The Varsity soccer team beat Pinnacle last night by the score of 2-1. The Gators got off to a great start and had a very solid first half. 

Senior goalkeeper Chloe Cundiff made an early beautiful save to keep the score tied at zero. Then, about thirteen minutes into the game, senior midfielder Myriam Lawrence got Xavier on the scoreboard when she intercepted a pass from a Pinnacle player, noticed the Pinnacle goalkeeper off of her goal line, and chipped the ball over the goalkeeper's head for a 1-0 score. Heads-up play by Myriam. 

The second goal occurred with about eleven minutes left in the first half when senior captain Nev Herzog found fellow senior captain Olivia Yu, who received the Herzog pass and struck a low shot into the lower right-hand corner of the goal for a 2-0 lead. 

VIDEO: Witness Xavier's Two Goals 


In the second half, Pinnacle came out very aggressive and were eventually awarded an indirect free kick that they converted for a score.  Xavier lead dwindles, 2-1.

Senior goalkeeper Chloe Cundiff had six saves in the match, many coming in the second half to help preserve the win. The back line of juniors Reese Koehler and Sophia Knox, along with seniors Ivy Schuman and Bianca Willis were fantastic all night! 

Olivia Yu played a great game and was dangerous almost every time she touched the ball. Senior forward Kyleigh Carr helped the offense keep pressure on the Pinnacle defense all night.

This was a very good win for our team and a great result against a top team. Xavier moved up around five places in the 6A(3rd) and Open(4th) State Rankings heading into the State Tournament.

The Gators finish the regular season this Friday night at Millennium and then face their round-one opponent next Tuesday, 2/10, in the Open State Soccer Championships on Petznick Field. 

Great job, Gators, and good luck in the State Soccer Playoffs.

The video below highlights goalie Chloe Cundiff and the stingy Xavier Defense
- Section 1: Xavier's Shots on Goal
- Section 2: Pinnacle Shots on Goal Blocked by Cundiff (features a head-block by Bianca Willis)
- Section 3: Examples of Xavier's stingy defense making it difficult for Pinnacle to get off shots on goal (features a great take-away by Reese Koehler)

VIDEO: Goalie Cundiff and Xavier Defense Highlights along with some Shots on Goal