It doesn’t matter what the weather has looked like lately because its been bright sunny days for the Saint Xavier University Women’s Soccer team. They won back-to-back games to finish out and that is the first time this season they have accomplished that feat.
Last Wednesday the Cougars took on the Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Institute of Technology at Stuart Field. The game was close but the Cougars prevailed 1-0 thanks to freshmen midfielder Christina Sperando. It was only the second win in the month of October for the women’s soccer team.
The team was aggressive on this night launching 18 shots and putting seven of them on goal. SXU sophomore forward Christina Szocka led the team with three shots on goal but it was Sperando that scored the key goal in the 39th minute of play.
Junior goalkeeper Danielle Koncius played very well making three saves on her way to recording her first shutout of the season. The defense played well in front of her not allowing shots to be put on goal.
The next game was against Roosevelt University on senior day for the Cougars. Seniors goalkeeper/forward Anita Balciunas, midfielder Molly Sheehan, defender Rachel Wojtysiak, and defender/midfielder Jessica DePinto were all honored before the game for their terrific careers here as SXU soccer players.
In the last home game of the season the SXU Women’s soccer team put on a show by having an offensive explosion in front of a great home crowd on Saturday. Scoring got started when sophomore forward Lexi Cozzi put one in the back of the net off an assist from junior Morgan Graves. Junior Marissa Graves gave the Cougars some breathing room when she scored before halftime to make it 2-0.
In the second half goals in the 47th and 65th minute were scored by freshmen foward Mariana Hoerr and Morgan Graves respectively to put the game out of reach. The Cougars finished with 22 shots on goal and fired everything but the kitchen sink and the dish soap at the Lakers on their way to a 4-1 victory and their second straight win.
The Cougars wanted to make sure that the seniors went out with a bang and boy did they. SXU improved to 3-7 in conference play and 6-10 record overall.
The team will finish up the year on Wednesday Nov. 6 against No. 18 ranked Robert Morris University in Arlington Heights at 4p.m.
Damone Griffin
Copy Editor