Spring soccer: It’s an exhibition season. It’s a time to practice before the players depart for the summer.
An injury-riddled Saint Louis University men’s soccer squad defeated Tulsa, 1-0, Saturday at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Sophomore midfielder Jon Ciminieri notched the game winner in the 89th minute.
“Given the fact that it was the first full match, and some of the guys were out, we had a pretty good outing,” said SLU coach Dan Donigan.
Three SLU starters missed the game due to various injuries. Freshman Nick Gannon is recovering from a groin injury; sophomore Nick Walls has a pulled hamstring; and junior Marty Tappel has a sprained ankle. In addition, reserve goalkeeper Travis Kamm recently broke his cheekbone in three places. Brad Davis, the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and member of the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team, is currently taking the semester off as he prepares for this summer’s FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina.
The game began with SLU showing little rust from its winter hiatus. While the Billikens went scoreless for nearly all 90 minutes, they created countless opportunities. In the 14th minute, Ciminieri put a cross into the penalty box from the left side. Jackie Jewsbury and David Beck were unable to get a foot on it near the goalmouth.
One minute later, Beck drove down the right side from 30 yards out and cut into the middle, taking the lone defender with him. This move opened an area for Jewsbury to run into, and Beck’s through ball behind the defense hit Jewsbury in stride.
Jewsbury cut back to the left and fired a shot from 15 yards out on the right side of the penalty box. The shot was cleared once again by Tulsa goalie, Brent Salter.
“Our forwards were getting double-teamed, so it was hard for them to get a shot off,” said Beck. “But the goalie also came up with some big saves.”
Loren Reinhardt rocketed a shot in the 29th minute from 25 yards out. Salter deflected it, and the ball hit the right post before being cleared. Three minutes before halftime, Joe Hammes redirected a Mike Hill cross. Bobby O’Connell connected with the bouncing ball, but Salter again cleared the shot.
SLU’s defense, led by Hammes, Jason Cole, Tim Sartori, Mike Kirchhoff and goalie John Politis, kept Tulsa off the scoreboard. Freshman keeper Matt Herald replaced Politis in the second half.
Herald and Ciminieri helped lead the Billikens in the second half. Herald recorded four saves, including one in the 78th minute where he quickly reacted off a Tulsa corner kick, pushing the ball over the crossbar to keep the score 0-0. Just when the game appeared to be ending in a scoreless tie, Ciminieri scored in the last minute of play to propel the Billikens to a victory.
The play started with Reinhardt collecting a pass and taking it to the end line on the right side. The sophomore forward put a low cross on the near post that Jewsbury collected.
With no angle to get off the shot, Jewsbury pushed it back to Reinhardt, who played a perfect ball back to Ciminieri. The oncoming Ciminieri nailed it under the crossbar from five yards out. The goal marked an opportunity for Ciminieri to prove himself.
“It’s an important time for Cimi(nieri) because he had limited action in the fall,” Donigan said. “He showed confidence in himself.”
The Billikens will host Evansville on Saturday, April 7, at 1 p.m.
