Samantha Dewey’s career day powers women’s soccer over Murray State
Xavier women’s soccer started their season off with a bang, picking up two wins this weekend with victories over Murray State and Bowling Green.
The pair of victories were highlighted by a four-goal game from redshirt senior Samantha Dewey — who was picked as the preseason Big East Offensive Player of the Year — against Murray State.
The Musketeers opened their season on the road against Murray State last Friday with a 4-3 double overtime win over the Racers.
The Racers tallied the first goal of the game in the 19th minute from Abby Jones.
Dewey quickly answered with a goal of her own just minutes later to knot the score at one apiece.
Back-to-back goals from Miyah Watford and Rebbeca Kubin put Xavier down 3-1 heading into halftime. Just minutes into the second half, Dewey netted her second goal of the game to cut the Musketeers deficit to one.
That goal marked the fifth multi-goal game of Dewey’s, the reigning Big East Midfielder of the Year. Dewey’s third goal tied the game at three and forced the match into overtime.
She polished off her remarkable performance with the game-winning goal in the 109th minute to lift Xavier to its first win of the season.
Dewey set a new career-high eight points with the four goals scored, which is one goal more than her previous personal best of three goals scored in one game. The four-goal game was also the second-most total in a single game in Xavier women’s soccer program history.
Xavier returned home for its second game of the weekend at the XU Soccer Complex against the Bowling Green Falcons, and the Musketeers came out on top 2-1.
Xavier struck first in the 27th minute with a goal by junior midfielder Gabrielle LoPresti.
The Falcons quickly answered back, however, as a goal a minute later from Kennedy White left the teams deadlocked at 1-1, which was also the score at the half.
In the 53rd minute, freshman forward Jackie Richards snapped the tie with her first goal as a Musketeer.
She was later named the Big East Freshman of the Week.
The goal ultimately proved to be the decision-maker in the 2-1 victory.
The gritty and efficient weekend for the Musketeers was a great way to start the year on a good note.
The Musketeers’ schedule continues on as it faces the Dayton Flyers on Thursday at the XU Soccer Complex before the Musketeers travel to to play the Missouri Tigers on Sunday.
By Jake Geiger | Guest Writer