SXU Athletics
The Saint Xavier University men’s soccer team lost each of its last two games, but the Cougars are scoring for the first time this season.
After beginning a winning streak with a pair of victories against Goshen College and Benedictine University, the Cougars took their talents on the road and suffered a 2-1 loss in double overtime to the Cornerstone University Golden Eagles.
Then Saint Xavier returned home to face another team from Michigan, Marygrove College. The Mustangs of Marygrove, who to that point had been unbeaten, picked up a 3-1 win against the Cougars.
While Saint Xavier’s winning streak has come to a close and a losing streak has emerged, the Cougars have scored at least once in each of their last five games. They had begun the season with two straight blank sheets against them.
In the overtime loss to Cornerstone, it had appeared that neither team would have trouble scoring early.
The Golden Eagles struck first when, in the seventh minute, they were awarded a corner kick. Tristan Esprit took the corner, which found its way to Chris Buitenhuis, who in turn found the back of the net after a touch.
Saint Xavier responded quickly, and the Cougars did so with style.
The Cougars were awarded a corner kick of their own in the 15th minute of action. Senior midfielder Brandon Simoes did the honors, getting the ball to freshman midfielder Ricardo Aldape. Aldape buried to tie the game with a bicycle kick.
It was Aldape’s first goal of the year. Prior to his tally, the Cougar’s six goals had been spread among just three players.
After the early goals for each team, the defense and goalkeepers settled in and stifled the offense.
Cornerstone was able to fire 10 shots during the whole game, but just three were aimed on goal. Similarly, Saint Xavier got off seven shots, but four were on target.
With that limited shooting, the game went to two overtime periods before a winner could be decided. Finally, in the 103rd minute, the match drew to a close, and not in favor of Saint Xavier.
Garrett Nimmo got the ball to Caleb Colp, who got just enough mustard on the ball to beat senior Cougar keeper AJ Pfatschbacher to the left side, earning Cornerstone the 2-1 double overtime victory.
Pfatschbacher and the Cougars again played a strong defense in the first half against the Marygrove Mustangs. Neither team allowed the other to tally in the first half of play.
But in the second half, the Cougars had trouble keeping the Mustangs off the board. In the 53rd minute, Mustang Oneil Robinson took a deep shot from 25 yards out and got it to go, giving Marygrove a 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs would score again before Saint Xavier got its first goal, and it would not take long. Abdoulie Jallow, who had assisted on the Robinson goal, scored from 15 yards out in the 57th minute.
In the 77th minute, Saint Xavier finally got in the scoring column, and it came with a reversal of roles from the goal the Cougars scored against Cornerstone.
This time, it was Aldape who found an open Simoes in a position to score the lone Cougar goal of the game from 10 yards out.
The Mustangs, already up 2-1, would score another goal from in close in the 82nd minute to ensure their victory.
While the scoring is consistent for Saint Xavier, for the most part the players responsible for that scoring has been consistent as well. Simoes and junior forward Marco Gutierrez have three goals apiece on the year, while Aldape and senior Tom Lojek each have a goal to their names.
Opponents are able to key in on Gutierrez and Simoes defensively at this point in the season, because to this point they are the only two who are likely to score.
If the Cougars want to start a new winning streak, they will have to diversify their scoring threats. Getting Aldape involved in the scoring this week may open up opportunities for other players in the near future.
That near future begins with a home game Saturday against Holy Cross College at 7:30 p.m. That will be the second conference game of the year for the Cougars, who shone brightest in conference play last year.
Tim Carroll
Senior Sports Editor