Dartmouth Opens Season with No. 17 Kentucky and Xavier

9/1/2016 1:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

By: Dartmouth

GAME 1
Dartmouth Big Green (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Ivy) vs.
No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats (2-0-0, 0-0-0 Conference USA)
Date: – Friday, September 2, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Lexington, Kentucky – Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex (3,368)
Live Stats
Watch ESPN

GAME 2
Dartmouth Big Green (0-0-0, 0-0-0 Ivy) vs.
Xavier Musketeers (1-1-0, 0-0-0 Big East)
Date: – Monday, September 5, 7 p.m.
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio – University of Cincinnati, Gettler Stadium (1,400)
Live Stats

THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
The Dartmouth men's soccer team kicks off the 2016 season with No. 17 Kentucky in Lexington, before taking on Xavier on the University of Cincinnati's campus.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Kentucky comes into Friday's matchup with two victories after the Wildcats took down Marquette 4-0 and Duquesne 1-0 in the team's home opener on Tuesday. Kentucky, the defending Conference USA champion, was picked to finish first in the conference's preseason poll. Three Wildcats were also tabbed for the Preseason All-Conference USA Team, including Kentucky's leading goal scorer from 2015, Stefan Stojkovic. The Halmsted, Sweden, native found the back of the net five times last year and tallied 12 points. The Wildcats are just one of four teams the Big Green will play this season who competed for the 2015 College Cup.

SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS
Xavier comes into the season after being picked to finish fourth in the Big East preseason poll. The Musketeers split their first two games of 2016, with a 3-1 win over Evansville at home before falling on the road, 2-0 at UAB. Xavier's defense is anchored by junior defender Cory Brown, who was selected as the Big East Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Junior forward Matt Vasquenza is also a player to watch. The East Hampton, Connecticut native scored five goals last season and was named to the Preseason All-Big East Team.

LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY
Dartmouth and Kentucky have met just once before. On Sept. 20, 2013 Dartmouth defeated the Wildcats, 3-1 in the first game of the South Carolina Tournament. The Big Green scored early in the contest when junior Colin Heffron capitalized on a corner kick by Stefan Defregger. Dartmouth added two more goals in the second half including a strike from Alexander Marsh in the 79th minute. Stefan Cleveland made two saves for the Big Green and was credited with five defensive blocks.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
This will be the first time Dartmouth and Xavier have met on the pitch in program history.

AYE AYE CAPTAIN
The Big Green are led by captains James Hickok and Emmanuel Arteaga. Also this season, Dartmouth will have three assistant captains, Wyatt Omsberg, Tyler Dowse and Matt Danilack.

CLASS OF 2020
Six players will join the Big Green this season as members of the Class of 2020, they are: Henry Stusnick, Zach Kalk, Will Chisholm, Braden Salvati, Henry Baldwin and Jesse Scanlon.

PRESEASON ACCOLADES
For the first time under Riley, Dartmouth is ranked in the preseason Top 25 by TopDrawerSoccer.com. The Big Green enter the season at No. 22 after ending 2015 at No. 24. In addition to the preseason ranking, Omsberg was named to the College Soccer News Preseason All-America Third Team and to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hermann Trophy watch list.

BETWEEN THE PIPES
James Hickok will most likely get the nod in goal this season, after the graduation of Cleveland. In 2015, Hickok started in five games and posted a 3-2-0 record with two shutouts and four saves.

FOLLOW ALONG
Can't make it to the game? Friday's game can be streamed live on WatchESPN and the ESPN app for cable subscribers. DartmouthSports.com will also provide live stats for those looking to follow along during the contest.

LOOKING AHEAD
Dartmouth returns for its home opener on Sept. 8 where the Big Green will take on Washington, before hosting No. 16 Seattle on Sept. 11.