RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University soccer team dropped its final preseason exhibition, 1-0, to Xavier on Sunday afternoon.
 
The visiting Musketeers scored the lone goal of the day in the 55^th minute.
 
Xavier outshot EKU, 7-6, and attempted seven corner kicks to EKU's none.

"In these preseason games, regardless of whether we win or lose, we judge ourselves on whether we're applying what we have practiced in training," head coach Nick Flohre said. "Even though today's result wasn't what we wanted, there were some very encouraging moments from all of our players. We're all confident that we're on the right track as a team, and we are excited to keep developing as the season progresses."
 
The Colonels have been picked to finish second in the OVC this season.
 
EKU went 11-5-4 (6-1-3 OVC) and finished tied for second in the OVC last fall. The Colonels defeated Tennessee Tech, 1-0, in double overtime of the OVC semifinals to advance to conference championship game for the second consecutive season.
 
Head coach Nick Flohre enters his third season at the helm, and will have several key players back from last year's team, including senior midfielder Bailly Bounds (2017 second team All-OVC), senior defender Kacy Eckley (54 career starts on the backline), junior midfielder Marian Wolski (three assists and one goal in 2017) and sophomore defender Katie Shaffer (2017 OVC All-Newcomer Team).