Women's Soccer Falls to No. 25 St. John's on Goal in Closing Minutes

Thursday, October 22

Jamaica, N.Y.

7 P.M.

Xavier University

7-8-1 (2-5BE)

St. John's

13-2-1 (5-1-1BE)

Xavier

St. John's

Photo by: Bob Stevens

Women's Soccer Falls to No. 25 St. John's on Goal in Closing Minutes

10.22.15 | Women's Soccer

Box Score

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

NEW YORK – Xavier women's soccer held one of the top teams in the conference scoreless for over 80 minutes, but a strike from one of the best offensive threats in the nation in the closing minutes of play gave No. 25 St. John's the 1-0 win over the Musketeers at Belson Stadium on Thursday night.

"We were flat out great tonight," said Sherwood after the match. "We controlled possession for much of the match. Of the five great chances of the game, we had three of them. Give (Rachel) Daly credit, that's why she's one of the top players in the country, she finished her one great chance."

The Musketeer defense had locked down SJU's Rachel Daly, the second-leading scorer in the nation coming into the game, until the 83rd minute when Daly found the ball in the 18-yard box with a clean look at the corner of the goal. Daly placed the ball in corner of the net for her 17^th goal of the season, putting the Red Storm ahead, 1-0, with seven minutes remaining.

In a match that had a limited number of clean looks at the goal for either side, the Musketeers created a number of dangerous chances. In the first half, the Musketeers created the best pair of opportunities on either side, with Addie Englehart and Andie Kennard each creating a good chance before break, forcing SJU goalkeeper Diana Poulin collect a pair of saves to prevent the score.

In the second period, Carly Alfano found the ball and fired it on the Poulin who collected it for her third save of the match. Kenadie Carlson continued the attack for the Musketeers seconds later, slipping through the St. John's backline into the box, but the Red Storm keeper again collected the save.

Minutes later, Alfano, who along with Courtney Kobashigawa played the entire match as part of the Xavier backline, got between SJU's Anna Baldursdorttir and the net, blocking one of the best opportunities the Red Storm had created all night.

"Unbelievable effort by our group tonight, but there's no moral victories," said Sherwood. "We came in here looking for three points and we almost got it."

The Musketeers tough battle with the Red Storm wraps up a three-game, nine-day road trip along the east coast for Xavier, taking the Musketeers to some of the toughest challenges the BIG EAST has to offer.

Xavier now returns home host Creighton on Sunday, Oct 25 for Senior Day. Sunday's match is also Xavier's annual Kick for the Cure game benefiting breast cancer awareness, with first touch set for 1:05 p.m. on the BIG EAST Digital Network. Stay tuned to GoXavier.com for more information.