CINCINNATI – The Xavier University women’s soccer team used a dominating second half to defeat visiting La Salle 3-1 on Sunday at the Xavier University Soccer Complex. Xavier won its third straight match and raised its records to 5-4 in the Atlantic 10 Conference and 9-7-1 overall. La Salle fell to 2-7 in the A-10 and 2-12-1 overall.

La Salle wasted little time in jumping out on top in this one as freshman Shelby Reese took advantage of an opening deep in the XU defense, scoring just 2:07 into the match. The Explorers took the 1-0 lead into halftime, although XU hit the crossbar with a shot in the closing minute that could have tied the score.

Xavier finally did tie the score at the 66:15 mark as sophomore Molly Finnerty (Mansfield, OH/St. Peter’s) served a long pass to sophomore Angie Scarlato (Cincinnati/Mother of Mercy) inside the box. Scarlato then served it up to an attacking Lauren Giesting (Cincinnati/McAuley), who punched in the game-tying goal.

The Musketeers got what proved to be the game-winning goal as freshman Amber Silvis (Georgetown, OH/Western Brown) weaved her way around the La Salle defenders inside the box and drilled the ball past the goalkeeper. Xavier got a late insurance goal as senior Tracy Veith (Cincinnati/St. Ursula Academy) connected on a penalty kick with less than two minutes left, at the 88:23 mark.

Xavier closes out the 2003 regular season schedule on the road with games at St. Bonaventure on Friday and at Duquesne next Sunday.