Despite better play, the Saint Louis University field hockey team dropped its two matches last week.

The Billikens faced conference opponent Pacific on Monday and again last night. The Billkens fell to the Tigers in two close games, one going into overtime.

In their first match Monday the Bills started off well, matching the Tigers’ three shots and earning three penalty corners to the Tigers one.

“Our first half was really good, but we started to let down in the second half,” said sophomore right forward Lindsay Lombardo.

Coming into the second half with the lead, the Tigers dominated. With less than three minutes remaining, senior Keri Brunner scored a goal. When they failed to score again, the Bills fell 2-1.

“We played well. We had opportunities to score and struggled to capitalize on those,” said Coach Shannon West. “We need to be more effective on offense and keep shooting. We need to be more threatening.”

On the defensive end, senior goalkeeper Erin Linehan, had five saves on Pacific’s 16 shots.

“Linehan had a really great game, she has really been a presence in the backfield,” West said.

The rest of the team backed her up with effective passing according to Coach West.

“We have made a lot of progress with moving the ball and our passing. Our transition from offense to defense was good, we just had trouble finishing,” West said.

Lomboardo echoed her coach’s thoughts.

“We had really good passing combinations, but we didn’t execute our corners,” Lombardo said.

The Billikens came out determined in their second match of the week against Pacific. Even after sending the game into overtime, the Bills were defeated 3-2.

In the first half, Keri Bruner started the Bills off by scoring her sixth goal of the season. Heather Mattingly scored later in the half, giving the Bills a 2-1 halftime lead.

“We came out in the first half and played some of the best hockey we have all year,” West said. “We looked like a totally different team.”

In the second half, the Tigers outshot the Bills 14-2. Enhancing their offensive performance, Pacific earned five corners to the Bills’ zero.

“We played back on our heels a little. Pacific came out fired up, and they took advantage of opportunities,” West said.

When the Tigers sent the game into a 15-minute overtime, Pacific’s Giovanna Tripiano scored after only three minutes handing the Billikens their second loss of the week.

“We had a great first half, but we need to keep it up for the full 70 minutes,” West said.

The Bills will try to do just that when they face Lindenwood (0-6) tonight at Lindenwood University in St. Charles at 7 p.m.