CHICAGO – A goal in the 43^rd minute was the difference in 1-0 loss as the Saint Xavier University men's soccer team (0-1, 0-0 CCAC) fell to No. 22 University of Rio Grande (Ohio) Thursday evening in the 2025 season opener for both programs Thursday evening at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. The Cougars were narrowly outshot on the evening by a 10-7 margin; however, they did have five shots to URG's three in the second half. Redshirt junior goalkeeper Daniel Martinez (Cicero, Ill./Morton East) finished with a match-best five saves for SXU.

• Redshirt sophomore midfielder Saul Lagunas (Midlothian, Ill./Bremen) came away with two shots on goal on two shot attempts in 85 minutes on the pitch.
• Redshirt senior forward Jaedan Aguilera (Belvidere, Ill./Belvidere North) posted two shots attempts with one shot on goal in 67 minutes of action.
• Junior midfielder/forward Yael Diaz (Chicago, Ill./Moraine Valley/Hubbard), making his debut for the Cougars, tallied two shot attempts with one shot on goal while playing the full-time.
• Sophomore midfielder/forward Eduardo Perez (Chicago, Ill./St. Laurence) recorded a shot attempt in 53 minutes off the bench.
• Martinez made an early save for the Cougars in the third minute on a shot from the far-right side of the field. He would make another stop in the 11^th minute.
• Lagunas had a shot turned away in the 31^st minute that kept the match scoreless.
• The RedStorm scored the lone goal in the match in the 43^rd minute. Martinez saved a shot from the left side; however, he couldn't corral the ball and Rio Grande pounced on the loose ball for the tally.
• Aguilera had a chance at the equalizer off a free-kick after a yellow card in the 82^nd minute, but his header was stopped by the URG goalkeeper.

Saint Xavier (0-1/0-0 CCAC) travels to Grand Rapids, Mich. to take on Cornerstone University (Mich.) in a non-conference contest on Wednesday, August 27. The match is scheduled to start at 4:30 pm (central).