PREVIEW: Women's Soccer Non-Conference Slate

CINCINNATI – No. 24 Xavier women's soccer kicks off the 2022 season on Thursday, August 18, facing Western Kentucky at Corcoran Field to kick off a nine-game non-conference schedule before starting the program's tenth season competing in the BIG EAST Conference.

In the non-conference action, Xavier will face teams from six conferences, including the A10, ACC, ASUN, Big Ten, Conference USA and MAC, and facing four-straight NCAA Tournament participants from last season before moving into conference play.

The Musketeers, who are picked to finish second in the BIG EAST, enter the season ranked No. 24 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason poll after finishing last season at No. 19, and also open up the 2022 season ranked No. 21 by TopDrawerSoccer.

Xavier returns 23 letterwinners, including eight starters, from last season's squad which won the program's second BIG EAST Regular Season Championship and earned the program's first at-large bid and home match in the NCAA Tournament, picking up program-best rankings in the United Soccer Coaches Poll (No. 11) and the RPI (No. 7) during the season.

NON-CONFERENCE SLATE

vs. Western Kentucky
Cincinnati, Ohio / Corcoran Field
Thursday, Aug. 18 - 6:00 PM

In 2021, WKU finished the season with a 10-5-1 overall record and a 5-2-1 league record for a second-place finish in Conference USA's East division.
WKU returns All-Conference picks in defender Lyric Schmidt and forward Katie Erwin.
Xavier is 0-1 all-time against the Hilltoppers, with the lone match-up coming in August 2012 in Muncie, Ind., a 3-0 win for WKU.

vs. Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio / Corcoran Field
Sunday, Aug. 21 - 7:30 PM

The Bobcats went 11-5-3 overall last season, with a 7-1-3 record in MAC play, finishing second in the league.
OU returns All-MAC first team goalkeeper Sam Wexell, and second team selections midfielder Haley Miller and forward Abby Townsend.
Xavier is 7-2 all-time against Ohio, and enters this season's contest with a two-match win streak over the Bobcats, last facing them in 2017 when the Musketeers took a 2-1 win in double overtime at Corcoran Field.

at Louisville
Louisville, Ky.
Thursday, Aug. 25 - 7:30 PM

The Cardinals went 7-7-2 overall in 2021, with a 3-6-1 record in the ACC.
Xavier is 13-3 all-time against Louisville, in a series that dates back to 1986.
The Cardinals took the last match-up, 2-1, played in August 2018 in Louisville.

at Ball State
Muncie, Ind.
Sunday, Aug. 28 - 1:00 PM

During the 2021 regular season, Ball State posted a 6-9-2 overall record and finished 4-5-2 in MAC play.
The Cardinals return MAC All-Freshman Team honoree forward Lexi Fraley.
Xavier is 3-3-2 all time against BSU, entering this season's contest on a two-match win streak after taking a 1-0 in Cincinnati in September 2021.

at Loyola-Chicago
Chicago, Ill.
Sept. 1 – 8:00 PM ET

The Ramblers, coming off a 13-3-2 season where they made a fourth-consecutive NCAA Tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Championship.
Loyola was picked to finish third in the program's inaugural Atlantic 10 season, placing three on the A10's Preseason All-Conference Team.
Those selected include last season's Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year Abby Swanson, MVC Player of the Year Megan Nemac, and All-MVC Second Team selection Alain Abel.
The Musketeers are 5-3-1 against the Ramblers after taking a 2-1 last season in Cincinnati.

at Northwestern
Evanston, Ill.
Sunday, Sept. 4 - 2:00 PM ET

Northwestern went 7-9-1 in 2021, posting a 3-6-1 record in Big Ten play.
Xavier is 1-0 against the Wildcats after taking a 2-1 win last season in Cincinnati.

vs. Saint Louis
Cincinnati, Ohio / Corcoran Field
Thursday, Sept. 8 - 7:00 PM

The Billikens went 13-9-1 overall last season and 7-3 in Atlantic 10 play, winning the A10 Conference title and advancing to the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
Saint Louis was picked to win the A10 by the league coaches, putting five on the preseason All-Conference team.
Among those players were 2021 All-A10 First Team selections Brionna Halverson, Abbie Miller and Emily Puricelli, A10 Rookie of the Year and second-team All-Conference selection Emily Gaebe, as well as Hannah Friedrich.
Xavier is 4-3 against SLU all-time, after taking a 1-0 win in St. Louis last season.

vs. Lipscomb
Cincinnati, Ohio / Corcoran Field
Sunday, Sept. 11 - 1:00 PM

The Bison went 15-5-1 overall and 7-2 in ASUN play last season, taking the league's championship and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Lipscomb was selected as the favorite to win the ASUN in the league's preseason poll, placing four on the Preseason All-Conference Team, and picking up the conferences' Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year honors.
Among those players, are CJ Graham, the league's preseason pick of Goalkeeper of the year, who is coming off an ASUN First Team season where she was the Goalkeeper of the Year. Shelby Craft, also a ASUN First Team selection was picked to win ASUN Defensive Player of the Year for a third straight season. Molly Grant, a second team selection last season, and Kelli Beiler were also selected to the preseason team.
Xavier is 2-0 against Lipscomb all-time, last facing the Bison in 2019, taking a 2-1 win.

vs. Bowling Green
Cincinnati, Ohio / Corcoran Field
Friday, Sept. 16 - 6:00 PM

The Falcons went 11-7-3 overall and 8-2-1 in MAC play in fall 2021, winning the MAC Tournament and earning a fourth-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
BGSU returns All-MAC First Team selection in defender Audrey Shea, and Second Team selection goalkeeper Lili Berg.
Xavier is 3-2-1 all-time against the Falcons, entering the 2022 contest on a four-match unbeaten streak after playing to a 1-1 draw in double overtime last season.

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PREVIEW: Women's Soccer Non-Conference Slate

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