Xavier shuts out Flyers, Richards scores second goal of year

After starting their season 2-0 with wins over Murray State and Bowling Green, Xavier women’s soccer resumed its season this week with a home game against Dayton and a match on the road against Missouri.

Against Dayton, Xavier played to a 0-0 draw in double-overtime, but lost 3-2 in double-overtime against Missouri.

It was the third Xavier match to go into double-overtime out of its four matches this season.

Xavier was aggressive early against Dayton, outshooting the Flyers four to three in the first half, but they were unable to generate any goals.

Dayton outshot Xavier the rest of the way, but the Musketeer defense and senior goalkeeper Toni Bizzarro were able to neutralize the Flyers and earn the Musketeers their first shutout of the season.

Senior Grace Bahr, sophomore Hayley Jakovich and freshman Halle Rogers grinded out the full 110 minutes on defense for Xavier and were key in helping limit the effectiveness of the Dayton attack.

Xavier once again came out with an aggressive offensive against Missouri, outshooting the Tigers 6-3 in the first half, but Missouri held a 1-0 lead at the half following a goal in the second minute by senior Sarah Luebbert.

The Tigers extended their lead early in the second half after a goal from senior Peyton Joseph, which was the first of her career for Missouri. Xavier quickly answered with a goal in the 57th minute when freshman forward Jackie Richards scored her second of the season off a feed from redshirt junior midfielder Carrie Lewis.

That goal sliced the Missouri lead in half at 2-1. In the 90th and final minute, junior forward Emily Burton scored off a rebound from a header by freshman midfielder Maddie Thiss.

The game remained at 2-2 until the second overtime period, when Missouri freshman Janna Singleton was brought down in the box, giving Missouri a penalty kick.

Luebbert took the penalty for Missouri, and her shot went off the left post and into the back of the net to give Missouri the 3-2 win. With the win, Missouri improved to 4-0-0 on the year while Xavier dropped to 2-1-1.

It was the first matchup against Missouri in program history.

Xavier will remain on the road this week, as they take on Kent State on Friday night at 7 p.m. before facing off with Akron at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in Akron.

Xavier’s next home match is Thursday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m., when they’ll battle Northern Kentucky.

By Joe Clark | Staff Writer

Newswire photo by Desmond Fischer