by Head Coach Barb Chura and Chris Pfaff, Xavier Sportswriter

Exactly one week prior to Wednesday night’s kick-off, Desert Vista was ranked #5 in the 6A conference and Xavier was ranked #9. Today, DV is ranked #7; Xavier is ranked #4.

The Varsity soccer team beat region opponent Desert Vista last night by the score of 3 to 1. The Gators dominated the entire game and had many shots on goal in the first and the second halves.

The Gators were down 1-0 at the half but came out in the second half and scored very early to even up the score 1-1. Junior forward Olivia Yu pressured the Desert Vista Defenders and Senior forward Lainey Swanson struck a beautiful goal over the Desert Vista goalkeeper’s head for the score.

Minutes later, Senior captain Ally Brown dribbled around many defenders and put the ball in for the go-ahead goal to put Xavier up 2-1.

Within 5 minutes of the second score, Swanson served a perfect corner kick that found fellow senior Brown, who headed the ball past the Desert Vista goalkeeper to make the score 3 to 1.

The front line of Swanson, Yu, and Michal Cagungun, along with the Midfield of Brown, Nev Herzog, and Elie Lopez dominated the entire match. Juniors Francesca Diaz and Kyleigh Carr both came into the match and contributed great minutes towards the win.

Xavier’s defensive backline played awesome all night from start to finish. Senior Izzy Lee, Sophomores Sophia Knox and Reese Koehler and Junior Bianca Willis shut down the Desert Vista attack.

Great win, Gators, and good luck Friday night traveling to Tucson to face the Salpointe Lancers, who are ranked #2 in the 4A conference.