Saint Xavier University

CHICAGO – Senior midfielder Gema Garibay (Chicago, Ill./Trinity Christian/South Suburban/SIUE/De La Salle) converted two penalty kicks for the Saint Xavier University women's soccer team (1-5-1, 0-0-1 CCAC) in a 2-2 draw with University of St. Francis in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) opener for both programs Wednesday evening at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago, Ill. Garibay tallied her first goals for the Cougars, and her first goals since 2024 when she scored a goal for Trinity Christian College (Ill.) at Governorst State University (Ill.) on October 11, 2024. She is the first SXU player since former standout Veronica Davila (2023-25) to convert two penalty kicks in a match when Davila netted both goals in a 2-2 draw at Viterbo University (Wis.) on September 19, 2023.

• Senior goalkeeper Natalie Dybas (La Grange, Ill./Lyons Township) collected a match-high eight saves for Saint Xavier. She has made six or more saves in all seven of her starts this season.
• Junior forward Karly Harkness (Oak Lawn, Ill./Bethel/Downers Grove North) totaled a season-high four shot attempts, including two shots on goal in 90 minutes of action.
• Junior midfielder Keira Campbell (Tempe, Ariz./Yavapai/Corona del Sol) had three shot attempts with one shot on goal in 84 minutes of play.
• Senior forward Alex Jonaitis (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) also had three shot attempts while playing the full time.
• A foul by USF inside the 18-yard box setup Garibay's first penalty kick goal to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead in the 19^th minute.
• SXU committed a foul on the other end of the field inside the 18-yard box, and the Fighting Saints tied the game when they converted their PK in the 22^nd minute.
• The third penalty kick of the match occurred in the 36^th minute when sophomore midfielder Paige Swaw (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) drew a foul on a rush from the left side inside the 18-yard box. Garibay put Saint Xavier up 2-1 on her second PK goal.
• St. Francis tied the match in the 74^th minute after a shot was blocked, the ball came free, and after a move the striker sent a shot past Dybas for the equalizer.
• SXU put on the pressure in the final six minutes. Harkness missed a shot just wide to the right side in the 85^th minute, and she had a shot on goal in the 89^th minute but it was saved by the USF goalkeeper.

Saint Xavier (1-5-1/0-0-1 CCAC) makes its way to Bourbonnais, Ill. to play Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) in a CCAC contest on Saturday, September 26. The match is slated for a 12:00 pm start.