The Valpo soccer program welcomed a nationally-ranked opponent to Brown Field Thursday night, and #15 Xavier showed why they're securely in the top-25 poll, as the Musketeers defeated the Beacons, 8-0.

How It Happened

• A corner kick in the fifth minute led to Xavier's first goal, scored by Natalie Bain.
• The Musketeers added goals in the 16^th minute from McKinley Berry, the 21^st minute from Bain, the 23^rd minute from Samantha Erbach, the 30^th minute from Olivia Baca and the 38^th minute from Olivia Lawson to go into halftime with a 6-0 lead.
• Xavier closed the scoring in the second half with goals by Regan Dancer in the 59^th minute and Emma Flick in the 62^nd minute.

Inside the Match

• Valpo was hosting a nationally-ranked opponent for what is believed to be the first time in program history. Prior to Thursday, the Beacons last faced a nationally-ranked foe when they took on #9 Notre Dame in last season's NCAA Tournament, while their last regular season match against a top-25 opponent also came against a ninth-ranked Fighting Irish side to open the 2015 campaign.
• Xavier ended the night with a 35-1 advantage in shots and attempted all 11 of the match's corner kicks.
• Redshirt sophomore Kate Sheridan (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) made five saves in goal in the first half, while freshman Hailey Wade (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) stopped six shots in the second half.

Next Up

Valpo (2-3-0) returns to the road to close out the weekend, heading to play former Horizon League rival Wright State in Dayton, Ohio Sunday afternoon.