SXU Student-Athlete Shines On and Off Field
Saint Xavier University (SXU) women's soccer recently honored 11 players on Senior Day, but sophomore midfielder Paige Swaw stole the show in the Cougars' 4-0 win over Mount Mary University and later recorded the 21st Hat Trick in program history.
Swaw recorded two goals in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) matchup and took eight shots, five on goal, in 79 minutes as a reserve. She put Saint Xavier up 3-0 in the 64th minute.
"I was really happy that I had the opportunity to get that many shots on net and score two goals. My teammates helped me a lot with some really good set plays, so it was definitely a team effort. I was happy I could contribute and help my team win. It was a really good feeling to see some of the things we've been working on in practice actually come together during the game," Swaw said.
With a year of collegiate soccer under her belt at Saint Xavier, Swaw has stepped up in her sophomore year. The midfielder from Tinley Park collected a season-high eight shots, five shots on goal, and two goals against Mount Mary.
"I think I've grown a lot as an individual since starting at SXU, both as a player and academically. As a player, I've become more confident in myself and learned to trust my gut when making decisions on the field. I've also learned that not everything will go exactly how you want it to, so being able to adjust and keep going is important. I think I've become more comfortable with my game and with knowing what I can bring to the team. I've also grown a lot from my teammates and coaches because they constantly push me to get better," Swaw said.
Swaw, a nursing major, found Saint Xavier University the perfect place to advance her academic and soccer career.
"I chose SXU because I really liked the balance between academics and athletics. I knew I wanted to keep playing soccer in college, and when I was being recruited, I saw I could come here, keep playing, and still get my education. The coaches played a big role in my decision because they gave me the opportunity to play here and made me feel like SXU could be a good fit for me. Looking back, I'm really happy with my decision to come to SXU," Swaw said.
Saint Xavier's nursing program has a long history of producing exceptional professional registered nurses who work in all types of practice settings in Chicago and across the country. Nursing faculty provide an educational environment that promotes intentional caring with students from diverse backgrounds, supports personal and professional growth, and lays a foundation for graduate education in nursing.
Although she is only a sophomore, Swaw has ambitious nursing career goals shaped by her experiences in SXU's School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
"My goal is to graduate with my nursing degree, become a nurse, and eventually continue my education to become a nurse practitioner. I've always liked helping people, so I knew nursing was the right career for me. I like being able to help people and make a difference, even in small ways. After becoming a nurse practitioner, I would also like to become a travel nurse. I think it would be really cool to help people in different places while also experiencing new places and meeting different people. I know I have a lot of school ahead of me, but it's something I'm really looking forward to," Swaw said.
SXU's women's soccer team has plenty of CCAC action left in October before the CCAC Tournament begins on November 4. Swaw is hopeful the Cougars can make a postseason run.
"Our goal is to keep improving and competing every game and finish the season as strong as we can. Obviously, we want to make a run in the postseason and compete for a conference championship, but I think it's also important for us to focus on one game at a time. We have a really good group of girls who work hard for each other, and I think if we continue to play together and trust each other, we can accomplish a lot this season," Swaw said.