By: Nikhil Jelaji

The Xavier women’s soccer team is off to the best start since 1990 after a 1-0 victory over Morehead State on Sept. 15. The Musketeers remain undefeated with an overall record of 5-0-1.

The Musketeers were scoreless after the first 72 minutes as they battled it out against Morehead State. Xavier freshman midfielder Maggie Hare scored the decisive goal at 72:35 in the second half. With that goal, Hare now has three goals on the season.

“We knew coming in here it was going to be a challenge to play attractively since Morehead plays on a 65 yard wide football field,” head coach Woody Sherwood said.

“We really challenged our players at halftime. In the second half we were able to create a couple of very good chances and one of them resulted in a goal.”

Junior goalkeeper Katie Markesbery recorded her fourth straight shutout while notching a pair of saves to her stat sheet.

With the win, the Musketeers recorded their fifth shutout in six matches and dropped Morehead State to 0-6-1.

The Xavier women’s soccer team is also coming off of a shutout victory against the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Musketeers won 3-0 in front of a school-record crowd of 1,804 at the Xavier Soccer Complex. Hare, senior tri-captain Lauren Heap and sophomore forward Erin McGauley all scored against the Bearcats.

“The first five-six minutes were a little shaky,” Sherwood said. “We had a few uncharacteristic calls, but this is also a huge crowd and we have a bunch of youngsters and we played pretty efficient.”

The victory snapped a fivematch losing streak against the Bearcats.

Xavier visits Indiana at 7 p.m. today in a decisive showdown and return home to host Northern Kentucky at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.