Forget that six key seniors graduated, this year’s Saint Louis University men’s soccer team has its own identity.
Last Friday night, SLU took Vanderbilt University for a walk, crushing the Commodores 9-0 in front of 2,768 fans at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
So who let the dogs out?
In the sixth minute, junior transfer David Beck took a pass from freshman Brad Davis. Beck eluded the goalie and put it in from eight yards out.
Ten minutes later, Beck drove through the midfield to the corner of the six-yard box where he crossed it to a wide open Jack Jewsbury, who touched it in for the goal.
“David is a special player. He’s going to add a lot of excitement to this team,” said SLU coach Bob Warming.
The Bills were just getting warmed up.
In the 28th minute, Davis showed why he is the captain of the U.S. Under-20 National Team. The midfielder perfectly placed a corner kick to the foot of Jason Cole, who volleyed it in from five yards out.
Seven minutes later, Jewsbury received a great open-field pass from Davis on the left side of the 18-yard box. He beat one defender and showed his knack for scoring in the penalty area by placing his shot into the right corner of the net to give the Billikens a 4-0 lead.
Jewsbury, who hit the weights hard all off-season, looks to improve upon last year’s eight-goal, four-assist season.
“I have more expectations coming in this year. My goals are a lot higher and I want to exceed last year’s results,” said Jewsbury.
In the 39th minute, Davis got the first goal of his career. Off a give-and-go from Jewsbury, Davis rocketed a left-footed shot from about 12 yards out, past the hands of the diving goalie.
The shot showed Davis’ potential to lead the SLU attack for the next four years. Davis would finish with three assists and one goal.
“There’s no question that Brad’s one of the great talents in the whole country. But he’s blended into the team real well,” Warming said.
SLU would go on to score two more goals in two minutes. In the 41st minute, sophomore Nick Walls blew past his man and connected from 12 yards out.
One minute later, Jewsbury scored his final goal of the game. Off an Andy Pusateri pass, Jewsbury had a breakaway and connected to increase SLU’s lead to 7-0 at halftime.
Freshmen Pusateri and Nick Gannon join Davis in this year’s recruiting class. Gannon and Pusateri started in the backfield, joining Cole and junior Tim Sartori, who has defied all doctors odds by miraculously recovering in four months from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
SLU continued to dominate in the second half. In the 68th minute the Bills scored again. Vanderbilt attempted to clear a corner kick, but junior Bobby O’Connell picked up the rebound and placed a perfect cross to the far post, where Cole headed it in from six yards.
Cole, who excels in the air, will have many more opportunities off corner kicks this year.
Last season he only had one goal. On Friday he put two in the net.
“My main job is to defend, but if I can get forward more this year, I will be helping the team create more scoring chances,” said Cole.
SLU scored its final goal in the 72nd minute when senior Vedad Alagic scored from eight yards out off of a Nick Walls and Loren Reinhardt assist.
Senior goalie Paul Nagy recorded four saves, all in the first half, for the shutout.
The goalkeeper position is in good hands with junior John Politis as a very capable second keeper.
Marty Tappel brings speed to the midfield and Mike Hill played well out wide, while senior Brian Hadican will be counted on too. Versatile defender Joe Hammes was out with a knee injury, but should be back this weekend.
The Billikens’ next home games are this weekend in the Nike Classic at Robert R.
Hermann Stadium. Friday, Southern Methodist University(SMU) plays Louisville at 4:30 p.m., and SLU plays California at 7 p.m. in the night cap.
Sunday, California plays Louisville at noon, while SLU takes on archrival and nationally ranked SMU at 2:30 p.m.
