Conference play began for Saint Xavier soccer and the early results are positive. Both the men and women’s team faced off against the same opponent, Holy Cross College.
Coach Vucinic’s team was first up as they played Holy Cross on Tuesday the 19th. It took Saint Xavier until double overtime, but they managed to pull out a 2-1 victory on the road. The hero of the game was junior midfielder, Elias Leyva. Leyva scored a brace on the night including a penalty in the 102nd minute. It was his first two goals of the season and they could not have come at a better time. Danny Lopez provided the assist on Leyva’s first goal off a corner kick.
Keeper, and last week’s Defensive Player of the Week, Frank Valle added to his saves tally by recording seven more saves. It was a busy night for Valle as Holy Cross mustered up a total of 18 shots in the game. Most of those shots came during regulation as the Saint Xavier defense did well to limit Holy Cross to only three shots in both overtime periods.
Saint Xavier did well to come away with a win as they found themselves playing with ten men after junior midfielder, Danny Lopez, was given a red card in the 87th minute. The game was a chippy one as there were a total of 29 fouls committed, 15 by Saint Xavier, and eleven yellow cards branded out. With the win, Saint Xavier improve their record to 4-3 and finally get over the .500 mark. Unfortunately, they fell back under the .500 mark after falling 2-1 to Saint Francis University (Ill.).
Sophomore defender, Michael Gutierrez, scored Saint Xavier’s lone goal off a pass from junior midfielder, Caden Patten. Frank Valle did his best to keep his team in the game. Saint Francis had a total of twenty shots which forced Valle to making eight saves. The Cougars return home to face Cardinal Stritch University at Deaton Field.
The women’s soccer team headed into conference play still looking for their first win of the season. Perhaps the start of conference play was what Coach Strehlau’s team needed they were finally able to notch their first win of the season against Holy Cross. Trailing throughout much of the second-half, Saint Xavier battled and got two late penalties to overcome their deficit and win 2-1.
Saint Xavier’s first penalty came in the 71st minute and junior midfielder/defender, Brooke Mejdrich, slotted the penalty away and tied the game. Only six minutes later, Saint Xavier won another penalty and this time junior midfielder, Andreina Hernandez, did the honors. They took the lead and never looked back. It was a vastly improved performance for Saint Xavier and arguably their best performance of the season. They were much better going forward this time around as they tallied a total of 21 shots with 11 of those being on goal. Scorer, Brooke Mejdrich led the team with four shots (two on goal).
Saint Xavier’s other Defensive Player of the Week, Carly Bledsoe, had another solid performance. Bledsoe only had to make five saves which spoke to the defensive efforts of not only her back line, but the team as a whole.They held Holy Cross to ten shots and only conceded two shots after they took the lead. Coach Strehlau and his team finally got the proverbial monkey off their backs and notched their first win.
Saint Xavier were able to continue this stretch of positve results as they drew in double overtime to Saint Francis Universty, 1-1. Junior midfielder, Jillian Doan, had a flair for the dramatic as she scored a golazo in the final seconds of regulation. Her free-kick in the 90th minute was just out of the reach of the Saint Francis keeper thus sending the game into extra time. Both overtime periods were rather tame as both teams only mustered a combined total of seven shots. Carly Bledsoe continued her good play as she notched another eleven saves while facing 24 shots.
Despite only scoring one goal, Saint Xavier’s offensive play gave hope for the future. The team had 18 shots on goal, including seven on goal. If they can continue to produce opportunities, the goals will come. Strehlau and his team return home and continue conference play against Cardinal Stritch University.
Ernesto Hernandez
Sports Columnist