Women's Soccer Falls 1-0 to Marquette

Thursday, October 6

NKU Soccer Stadium

6:30 p.m.

Xavier University

6-7-1;0-4-0

Marquette University

7-5-2;3-1-0

Marquette

Xavier

10.06.16 | Women's Soccer

Box Score Season Stats (PDF)Box Score (PDF)

Golden Eagles score game winner late in the first

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Xavier women's soccer created a number of good chances on offense in the second half but were unable to find the back of the net, falling 1-0 against Marquette at NKU Soccer Stadium on Thursday. Xavier moves to 6-7-1 overall and 0-4-0 in conference play.

MARQUETTE STRIKES IN FIRST

Xavier held Marquette scoreless for the first 40 minutes of the match, but the Golden Eagles took the 1-0 lead with five minutes remaining before the break on Leah Celarek's first goal of the season. MU's Liz Bartels crossed from the left side just outside the 18 yard box to Celarek on the right side. Celarek's shot clipping the underside of the cross bar, sneaking into the net for the score.

The Musketeers held the Golden Eagles without a tally in the final 45, with Rachel Piccus collecting a pair of saves for a total of five for the match. Maddie Tierney and Courtney Kobashigawa played the entire 90 on the back line for the Musketeers to keep Xavier within a tally.

MUSKETEERS PRESS IN SECOND

The three best looks of the day came for the Musketeers in the second half as XU looked for the equalizer. In the 58th minute, Skylar Groth brought the ball down the right side of the field, led down by Kenadie Carlson and Samantha Dewey. Much like Dewey's tally at Providence, Carlson set her up from the right side of the box, crossing to Dewey on the left. Dewey had a one-on-one with Marquette goalkeeper Maddy Henry, who made a sliding save to keep the Musketeers from scoring.

Minutes later, Xavier had another good look at tying the game 1-1. In the 62nd minute Maddie Tierney set up for a free kick from just outside the penalty box. Tierney served the ball into Ellie Eckerle, whose header clipped the pole, narrowly missing tying the game.

Xavier continued to pressure on offense, getting a corner kick in the 63rd minute and eventually getting a good look for Kenadie Carlson, one-on-one with the MU's Henry who made the diving stop to keep Xavier scoreless.

The Musketeers had a final chance in the closing seconds of the match, a free kick from the right side of the box, but the MU punched the ball out of the scrum to erase Xavier's final opportunity to equalize the score.

Carlson led the Musketeers on shots, and Dewey, Eckerle and Kobashigawa each recorded an attempt.

FROM COACH SHERWOOD

"We certainly knew it was going to be a big task for us to play two games in five days on a 120' by 80' (field) but that was the hand we were dealt. Athletically, we just aren't built like Marquette and Georgetown. That said, we got the best three chances of the game, two open looks alone with the goal keeper and one hitting the post. Give Marquette credit though, they were better than us on the day. They took full advantage of being athletic on the large field. I thought we had a gutsy second-half effort even with the tanks running low."

UP NEXT

The Musketeers return to the road to face Seton Hall on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 1:00 p.m. in a match broadcast on the BEDN.

Following the Seton Hall match, Xavier returns home for a pair of matches, starting by hosting Villanova on Oct. 15 at noon in the first game of a double-header with Xavier men's soccer, who will also host Villanova. Please stay tuned to GoXavier.com and @XavierWSOC, the official Twitter account of Xavier women's soccer for potential venue or schedule changes.