Men
On September 19, the Saint Xavier Men’s Soccer team took on Aquinas College. The game was a tight defensive battle that saw that the Cougars lost a nail-biter in double overtime.
The game did not start out well for the Cougars as Aquinas got four shots off within the first eight minutes of the game. Luckily for the Cougars, none of the shots were on target. Once the Cougars got settled into this game, the offense started to make some plays.
One of the biggest and most crucial sequences of the game came in the 25th minute when Roger Ciszewski and Orlando Tapia shot back to back shots that hit off the post. After that thrilling sequence though, the game settled down and we went into halftime tied at 0-0.
Just like in the beginning of the first half, Aquinas peppered the Cougars to start the second half, shooting shot after shot towards goalkeeper Frank Valle. However, this pressure would not stop as Valle and the Cougars’ defense were being constantly challenged throughout the entire second half.
Luckily though only two of the 18 second half shots made it on net and Valle saved them both. A crazy sequence at the end of the second half where Aquinas hit a shot off the post ended the half with the Cougars tied at 0-0 headed into overtime.
In the first overtime, the Cougars had a prime opportunity to win the game off of an own goal by Aquinas near the very end of the first overtime, however Aquinas goalkeeper Ty VandePoel saved the shot, forcing the game to go into a second overtime.
In the 102 minute of the game during double overtime, the Cougars gave up the game winning goal to lose the game 1-0. It had to be heartbreaking to the players after having so many opportunities to score slip away from them.
With the loss the Cougars’ record now stands at 3-3. They will play in their first conference game on Tuesday, September 22 against Trinity International University.
Women
On September 16, the Saint Xavier Women’s Soccer team took on Bethel College. The game was tightly contested game that was decided by a penalty kick goal to give the Cougars a much needed win.
The Cougars came focused and ready for this game, getting three shots off within the first five minutes of the game. This set the tone of the game as Saint Xavier continued to pepper Bethel College with shot after shot.
Unfortunately, the Cougars were not able to capitalize the way they had hoped in the first half. However, they did score a goal off midfielder Abigail Peppin to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute of the game.
The half ended with the Cougars holding on to their 1-0 lead. In the second half, Bethel College struck back by scoring a goal in the 57th minute to tie the game at 1-1. The Cougars soon retook the lead after Bethel College committed a penalty in the goalie box during a corner kick.
That resulted in defender/midfielder Jillian Doan taking and making the penalty kick in the 65th minute to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead. From there, Cougars were tasked with holding the lead for the next 25 minutes.
They succeeded at doing just that, allowing only one good chance in the 89 minute, which was saved by goalie Alex Perry. The Cougars ended up winning this game 2-1. Perry had a very good game, saving seven of eight shots that she faced, while Mariana Hoerr led the team in shots on goal with three of them.
With the win, the Cougars’ record now sits at 2-4. They will have a tough challenge in their next game on Wednesday, September 23, against #17 Trinity International University.
John Romando
Senior Sports Editor