DAYTON, Ohio – Like she has so many times before, junior Alexis Garcia came up big for the University of Dayton women’s soccer team. The midfielder scored the golden goal Friday night at Baujan Field in UD’s 2-1 double overtime victory over Xavier in both team’s Atlantic 10 opener.

Dayton (9-1-0, 1-0-0 A-10) outshot the Musketeers 33-4, but was playing a goal down for nearly 50 minutes.

Xavier (5-4-0, 0-1-0 A-10) struck first on its only shot on frame in the first half, a laser of a shot from Leslie Boersma in the 19th minute.

Junior Alysha Mallon scored her first goal of the season to equalize the match in the 68th minute. Junior Colleen Williams started the attack with a pass to senior Josie Grant who flicked it to Mallon. She finished it near post to beat the keeper.

After 90 minutes of regulation and  a 10-minute overtime period the score was tied 1-1.

Then came Garcia’s heroics. A little over a minute into the second overtime, sophomore Juliana Libertin beat two defenders, and slipped a pass to Williams who found Garcia. Garcia – named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 A-10 Championship after scoring the golden goal in the semifinal and final games – gave the Flyers victory with her one-timer to the far post.

Dayton plays it final non-conference game this Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. against Oakland at Baujan Field. Admission is free.

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