Rio Grande, Ohio – A pair of goals just over two minutes apart in the closing moments of the first half were the difference in a 2-0 defeat for Saint Xavier University men's soccer (0-2/0-0 CCAC) Saturday morning in the first game of the Rio Grande Classic Saturday at Davis Field in Rio Grande, Ohio. Senior forward
Mark Vitaliy Hul (Ternopil, Ukraine/TSSH No. 29) finished with three of the team's nine shot attempts, while junior midfielder
Cristian Morales (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice) had a team-leading two shots on goal on two shot attempts. The Lancers edged the Cougars in shot attempts by a 12-9 margin.
- Senior midfielder/forward Yael Diaz (Chicago, Ill./Moraine Valley/Hubbard) totaled two shot attempts with one shot on goal while playing all 90 minutes.
- Freshman forward/midfielder Fidel Orozco (Chicago, Ill./De La Salle) recorded his first collegiate shot on goal in 26 minutes as a reserve.
- Redshirt senior goalkeeper Daniel Martinez (Cicero, Ill./Morton East) collected four saves for SXU.
- Grace broke the scoreless tie in the 40th minute, and they would add another goal just over 90 seconds later in the 42nd minute to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.
- Saint Xavier controlled the tempo in the second half; however, they were turned away on their five shot attempts.
Saint Xavier (0-2/0-0 CCAC) plays their home opener on Friday, August 28 against former Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) for St. Ambrose University (Iowa). The match is set for a 7:00 pm start at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill.
