(MARQUETTE COMMUNICATIONS) – The Marquette University men’s soccer team (6-3-1, 0-2-0 BE) faces its third straight ranked opponent to BIG EAST play, traveling to No. 25 Xavier on Friday night. The Musketeers (6-0-2, 1-0-1 BE) are also the MU’s second consecutive unblemished opponent after Creighton came to Valley Fields last weekend with an 8-0-2 record.
Marquette is 8-6-3 all-time against Xavier but are just 0-3-2 in the last five contests. The two draws though have come in Cincinnati, Ohio where MU is 1-0-2 dating back to 2019.
Kickoff between the Golden Eagles and Musketeers is set for 5:30 p.m. CT at Corcoran Field and will stream on ESPN+.
RANKED TEST
Friday marks Marquette’s fourth match against a nationally-ranked foe this season after facing No. 23 Wisconsin on Aug. 31 (L, 1-3), No. 9 Georgetown on Sept. 18 (L, 3-0) and No. 7 Creighton on Sept. 26 (L, 3-2).
- Xavier entered the Top 25 for the first time on Sept. 29.
- The Golden Eagles have dropped nine consecutive matches to ranked opponents, with their last result coming in a 1-1 draw at No. 7 Akron on Oct. 21, 2023.
- This season is the third since 2018 that MU has faced four ranked opponents in the same season (2018, 2024). It is two shy of the 2014 squad which played six.
HISTORY AGAINST TOP-25 OPPONENTS
Marquette is 17-58-13 against nationlly-ranked opponents since 1996. The Golden Eagles’ last win over a top-25 opponent was Wisconsin on Sept. 11, 2023 (3-1).
- During the last decade, MU has just three wins over ranked opponents.
- The Golden Eagles’ last win on the road against a ranked opponent was Nov. 3, 2012 at No. 12 Louisville in the BIG EAST tournament. MU’s last road result was a 1-1 draw at No. 7 Akron on Oct. 21, 2023.
BY THE NUMBERS
22.0% – Marquette ranks No. 4 in goals per shot attempt, 1.5% back of first.
4 – Marquette has a +4 scoring advantage in the second half over its opponents while having an even 9-9 differential in the first half.
25 – Ten games into the season, Marquette has been battle-tested, standing at No. 25 in the RPI. Their ranking is added by a Top 30 strength of schedule.
CLINICAL FINISHERS
Marquette has scored 20 goals on just 91 shots, converting 22.0% of its attempts, the fourth-best conversion rate in the country, 1.5% back of UNC Asheville top rate.
- Seven schools are above 20%, including Marquette’s first two BIG EAST opponents (Georgetown, Creighton).
- Tomiwa Adewumi alone has scored on 47.1% of his shots (8-of-19). He is 8-of-9 in shots on goal.
- The Golden Eagles have scored on 41.7% of their shots on goal (20 goals on 48 SOG), the 11th-highest rate in the NCAA.
- MU’s 20 goals ranks 25th nationally.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Despite ranking 185th nationally in shots per game (9.10), Marquette ranks among the nation’s most efficient attacking sides.
- The Golden Eagles average a goal every 4.6 shots attempted and every 2.4 shots on target.
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