JOLIET, Ill. --- Zoe Villont recorded her first game-winning goal and the University of St. Francis women's soccer team continued its rise up the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference standings with its 2-1 victory over Saint Xavier University on Saturday afternoon at Joliet Memorial Stadium.  The Fighting Saints now sit in fourth place just one point behind Trinity Christian College.

Villont's goal – her first as a Saint – broke a 1-1 tie and came on her own rebound of a missed header attempt off a corner kick that hit the cross bar in the 83rd minute.  It also enabled the Fighting Saints to win for the third time in four matches and extend their unbeaten streak to six contests (3-0-3).  They are now 3-5-5 overall and 3-1-3 in league play.

USF's first goal – which broke a scoreless tie – came off the leg of Kelly Flores, who rifled a shot from 35 yards out into the wind with just two minutes remaining in the opening half.  That goal looked to hold up until Saint Xavier forced a 1-1 tie off a corner kick on just the Cougars' second shot on goal of the second half at 71:55.

The Saints also had to hold their breath just 40 seconds after scoring the go-ahead goal in the second half when Saint Xavier just missed wide right on its final shot of the afternoon.

St. Francis outshot Saint Xavier on the day, 26-9, including 9-2 on corner kicks.  USF also doubled up on the Cougars, 8-4, in shots on goal.

Krystal Rodriguez registered the win in goal, stopping three shots.

Notes: The Saints evened out their record at home at 2-2-2 with the victory … Flores' goal was her second in as many contests.  She moved into third place on the team in points with seven … St. Francis' 26 total shots were its second-highest output of the season … USF is at Indiana University Northwest Wednesday night at 8 pm for another league contest.      

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