Last weekend was one for the record books. But that doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is what lies ahead.
The Saint Louis University women’s soccer team continued its hot streak last weekend, sweeping a pair of Conference USA matches against Louisville and Cincinnati. But all eyes are on what could be one of the biggest games of the season in the Billikens’ final regular season match against No. 12 Charlotte.
“I think we match up with Charlotte well,” said coach Tim Champion. “The game at Cincinnati was a big step for us. Coming off of that win is the perfect time for us to play them since it is the last game before the conference tournament.”
Sunday afternoon, the Billikens downed Cincinnati in a 2-0 shutout at Meyers Field in Cincinnati.
The Bearcats outshot the Bills 7-4 in the first half, but did not finish a single offensive chance. The Bills were on the board after the first shot of the game in the fifth minute of the game when Anny Lucier made a long throw in that trickled past a UC defender to Mandy Trokey. After settling the ball, Trokey nudged the ball into the goal just inside of the left post.
Cincinnati managed their first shot of the outing in the 27th minute and remained on the offensive attack during the rest of the half and during the beginning of the second half.
In the 72nd minute, the Billikens posted the second and final goal of the outing. Lucier began the play by sailing the ball from midfield to Jenny Kehl on the left side, who lined it to Trokey farther up the field.
Trokey chipped the ball to Jamie Perry in the middle of the box, where she beat Cincinnati’s Tracey Hale, placing the ball just inside the far post.
Perry’s goal was her 12th of the season, which broke the SLU record for goals in a single season. Perry ranks second on the Bills’ list of career goals with 23 and fourth in career points with 53 to date.
The Bills’ upset over the Cats marked the end of Cincy’s 23-game unbeaten streak in regular C-USA play. The Bearcats’ last loss was in St. Louis two years ago.
“We played extremely well against Cincinnati. We gave them their first loss in two years. Beating a top 20 team is something very good for our team,” Champion said.
Meghann Burke needed only four saves to earn her 12th shutout of the season, which broke the school’s record for season shutouts, a record Burke set in 2000.
SLU claimed the first win of the weekend Friday evening at Louisville in a 2-0 sweep over the Cardinals. In the 16th minute, Kehl evaded a swarm of U of L defenders on the right side, then centered the ball to the waiting Kelly Ferguson just outside the Cardinals’ box. Ferguson took a touch and then blasted the ball from 20 yards into the net to put the Bills on the board first.
Perry had a breakaway in the 53rd minute and tried to score an insurance goal to pad the SLU lead, but Louisville’s goalie Meredith Miller swept up Perry’s shot. In the 83rd minute, Miller faced Perry after Perry stole the ball from a U of L midfielder and streaked into the box where she tucked the ball in just inside of the far post.
This weekend, the Billikens host No. 12 Charlotte in the final match before the C-USA tournament.
The 49ers are undefeated this season, but Champion believes the Billiken defense is capable of shutting down Charlotte’s offense. It will be imperative that the Bills match Charlotte’s physical play and their ability to play aggressively in the air.
Friday’s matchup is crucial for the team’s seeding heading into the C-USA tournament.
Since Charlotte is ranked, a win would bolster SLU’s seeding in the conference tournament and its NCAA rankings.
The team hopes to take advantage of its home field and the Billiken fans for one of the most important games this year. The team is excited to take on the 49ers, and fans should be excited to watch the incredible matchup.
There is nothing better than playing a top team since it will determine our seedings, and it is going to be very nice to play them at home,” Champion said. “It will be a great game, and I’m very excited for us to play them.”
