Aug. 13, 2008

CINCINNATI - The Xavier University men's soccer team is geared up for the 2008 season.  In fact, the team is so anxious for the season to start that the Musketeers held their first practice on Wednesday, August 13 at 12 a.m. sharp. 

The "Midnight Madness" session kicked-off with a fitness test, which was passed by every upperclassman, and concluded with an 11 v. 11 intrasquad scrimmage.  The scrimmage, which consisted of two 30-minute halves and pitted the upperclassmen vs. the underclassmen, was won 1-0 by the more experienced guys.

"Midnight madness was great," said somewhat sarcastic senior captain Jimmy Cummings.  "Everyone seemed very awake.  But in all seriousness it is probably the best time to do a fitness test because it is so much cooler than the middle of the afternoon." 

"I also thought the more experienced guys played much better and showed the new guys how things were going to be.  So it was worth it."

XU returns nine starters from last year's squad, which finished 8-10-1 and finished just one point shy of qualifying for its second-straight Atlantic 10 Championship.  With a solid core returning coupled with yet another highly-touted recruiting class, the team has its sights set on a return trip to the A-10 Championship.

The Musketeers will play their first exhibition contest on Monday, August 18 at Rio Grande at 7 p.m.  XU's lone home exhibition contest will be on Friday, August 22 at 7 p.m. against Oakland.  The regular season commences on Friday, August 29 against intracity rival Cincinnati at 7 p.m. 

"I am excited and really looking forward to the season, said Cummings.  "I know we are going to put a lot of time and effort into working together as a team."