ONU ENDS SAINT XAVIER'S CONFERENCE SHUTOUT STREAK WITH 2-0 SENIOR NIGHT WIN

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Olivet Nazarene University's (ONU) men's soccer team marked Senior Night with a memorable 2-0 win at home on Wednesday against Saint Xavier University. The Tigers became the first team to score against the Cougars in conference play, securing an important victory to honor their seniors in style.

The first half saw both teams locked in a tactical battle, with neither side able to break through despite several promising opportunities. ONU's defense held strong, fending off Saint Xavier's advances and keeping the game scoreless at halftime. The Tigers entered the second half determined to break the stalemate and make a statement on their home field. 

ONU wasted no time after halftime, as Mounir Azzam struck in the 54th minute to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead and hand Saint Xavier their first conference concession of the season. The energy only intensified, and in the 65th minute, Nathan Schmidli extended the lead with a clinical finish, assisted by Carter Beckman, making it 2-0. With strong defensive support, the Tigers preserved the shutout, giving their seniors a night to remember.

Looking Ahead

ONU will travel for their next conference match against the Eagles of Judson University on Oct. 19th, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. CST. The Tigers will aim to carry this momentum into their next game and build on their strong performance as they continue through conference play.

Quick Hits

• Final Score: Olivet Nazarene University 2, Saint Xavier University 0
• Azzam 53:35, Schmidli 64:04

--ONU—

*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu