by Chris Pfaff, Xavier Sportswriter

#3 Xavier Soccer’s attempt to win a fifth consecutive State Championship began Tuesday night versus #30 Sandra Day O’Connor. Although the game seemed tighter than one might expect with #3 versus #30, Xavier did finish on top with another shutout, 3-0.

It was their seventh shutout in twelve games this season.

It took the Gators a little more than ten minutes to strike first. Senior Ally Brown found fellow Senior Michal Cagungun breaking down the middle of the field toward the Eagles’ goal. Michal received the ball at the top of the penalty area, dribbled to the top of the goal area, and punched it in past the O’Connor goalie.

The second Gator goal of the night materialized a short time before the end of the first half when Junior Kyleigh Carr delivered a pass from the sideline to Michal, who expertly maneuvered to her left to put herself in a position to loft a chip shot into the net from the top of the penalty area.

The third goal took place in the second half when Junior Olivia Yu sent the ball from the baseline — about twenty yards from the Eagles’ goal — to Kyleigh, who had run toward the net just outside the goal post. Without first receiving the ball to control it, Kyleigh just flicked the moving ball to her immediate right to the other side of the net. You might want to see this in slow motion in the highlight video below.

Moving on to Round 2 of the Open State Championship — which combines the top thirty-two teams from 4A, 5A, and 6A — the #3 Gators now face the #14 Liberty Lions on Xavier Petznick Field at 6:00 pm this Thursday.

Xavier Highlight Video (featuring slow motion)