Women's Soccer Tops Villanova, Moves to 3-0 in BIG EAST Play

Sunday, October 1

Villanova, Pa.

1 PM

Xavier University

7-4-2, 3-0BIG EAST

Villanova

5-7-0, 1-2BIG EAST

Xavier

Villanova

Women's Soccer Tops Villanova, Moves to 3-0 in BIG EAST Play

10.01.17 | Women's Soccer

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

Mark is best start for program in conference play since 1997

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

CINCINNATI - Xavier women's soccer picked up its first road win of the season, topping Villanova 1-0 at the Higgins Soccer Complex in Villanova, Pa. on Sunday afternoon. The mark moves the Musketeers to 7-4-2 overall and 3-0 in BIG EAST play, the longest winning streak to start the conference slate for the program since 1997.

After a scoreless first half, Sydney Schembri scored the game winner in the 65th minute after getting behind the Villanova goalkeeper. Xavier's defense held a BIG EAST opponent scoreless for a second-straight game to match the program record for BIG EAST wins just three games into the conference schedule.

HOW THEY SCORED

65' | XAVIER | Maddie Tierney served the ball ahead from the back edge of the middle third of the field, with Sydney Schembri and Tori Doss streaking ahead. The VU goalkeeper came off her line to collect the ball, but Doss tapped it away from her to Schembri. With the keeper on the ground, Schembri worked the ball into the six-yard box, tapping the ball into an open net.

NOTABLE

Xavier moved to 7-4-2 overall and 3-0 in BIG EAST play. The win adds to a program-best conference winning streak since joining the conference in 2013.
Three games into the the nine-game BIG EAST regular season, Xavier stands atop the conference standings with No. 17 Georgetown at 3-0. Butler also remains unbeaten at 2-0-1.
The three-game winning streak is the first longest for the Musketeers since Sept. 2015, when the Musketeers won three straight over Marian, IUPUI and EKU.
The three-game conference winning streak is the longest for Xavier since 2003, when the Musketeers put together a 5-0 streak to close out the regular season, and extended the streak to six with a win in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
The 3-0 start in conference is the best start for the team since starting the 1997 A10 schedule with a 6-0 mark.
Just three games into the conference slate Xavier has matched it's highest BIG EAST win total from 2015, when the Musketeers went 3-6-0 in conference play.
The road win is the first of the season for the Musketeers, who stand at 1-2 away from home. Its the third win on the road in BIG EAST play for the program, and the second at Villanova.
Xavier moves to 3-2-0 all time and extends its winning streak to three-straight against the Wildcats.
Xavier picked up its seventh win, matching the win total from last season with six games remaining in the regular season.
Sydney Schembri's goal brings her total to a team-high five goals, including three game-winners. Schembri' total goals would match for third most in the conference in stats as of Sept. 29. Her three game-winners would match Georgetown's Caitlin Farrell for the most in the BIG EAST, as of Sept. 29.
Tori Doss picked up the assist on the goal, her second of the season.
VU outshot the Musketeers, 8-4, and held a 5-3 advantage on corner kicks.
Toni Bizzarro made three saves with no goals against for her second-straight clean sheet, and third of the season. Bizzarro's record moves to 7-4-1 on the season.
Carly Alfano and Maddie Tierney played the full 90 minute on the back line while Carrie Lewis played full time in midfield.

VIDEO

WATCH: @sydschembri gets behind the Villanova keeper to put the Musketeers up, 1-0. #LetsGoX pic.twitter.com/FwPsDZn7vp
— XU Women's Soccer (@XavierWSOC) October 1, 2017

UP NEXT

The Musketeers stay on the road for the next match, heading to Indianapolis to face Butler on Thursday, Oct.5 at 7:00 p.m.
Xavier returns home on Sunday, Oct. 8, hosting DePaul at 1:00 p.m. The Musketeers will celebrate Senior Day prior to the match with the Blue Demons.