Women's Soccer Closes Home Stand with Providence

Thursday, October 1

Cincinnati, Ohio

6:30 P.M.

Xavier University

Providence

Women's Soccer Closes Home Stand with Providence

09.30.15 | Women's Soccer

Friars and Musketeers set for 6:30 kick on Thursday

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - The Xavier women's soccer team (5-4-1; 0-1-0 BIG EAST) closes out a seven-game home stand on Thursday, hosting the Providence Friars (7-4-0; 0-1-0 BIG EAST) at 6:30 p.m. at the XU Soccer Complex. Live stats will be available from GoXavier.com and a live video stream will be available through the BIG EAST Digital Network.

Xavier opened conference play at home last weekend, falling, 4-0, to defending BIG EAST champions DePaul. The Musketeers held the Blue Demons scoreless for much of the first half before Frany Cerny scored at the 37 minute mark. Just before the half, DePaul found a loose ball in the six yard box after a diving save by Rachel Piccus and placed it in the open corner of the net to put the score at 2-0 going into the break. The Blue Demons added a pair in the second half to set the final margin of victory at four.

Providence is coming off a 2-1 loss in double-overtime against Georgetown in its conference opener. The Hoyas took the 1-0 lead in the 12^th minute and held on to the advantage until the closing minute of regulation. Senior Catherine Zimmerman scored with 46 seconds remaining to force overtime. After remaining scoreless for 15 minutes of extra time, the Hoyas scored off a free kick from just outside the box to take the win.

PROMOTIONS

Fill the Hill: The first 100 students and 100 fans will receive a t-shirt designed by the Women's Soccer Team.

SERIES HISTORY

Thursday's match is the fourth in series history between the Musketeers and the Friars with Xavier trailing 1-2-0 all time. The series dates back to 1995 when the Musketeers collected a 4-0 win in Cincinnati and rekindled when XU joined the BIG EAST in 2013. In last season's match in Cincinnati when PC took the 1-0 win after Catherine Zimmerman, who matches Rachel Ugolik as the Friars' leading scorer through 11 games in 2015, scored in the 60^th minute.

BIG EAST AND NCAA LEADERS

Xavier's offense is among the conference leaders for creating scoring opportunities for teammates, coming in just behind Butler with 2.2 assists per game through 10 games, second in the conference and 21st highest in the country. The Musketeers' total assists (22) also the second most in the conference and 25^th most in DI.

Freshman Samantha Dewey leads the way for the Musketeers with five total assists through 10 games, for 0.50 assists per game, a mark that rates second in the conference.

Dewey also rates near the top of the conference with 1.50 points per game, coming in just behind St. John's Rachel Daly. Dewey's total points for the season (15) are the fourth highest in the conference. Sophomore Kenadie Carlson's 13 total points comes in as fifth highest in the BIG EAST.

Dewey and Carlson both also rate in the top five in the conference for goals scored with five each, and goals per game at 0.50.

PICCUS AMONG BIG EAST LEADERS

Junior goalkeeper Rachel Piccus has hauled in 60 saves through 10 games to average 6.0 saves per game. Piccus' total saves ranks second in the BIG EAST and 25^th in the country. Her saves per game also rates as the second most in the conference.

BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK

Through ten games, 13 different Musketeers have scored points after only nine did so for all of 2014. Xavier has more than doubled its offensive output for last season (10 goals), posting 21 goals thus far in 2015. Nine Musketeers have knocked in a goal, while 10 different Musketeers have collected assists.

The Musketeers' scoring effort is led by freshman Samantha Dewey and sophomore Kenadie Carlson who have each tallied five goals through nine games. Dewey also leads the Musketeers with five assists.