Every spring, the Saint Louis University men’s soccer team prepares for the upcoming fall season. This year it won’t be an easy task.

After losing six seniors, including All-American Jeff DiMaria, Coach Bob Warming must look not only to fill the spots on the field but also the leadership responsibilities that the six seniors occupied last season.

Saturday, the new Bills squad helped ease his worries with an impressive 2-0 victory over Drake.

“It’s good to see some other guys play 90 minutes. Everyone’s training real hard. They’re a great bunch of kids,” Warming said.

The Bills controlled the tempo and the ball much of the game. Jack Jewsbury, a stalwart in the rotation last season, scored SLU’s first goal midway through the first half. Bobby O’Connel took the corner kick from Brian Hadican and served it into the penalty box. The goalie mishandled the ball and Jewsbury, a member of C-USA’s All-Freshman team, pounced on it for the goal.

Drake, a team playing mostly underclassmen, couldn’t keep up with SLU’s better players and quicker pace. 10 minutes into the second half, SLU would strike again. O’Connel took a bouncing pass back from Jewsbury at the top of the penalty box and half-volleyed it over the keeper. It was a perfectly-placed shot that landed in the upper corner of the net.

O’Connel, a sophomore from DeSmet High School, is making it hard for Warming to keep him out of the lineup with his stellar play so far this spring.

Sophomore John Politis recorded the shutout, and sophomore Marty Tappel nearly connected from 30 yards out on a half-volley that was just wide of the post.

The Bills return to action this Saturday at 7 p.m. against Eastern Illinois at Hermann Stadium. Then comes Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at home.

On the women’s side:

Saint Louis University women’s soccer coach Tim Champion thought that the Bills were moving the ball well throughout their spring games, but needed to work on the attack. SLU’s strong attack was evident last Sunday as the Bills defeated Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville 5-1.

The Billikens scored three minutes into the contest. Kathy Musschoot scored inside the near post off a lead pass from Lori Richardson.

Later in the half, the Bills tallied another goal. Megan McNiff headed in a high centering pass from Jenny Kehl. Kehl found an opening on the endline and fed McNiff.

SLU continued the scoring spree as Kathleen Schager redirected a pass from Musschoot off a corner kick for the Billiken’s third goal of the half.

SIUE scored 10 minutes into the second half. Meghann Burke came out on an SIUE partial break. The shot beat Burke low inside the near post.

Kehl tacked on two more goals to give SLU the win.

The Billikens also faced Western Illinois University in Sunday and played to a 0-0 tie. Even though SLU didn’t score, they outplayed the Westerwinds.

Champion said, “We moved the ball real well the whole time. We’ve been moving the ball well all spring.”

The Billikens face Kentucky in Lexington this weekend.

“Kentucky’s a Top 10 team. We have a chance to see where we are. It will be really good for us. We can see what we’re looking at nationally. They’re a lot like UNC Charlotte and Cincinnati.”