CARDINAL STRITCH UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

Milwaukee, Wis. – A two-goal deficit was too much to overcome as the Cardinal Stritch University Wolves women’s soccer team fell to the St. Xavier University Cougars in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) soccer match. The Wolves fell to the Cougars by a final score of 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

With play relatively even in the opening minutes, it would be the Cougars that would strike first. With the ball down by the Stritch goal, one of Wolves was called for a handball inside the goal box, calling for a penalty shot to be taken by the Cougars. SXU made good on the scoring opportunity as Jessica Martinez (Hickory Hills, Ill.) put the ball into the left side of the Stritch goal, past goalkeeper Amy Weaver (Barnoldswick, England), for the 1-0 lead just 10 minutes into the half.

Despite being down early, the Stritch defense didn’t give in as the St. Xavier offense continually tested them during the opening period. The Cougars were able to get off 11 shots as only five of them were able to make it on net.

Entering the second period of play, the Wolves would yield one more goal in the match as SXU’s Joanna Janulis (Bolingbrook, Ill.) was able to notch a goal past Weaver with an assist from Nikki Gendron (Rockford, Ill.). Down 2-0, the Wolves would be unable to generate any offense as Stritch was outshot in the game by a total of 20-6. Of the six total shots, Stritch was able to get just three of them on net in the match.

With the loss, the Wolves now drop to 1-8 overall and 0-2 in the CCAC. The victory improves the Cougars to 5-5 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Stritch will be in action again on Tuesday, Sept. 29 as they’ll face Calumet St. Joseph down in Whiting, Ind. The match is set to take place at 4:00 p.m.