Xavier University Athletics
Photo by: Katie Stratman
Xavier Athletics Announces Change in Leadership for Women’s Soccer Program
12.04.23 | Women's Soccer
Head coach Nate Lie departs after leading Xavier to three BIG EAST Regular Season titles and four NCAA Tournaments in seven seasons
CINCINNATI – Xavier Athletics announced a change in leadership for the Xavier women's soccer program after head coach Nate Lie accepted a position to lead the women's soccer program at the University of Kansas.
Lie posted a record of 82-37-19 in seven seasons at Xavier, leading the Musketeers to three BIG EAST Regular Season titles and four NCAA appearances, picking up the program's first two NCAA wins along the way.
Lie took the helm of the program prior to the 2017 season, leading the program to its first BIG EAST Tournament in his first season and earning the program's first BIG EAST Tournament home match in 2018 before winning the program's first BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championship in 2019. With the BIG EAST Tournament Championship, Xavier clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the program's first appearance since 2000.
The 2019 Musketeers capped off the program's incredible three-year turnaround with a win over Virginia Tech in the NCAA Championship, the program's first NCAA win, and finished the season with a school-record 17 wins.
Xavier returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the program's second BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. The 2021 Musketeers earned the program's best rankings in the United Soccer Coaches Poll (No. 11) and the RPI (No. 7) during the season and the program's first at-large bid and home match in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2022, Xavier earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship for a second-straight season after going unbeaten in BIG EAST play. The Musketeers advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history after taking 4-1 win over Tennessee in the first round.
The 2023 Musketeers won a share of the BIG EAST Regular Season title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Xavier received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, earning a No. 4 seed, marking the best seeding in program history and the second NCAA home match for the Musketeers.
During his tenure at Xavier, Lie coached three United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, including 2023 USC All-American Second Team selection Natalie Bain, as well as Molly McLaughlin (Third Team - 2022) and Samantha Dewey (Third Team - 2019).
The Musketeers also had 29 All-BIG EAST Selections during Lie's tenure, including BIG EAST Midfielders of the Year Samantha Dewey (2018) and Molly McLaughlin (2022), BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Olivia Jenkins (2021), and BIG EAST Freshmen of the Year Sydney Schembri (2017) and Ella Rogers (2021).
Additionally, Nate Lie and his staff were named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year three times (2019, 2021, 2023).
In addition to its success on the field, the program also maintained a high standard in the classroom, posting a GPA of 3.5 or above and earning USC All-Academic Team honors in each season of Lie's tenure.
Associate head coach Katy Etelman will serve as the interim coach. A national search will begin immediately.
Lie posted a record of 82-37-19 in seven seasons at Xavier, leading the Musketeers to three BIG EAST Regular Season titles and four NCAA appearances, picking up the program's first two NCAA wins along the way.
Lie took the helm of the program prior to the 2017 season, leading the program to its first BIG EAST Tournament in his first season and earning the program's first BIG EAST Tournament home match in 2018 before winning the program's first BIG EAST Regular Season and Tournament Championship in 2019. With the BIG EAST Tournament Championship, Xavier clinched an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the program's first appearance since 2000.
The 2019 Musketeers capped off the program's incredible three-year turnaround with a win over Virginia Tech in the NCAA Championship, the program's first NCAA win, and finished the season with a school-record 17 wins.
Xavier returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the program's second BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. The 2021 Musketeers earned the program's best rankings in the United Soccer Coaches Poll (No. 11) and the RPI (No. 7) during the season and the program's first at-large bid and home match in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2022, Xavier earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship for a second-straight season after going unbeaten in BIG EAST play. The Musketeers advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history after taking 4-1 win over Tennessee in the first round.
The 2023 Musketeers won a share of the BIG EAST Regular Season title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Xavier received an at-large bid to the NCAA Championship, earning a No. 4 seed, marking the best seeding in program history and the second NCAA home match for the Musketeers.
During his tenure at Xavier, Lie coached three United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, including 2023 USC All-American Second Team selection Natalie Bain, as well as Molly McLaughlin (Third Team - 2022) and Samantha Dewey (Third Team - 2019).
The Musketeers also had 29 All-BIG EAST Selections during Lie's tenure, including BIG EAST Midfielders of the Year Samantha Dewey (2018) and Molly McLaughlin (2022), BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Olivia Jenkins (2021), and BIG EAST Freshmen of the Year Sydney Schembri (2017) and Ella Rogers (2021).
Additionally, Nate Lie and his staff were named BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year three times (2019, 2021, 2023).
In addition to its success on the field, the program also maintained a high standard in the classroom, posting a GPA of 3.5 or above and earning USC All-Academic Team honors in each season of Lie's tenure.
Associate head coach Katy Etelman will serve as the interim coach. A national search will begin immediately.
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