Xavier knocks off 3-time defending champ Hoyas

By Jake Geiger | Staff Writer

The historic 2019 season for Xavier women’s soccer will continue in earnest. 

The Musketeers entered the record books for a second straight week by knocking off three-time defending Big East  Tournament champion Georgetown, 2-0, in the conference title game Sunday afternoon in Omaha, Neb.

It was Xavier’s first win against the Hoyas since joining the Big East Conference prior to the 2013 season.

Led by third-year head coach Nate Lie, the Musketeers earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament — their first trip to the tournament since 2000.

In the opening round of the tournament, Xavier will meet ACC foe Virginia Tech on the road Friday at 5 p.m.

Before reaching the Big East Championship, Xavier had to handle the No 4. seed Villanova Wildcats in the semifinals.

In the 15th minute, redshirt junior forward Carrie Lewis scored the first goal to give Xavier an early lead.

The Musketeers quickly added onto the lead in the second half. Sophomore defender Haley Jakovich took advantage of a rebound from a save by Villanova’s keeper and extended the lead to two goals.

The goal helped the Musketeers put away the Wildcats and advance to their first Big East Championship in school history. Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Jenkins notched her fourth clean sheet of the season in just her seventh start.

With the win, Xavier claimed the top spot in program history by having the most wins (15) in a single season.

That record wouldn’t stand for long, though.

After taking care of Villanova, Xavier faced No. 2 seed Georgetown — a team it lost to earlier in the season by just one goal and a squad it had never been able to defeat before.

The Musketeers started the game off firing on all cylinders. Senior forward Grace Bahr delivered a ball into the attacking zone and sophomore forward Brooke Sroka capitalized to make it 1-0 Musketeers in the 11th minute.

Xavier struck again later on in the first half to add insurance to the lead. Bahr served a ball into the box after a corner kick and junior forward Gabrielle LoPresti floated a shot over the Hoyas’ keeper to gain a two-goal lead heading into the half.

Xavier maintained its lead for the rest of the match to be crowned Big East Champions just 10 days after winning the regular season title.

The Musketeers will enter NCAA Tournament play riding high on a seven-game win streak.