Seed Xavier, 2-1, in the BIG EAST Championship game.
FRIARS WIN BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2014
The Friars' most notable run in the BIG EAST Tournament came during the 2014 campaign when the squad earned the BIG EAST Chamionship Title. That year, Providence earned a bye in the First Round and went on to defeat Villanova in the Quarterfinal Round (2-1), Creighton in the Semifinal Round (1-0) and Xavier in the Finals (2-1). The Friars went on to play in the NCAA Tournament, making it all the way to the Final Four, the most notable run in program history.
PLAYING NO.2-SEED TEAMS
The Friars have posted a 5-3 all-time record when playing against No.2-seeds in the BIG EAST Tournament.
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
Providence entered the BIG EAST Tournament with an 7-5-3 overall record, placing them in the 3-Seed in the BIG East Tournament.
On Nov.4, the No.3-Seed Friars defeated No.6-Seed Creighton, 3-0. Brendan McSorley recorded a brace for Providence and Bruno Rosa scored his fourth goal of the season.
This season, the Friars went on five-game unbeaten streak, the longest since 2019.
SOLID DEFENSE
The Providence defense remains to be one of the strongest in the BIG EAST. The Friars have conceded only two goals in the past eight games.
BALANCED ATTACK
Fourteen different players on the roster have recorded at least one point for the Friars, including two freshmen and four transfers.
Nine Friars have scored at least one goal this season, including seven multi-goal scorers: Gevork Diarbian (two), Brendan McSorley (eleven), Bruno Rosa (four), Pearse O'Brien (three), Nathan Messer (four), Cole Dewhurst (two), and Rodrigo Vaza (two).
FRIARS VS. TOP-5 RANKED OPPONENTS
Providence has earned a 1-1-1 record vs. top-five nationally ranked opponents. The Friars' only loss vs. top-five foes came against then-No. 1 Syracuse, 2-0 (Aug. 24). On Sept. 15, the Friars went on to tie then No.3 Akron, 3-3. The Friars recently defeated then No.5 Georgetown, 1-0, on Oct.14.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
This season, McSorley has consistently led Providence in both points and goals. Following the BIG EAST Quarterfinal game on Nov.4 against No.6-Seed Creighton, McSorley now stands at a career-high 11 goals on the season, he has 23 points for the Friars. McSorley has started in all 16 games and logged 1,244 minutes for the Friars this season. He has garnered several weekly accolades, such as earning the title of BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Week (10/23/23) and being recognized as College Soccer News Men's National Player of the Week (10/23/23).
Freshman Pearse O'Brien leads the team in assists with five. He has three goals on the season.
Goalkeper Lukas Burns has played all 1,440 minutes in net for the Friars this season, averaging a .677 save percentage and a 1.25 goals against avergae. This year, Burns had an impressive five-game shutout streak, including a shutout against then-ranked No.5 Georgetown in the 1-0 upset on Oct. 14. He has seven shutouts on the season.
Graduate student Nathan Messer is second in points for the Friars with 13. In his first year as a Friar, Messer has made a strong impact in the Friar offense, scoring a collegiate-career high of four goals and five assists.
Gevork Diarbian has started all 63 games during his four seasons as a Friar. In the BIG EAST Quarterfinal match on Nov. 4 aginst No.6-Seed Creighton, Diarbian marked three shots and an in assist in the 70th minute to help Providence to a 3-0 win.
FRIAR All-BIG EAST ACCOLADES
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the BIG EAST announced its annual men's soccer awards. McSorley was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Seniors Burns, Diarbian and sophomore Diego Batista were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Cole Dewhurst eanred All-BIG EAST Third Team recognition.
SCOUTING XAVIER
Xavier claimed the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament after marking a 4-1-3 BIG EAST record, earning them the title of Regular Season BIG EAST Midwest Division Champions.
The Muskateers have not lost a match since Sept.23, after falling, 3-1 to No.16 Georgetown.
Twelve different Musketeers have scored a goal this season. Ten different players have also recorded an assist.
Jerome Jolly leads the Xavier attack with 10 points. He has a team-high four goals and two assists.
Taylor Rhinehart leads the team in assists with three. He has two goals on the season.
Defender Makel Rasheed has played 1,284 minutes for the Muskateers. On Nov.4, Rasheed was named to the All-BIG EAST First Team. Following the 2022 season, Rasheed was the 65th overall MLS Draft Pick.
Sophomore defender Dylan Kropp has played a team-high 1,386 minutes this season for Xavier. On Nov. 4, Kropp earned All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition. Kropp and the defensive back line have only allowed 14 goals this season, ranking second in the BIG EAST and 27th in the NCAA.
Goalkeeper Johnny Mennell has posted a .774 save percentage, a .88 goals against average, and seven shutouts on the season, ranking second in the conference for all three.
HOW TO WATCH
The Friars' BIG EAST Semifinal game against Xavier will be broadcast live online on BEDN on Flo Sports (Invesco QQQ). A link to the broadcast can be found on Friars.com on the men's soccer schedule.
WHAT'S NEXT
The winner of Thursday's Semifinals match between Providence and Xavier will advance to the BIG EAST Championship match, to face the winner of No. 1-seed Georgetown vs. No. 5-seed UConn on Nov.12 at 11:00 a.m.
Players Mentioned
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