The Xavier soccer team endured another tough time at the Excaliber Tournament in Santa Ana, Calif., during the recent holiday break.

The results of the tournament for two-time defending state champ Xavier was three losses in three games, but the results didn't bother coach Barb Chura.

"We learn from that tournament, and it sets us up for what's left in the season," Chura said.

It appears it does. Last year the Gators lost all their games there, returned and ended up winning the 5A-I state title. With three games played since that tournament, Xavier is back on track. On Wednesday night , it was a 3-0 victory over rival Corona del Sol at the Brophy Sports Complex. The game was a rematch of last year's title game won by Xavier, 2-0.

Freshman Nikki Waltz  and sophomore Michaela Dooley had a goal and an assist apiece. Sophomore Cassidy Cunningham added  the third goal in the 70th minute of a match that wasn't as lopsided as the score indicated.

"Even with the two goals we got early that's not enough in a game like this," Chura said. "There's a lot of tradition with both schools. When we go to California we don't know the schools and they don't know us. The girls know Corona and it's a big game. It's always great competition and everyone looks forward to it."

Xavier (10-4-0) struck early for the 1-0 lead, tallying in the seventh minute. Waltz fed Dooley (8th goal of the season), who beat the defense and then keeper Kate Halligan from about 10 yards out.

The key goal of the match came 10 minutes later. Halligan was whistled for deliberate handling when she kicked the ball outside the penalty box on a goal kick. Xavier was awarded a direct kick from the top of the peanlty box and Waltz hammered it past Halligan to make it 2-0. It was Waltz's 15th goal of the season. Halligan had  three nice saves in between and after Waltz's goal in the 17th minute.

Corona (8-4-1) had a couple of excellent chances late in the first half, one each by Taylor Johnson and Micah Jones, but couldn't connect on either one.  Jones was denied on a great save by Xavier keeper Hannah Griffith.

"The second goal they got was a game changer," Corona coach Matt Smith said. "When we lost to Mesquite the other night I liked our effort. Tonight I really liked thn way we played. A lot of people will just see the score and say, Oh, 3-0. It was a better game than that."

Chura echoed Smith in that regard.

"This was the one of our better games, the best we've played of the last three," Chura said. "That's because of who we played."