Chicago, Ill. – The Aquinas men's soccer team started off their season on a high note after beating the Saint Xavier Cougars 1-0 this evening (Aug. 28). The result not only put the Saints into the win column to begin the year, but it is also the first time that AQ has won in Chicago since 2016.
Mason Sills netted the game-winner in the 78th minute to score the lone goal of the contest.
Aquinas 1, Saint Xavier 0
The contest was primarily a defensive battle as neither side managed a shot until
Joshua Clemitson put the ball wide in the 15th minute.
Ivan Radovic found the first save of the game and of the AQ season in the 22nd minute following an SXU header.
Only a total of five shots were placed on target in the first half with the Saints leading Saint X in that department 3-2 at the halftime whistle.
The second half picked up the pace a bit with both teams generating scoring opportunities, but neither side managed to put the ball on target. In the 69th minute, Clemitson received an unfortunate second yellow card, giving the Saints an uphill battle with 10 men. The back-and-forth contest continued until the 79th minute when a Saint Xavier foul gave
Josh Freeman-Wright a free kick from the midfield line.
Freeman-Wright whipped in an incredible ball to find
Mason Sills for the scoring opportunity. Sills put his header off the crossbar, but immediately found his own rebound to tap the ball into the back of the net and put the Saints in the lead.
AQ managed to hold on for the remaining 11 minutes after Radovic saved a last-second shot to give Aquinas a win on opening night.
By the Numbers
- Mason Sills' game-winner was the 17th career goal for the senior.
- The 1-0 victory was the third consecutive season opener that the Saints held their opponents out of the back of the net.
- AQ outshot SXU 14-13 and put one more shot on target (5-4).
- Radovic improved to a career record of 4-0 after winning all three of his contests last season.
- Yellow cards were flying as the referee issued a total of nine cards across both teams.
Up Next
The Saints will be back on the road next Wednesday (Sept. 4) to take on the Trinity Christian Trolls with a kickoff time of 4:00 PM.
