As the Saint Louis University Billikens and Bradley University
Braves prepared to do battle Sunday afternoon at Robert R. Hermann
Stadium, a major ingredient for the game wasn’t quite ready to go.
As of a few minutes before the scheduled start time of 1 p.m., only
one of the scheduled officials for the game was on the
premises.
Before the match could begin, two experienced officials had to
be summoned from the stands to act as linesmen.
Once the officiating crew had been assembled, it was time for
Billiken seniors Nick Gannon, Andy Pusateri and Kevin Wickart to be
honored for their hard work and success throughout their Billiken
careers.
One by one they heard a list of their accomplishments as
Billikens while they walked out onto the field with one or more of
their parents and were congratulated by SLU coach Dan Donigan and
Athletic Director Doug Woolard. Each senior received a framed
picture of himself in game action.
Once the game started, the Braves controlled play early and kept
the ball in the Billikens end of the field for most of that time,
winning six corner kicks in the first eight minutes.
Despite these six corners, Bradley was unable to score a goal in
the early going. Even though both teams had their chances, the
first half ended scoreless. The Billikens out-shot the Braves 6-4,
yet the Braves held a 6-1 corner kick advantage.
The Billikens scored the game-winner in the 65th minute when the
Billikens won a corner kick. DiRaimondo sent the ball into the
penalty area, where Wickart used his height to his advantage and
skied above the Bradley defense, heading the ball into the lower
right corner of the goal.
The goal was the first of the season and second in the Billiken
career of the big defender.
Controversy erupted in the final minute of the game when Bradley
midfielder Joe Ducci sent the ball deep into the Billiken zone from
outside the box. As SLU keeper Martin Hutton backtracked and caught
the ball, his legs ended up crossing the end line and went into the
goal, causing his body to hit the side netting. As the Bradley
sideline jumped up to celebrate, no signal was given to declare a
goal, since the keeper may cross the end line with the ball in his
possession as long as the ball itself doesn’t cross the line.
Bradley’s sideline protested, but to no avail as the game ended
shortly after.
“That’s a great result for us against a very good regional
opponent” Donigan said after the game.
The win improved the Billikens’ record to 11-3-2, while the loss
dropped the Braves to 10-8-2.
The sixth ranked Billikens will conclude the regular season
Saturday night in Birmingham, Ala. against the University of
Alabama-Birmingham Blazers, who are ranked 20th.
With a win, the Billikens can clinch at least a tie for the
Conference USA regular season title. Such a finish would secure a
first round bye in the C-USA post-season tournament.
