The Saint Xavier Men’s Soccer season started a little over a month ago and it is already off to a somewhat interesting start. The Cougars are currently 4-7 this year.
They started off the year against the University of Rio Grande, who were rated as the 16th best team in the nation.
SXU lost that game 0-3, putting the Cougars with a 0-1 record to start the season. The Cougars then traveled to Belleville, Illinois to play Lindenwood University. Saint Xavier lost that game 1-3, giving the Cougars a 0-2 record.
Saint Xavier then had to recoup for their next game against Campbellsville University. The Cougars picked up their first victory of the year in that game, winning 1-0 after Danny Lopez scored a goal in the 33rd minute of play, sending the Cougars to a 1-2 record. The Cougars continued to ride their momentum after the previous week’s victory by defeating Cornerstone University 2-1, giving the Cougars a 2-2 record.
SXU then traveled to Indiana Wesleyan University, where they lost 0-1, putting the Cougars at 2-3. Saint Xavier then played four straight home games over the course of ten days. The Cougars went 2-2 in those four games, defeating Aquinas College and St. Francis (IL). However, they lost to Holy Cross College and the University of Northwestern Ohio over the same timespan. After those four games, the Cougars’ record was 4-5.
After that week and a half homestand, the Cougars traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to play the 13th best team in the country, Cardinal Stritch University. The Cougars and Wolves were tied 1-1 going into overtime and after neither team could take the lead, both teams had to go to a second overtime. With one minute left to go in the second overtime, the Wolves scored a game-winning goal, sending the Cougars to a 4-6 record.
The Cougars had to lick their wounds and regroup for their next game against Judson University at Deaton Field. The Cougars lost that game 2-5, sending them to a 4-7 record on the season.
Saint Xavier plays seven more games this year, three at home and four away. SXU is currently 10th place in the CCAC. Saint Xavier’s leading goal scorers are Michael Gutierrez, who has scored three goals, Danny Lopez, Ricardo Aldape, and Daniel Weinhandl, who have scored two goals each. No matter how bad Saint Xavier finishes off the regular season, they are still guaranteed a CCAC playoff game.
The Cougars have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, when they went to the CCAC Finals and lost to Roosevelt University. The Saint Xavier Cougars Men’s Soccer team still has a whole lot to play for and there is still plenty of time to get back into high gear.
Chris Leonchik
Sports Editor
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