Redshirt Senior Goalkeeper Daniel Martinez SXU Athletics
Saint Xavier University’s (SXU) men’s soccer team have moved into fourth place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) after a quiet offensive stretch in their last three games.
On Oct. 20, SXU found themselves back in the win column when they defeated Indiana University Northwest (INU) 1-0 after consecutive losses to Viterbo University and the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC).
SXU began their three game stretch on the road against the Viterbo University V-Hawks in La Crosse, Wisconsin as they looked to build momentum coming off a 1-1 tie against the University of St. Francis but their defense was no match for V-Hawks offense as they managed to connect for four goals while only conceding one.
The first goal for the V-Hawks came in minute 12 and from that point on the SXU defense was able to hold their ground for the remainder of the half and kept things within reach.
In the second half however, that’s when things took a turn for the worst as just three minutes into the half SXU was forced to play with ten players on field after a red card ejection.
Viterbo would take advantage of the ejection as they added two more goals in minutes 62 and 66, they would even help SXU get on the board late with an own goal in minute 78 cutting the deficit to two scores.
It would not take long for the V-Hawks to bring the game back to a three score game and secure the 4-1 win over SXU.
The Cougars looked to turn the page in their following game against the UIC Flames on the road. Their offensive struggles would continue as they were never able to find an answer to UIC’s early goal in the second half.
Even though the game didn’t end in the Cougars favor, the SXU defense still managed to keep this game close.
Redshirt Senior goalkeeper Daniel Martinez recorded nine saves to keep it a one score game but the offense was never able to find an answer.
After a ten day break the Cougars returned to action as they hosted Indiana University Northwest.
In the first half both teams struggled to connect with the back of the net to keep things scoreless at halftime. Opportunities were just never really created for either side as the Cougars finished the half with just five shots attempts.
SXU finally broke through in minute 63 when Freshman Midfielder Kajetan Mlynarski connected with the net for his first collegiate goal thanks to an assist from Senior Forward Mark Vitaliy Hul and Redshirt Senior Midfielder Mauri Martinez.
Despite IUN’s best efforts to even things up late the Cougar defense held their ground to keep them off the board and snapping their three game winless streak.
The Cougars now sit at 6-8-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the CCAC with just two games left for SXU including one last home game against No.1 Olivet Nazarene University on Oct. 28.
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