Joliet, Ill. - Two goals in the game's first five minutes by Saint Xavier University junior midfielder Nancy Schueth (Lincoln, Neb./Saint Pius X) set the tone early in a 3-1 victory over University of St. Francis (Ill.) in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) opener for both teams Wednesday night in Joliet, Ill. Schueth notched the opening goal off an unassisted shot just 1:51 into play and then put the Cougars ahead, 2-0, just two minutes later following passes from sophomore midfielder Tammy Contorno (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) and junior defender Larissa Jondle (Lincoln, Neb./Saint Pius X). SXU out-shot USF, 25-10, in the game.

The Fighting Saints cut the 2-0 lead in half in the game's 12^th minute on a goal by sophomore midfielder Debbie Rios set up by an assist from junior forward Erin Voss. After the flurry of early scores, neither team would find the back of the net for the remainder of the first half and the Cougars would take a 2-1 lead into the break. Just two minutes into the second half, junior midfielder Joanna Janulis (Bolingbrook, Ill./Benet Academy) would put SXU back ahead by two scores with an unassisted goal. Junior keeper Ashley Shugar (Lake Orion, Mich./Western Illinois University/Lake Orion) logged the victory in goal finishing the night with two saves.

Saint Xavier (5-3-0 overall/1-0 CCAC) returns home to host Marian University (Ind.) for a non-conference game on Saturday, September 25. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field in Chicago.