The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team ended its two-game
skid with a 2-1 overtime win over the University of Memphis Tigers
Wednesday night in a Conference USA match at Robert R. Hermann
Stadium. The win came after a difficult loss to Indiana University
in Bloomington on Friday evening.
With the win, the Billikens improved to 10-3-2 and 5-2-1 in
C-USA, while the loss dropped the Tigers to 7-7-1 and 1-5-1 in
league play.
The Billikens had the better scoring chances in a scoreless
first half, with the best chance coming when freshman forward Vedad
Ibisevic beat Memphis keeper Sebas Vecchio to a loose ball and sent
a shot toward the open goal, only to have Memphis defender Justin
Dyer save the goal by clearing the ball out with a bicycle kick.SLU
outshot the Tigers in the half 3-2 and held a 3-1 advantage on
corner kicks.
The Billikens took a 1-0 lead in the 56th minute, when freshman
defender Mo Benne sent a long ball beyond the Memphis defense, and
fellow freshman David Peplinski ran down the ball, moved in on goal
and placed the ball in the lower left corner of the net from 12
yards away. Memphis tied the game just two minutes after
Peplinski’s goal when forward Andy Metcalf notched his ninth goal
of the season. He scored into an open net from 12 yards out, after
SLU keeper Martin Hutton came out of the goal. Regulation play
ended with the Billikens outshooting the Tigers 8-7 and holding a
7-1 advantage in corner kicks.
John DiRaimondo put the ball into an open net. SLU sophomore
midfielder Andrew Moses’ cross from the left corner was grabbed by
Vecchio in the air, who upon returning to the ground collided with
a defender, which caused him to drop the ball. Peplinski retrieved
the ball and passed it to DiRaimondo, who shot the ball into the
back of the net.
“That’s an important game. It keeps us in the fight for No. 1 or
2 seed in the conference postseason tournament,” coach Dan Donigan
said. ” I’m pleased. We fought hard.”
The Billikens fell on the road Friday night to the Indiana
University Hoosiers 2-1, in a nonconference game at Armstrong
Stadium in Bloomington, Ind. The loss was the Billikens’ second
consecutive loss.
With the loss, the Billikens fell to 9-3-2, while the Hoosiers
improved their record to 8-3-4. IU got on the scoreboard first in
the 30th minute, when IU leading scorer, Ned Grabavoy scored his
ninth goal of the season. On one of a few counterattacks engineered
by the Hoosiers’, midfielder Jordan Chirico headed down the right
flank and sent a pass toward the far post, where Grabavoy was able
to re-direct the ball into the back of the net.
SLU started the second half more effectively on offense and
manufactured a few quality scoring chances, but nothing
materialized until the 68th minute, when sophomore midfielder Ryan
Wileman put in the equalizer on a header off a free kick by
DiRaimondo. The goal was Wileman’s second of the season.
Grabavoy scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the
86th minute, when he picked up his second goal of the night after
Plotkin sent the ball across the goalmouth, where Grabavoy was
waiting to finish the goal. The Billikens conclude their regular
season schedule this weekend with a nonconference tilt with the
Bradley University Braves at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Game time
is Sunday, Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.
Bills vs. Braves
Who: Bradley University Braves
When: Sunday at 1 p.m.
Where: Robert R. Hermann Stadium
