The Saint Louis University women’s soccer team showed its grittiness as the Billikens opened Conference USA play with a pair of one-goal victories.

SLU defeated Tulane 3-2 in New Orleans last Friday and returned home to beat Southern Miss 1-0 in overtime last Sunday.

The Billikens scored first against Tulane midway through the first half. Shannon Myers headed home the first goal off a corner kick from Mandy Trokey.

“It may be her best goal of the year,” said coach Tim Champion.

SLU made it 2-0 three minutes later. Jenny Kehl hit a cross to Katie Zaegel, who had made a good weakside run. She scored from six yards out.

The Bills held the 2-0 lead at halftime.

Tulane scored one minute into the second half. Stephanie Donaldson scored from Megan Stack and Samantha Cramer.

The Bills built the lead to 3-1 15 minutes into the second half. Kathy Musschoot hit a corner to Kathleen Schager.

“Schager picked it out of the air and hit a drive past the keeper,” said Champion. “We had three nice goals.”

The Billikens continued their success on corner kicks this season. After failing to connect on one last season, SLU has already scored off five this year.

Tulane made the game close five minutes later. Tiffany Lawson set up Asia Simons to cut SLU’s lead to 3-2. But that was as close as the Green Wave got as the Bills held on for the 3-2 victory.

“Tulane has the smallest field in our conference. It was an ugly game,” said Champion. “There wasn’t a lot of room to pass.”

The Billikens came home for a contest with Southern Miss at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. SLU looked to avenge their loss to Southern Miss in the C-USA playoffs.

They did so in dramatic fashion.

The Billikens came out and moved the ball quickly, creating scoring chances throughout the physical first half.

Trokey brought the ball up the far side 11 minutes into the game. She found Schager in the box, but the shot was wide.

Myers hit Trokey with a great lead pass, but her shot went just wide.

The Billikens outshot the Golden Eagles 5-1 in the first half, but failed to score as the teams went to halftime tied 0-0.

SLU continued to dominate play in the second half. The Bills outshot Southern Miss 9-1 in the second half.

Schager found Musschoot alone at the top of the box. She ran even with her defender who gained just enough of an advantage to break up the shot.

Trokey hit a corner to Kehl who hit a 20 yard blast. Southern Miss goalie Hope Herron dove to her right and barely saved the low shot.

The teams battled through the second half, but failed to score in regulation.

The teams employed different styles as overtime began.

Southern Miss played conservatively, satisfied with a tie. But the Billikens continued their attacking style and it paid off.

SLU ended the match in the 97th minute. Kelly Young found Musschoot in the box.

Musschoot barely got ahead of her defender and held her off long enough to score just inside the near post.

“Kelly played a great ball,” said Musschoot. “Luckily, we finally finished. We won and that’s all that matters.”

“It’s good to win at home,” said Champion.

“If we finish, it’s over in the first half. We moved the ball well.”

“They were playing for a tie,” added Champion. “We have to beat the teams that didn’t do well last year.”

The Billikens travel to UNC-Charlotte on Friday and to South Florida on Sunday.

“These will be difficult games on the road,” said Champion.

“We can find out exactly what we need to work on and where we stand. These games begin a long sequence of tough games on the road.”