With three close matches preceding theirs in the Conference USA Tournament, the Saint Louis University women’s soccer team had the opportunity to send a message to the rest of the teams in the tournament. The Billikens seized the opportunity and ran with it.

SLU dammed up the Tulane Green Wave last night, allowing only six shots on goal on their way to a 3-1 victory.

Tulane used their physical play to try to neutralize SLU’s attack, and it nearly paid off. With 15 minutes left in the first half, goalie Meghann Burke saved a point-blank shot from three yards away on the endline.

That defensive effort seemed to jumpstart the Billikens offense. Carrie Carlson took a chip shot form the SLU backfield. Carlson outran Tulane’s backs and broke in alone. Carlson took a low line drive that scooted under the goalie. The shot trickled inches wide of the far post.

The Billikens continued to generate chances throughout the first half and capitalized just before the intermission.

Kathy Musschoot took a SLU corner kick with just over a minute left in the first half. Musschoot hit a high ball into the box that Shannon Myers headed in for a 1-0 lead.

“We were getting frustrated,” Myers said. “We had chances to score and couldn’t capitalize. We had a lead going into the second half. It helped lift our work rate and really set the tone for the second half. Coming out with a 1-0 lead helped trigger the goal early in the second half.”

SLU wasted no time in taking a 2-0 lead.

Jenny Kehl scored 1:08 into the second half. Erin Schwetye brought the ball up the near sideline and crossed it to Kehl. Kehl, never breaking stride, collected the lead pass and beat the keeper inside the near post.

The Billikens had another perfect opportunity to score seven minutes later. Kehl hit a free kick on goal. The goalie barely got her fingertips on the ball and tipped it just over the crossbar.

Kehl struck again for the Billikens with eight minutes remaining in the match. Musschoot raced up the near side. After a series of fakes, she hit a high pass to Kehl. Kehl headed in the pass for a 3-0 lead.

Kehl credited her teammates with her performance against Tulane.

“Both goals were all Kathy (Musschoot) and Erin (Schwetye). They hit great crosses for me,” Kehl said.

Tulane tried to mount a last-minute attack. The Green Wave scored with 20 seconds left in the match on one of the strangest plays of the game. Tiffany Lawson took a corner kick for Tulane. She hit it into the box.

Burke dove out to play the corner. Jacque Gruber tried to redirect the ball, and in the process, kicked Burke. But Gruber got enough of the ball for it to trickle in.

“We played well in the second half,” said head coach Tim Champion. “Kehl played real well and was dangerous up top. We moved her up top about a month ago. She’s been working on striking and shooting. That hard work is really paying off. I think she’s beginning to feel that she’s a striker. She’s been doing a good job creating chances for herself.”

With the win, the Billikens move on to the second round of the tournament to play Cincinnati. The Bearcats advanced after defeating Houston in a come-from-behind win. During the regular season, SLU beat the Bearcats 4-0 at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.

“Tomorrow should be a good game,” Champion said. “Both teams are on a roll. These are the games that you look forward to.”

The Billikens closed out the regular season with a 1-0 loss to Wisconsin last Saturday. Allison Wagner scored 16 minutes into the match for the Badgers on a breakaway.

It appeared that the Billikens had tied the contest with two minutes remaining. Katie Zaegel got behind the defense and scored. However, she was ruled offside, nullifying the goal.

“It was an even game,” Champion said. “We had a couple chances to score. We did score once, but it was called back. It was a good test before conference.

“It was a game we could have won. We were right there with them. Megan McNiff did a good job at sweeper. Jenny Kehl played well and could have scored a few times,” Champion said.