The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team clinched a share of
the Conference USA regular season title with a 3-1 road win over
the University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers Saturday night at West
Campus Field in Birmingham.
In the first half, SLU was out-shot by the Blazers 9-2, but at
halftime the scoreboard read 2-0 in favor of the Billikens.
SLU freshman forward, Vedad Ibisevic, gave the Billikens an
early lead in the eighth minute when the UAB defense misplayed the
ball. The Billikens’ leading scorer took advantage of the mistake
and hooked a 15-yard shot past UAB keeper Jeremy Blake. The goal
was Ibisevic’s ninth of the season.
SLU freshman Will John added to the Billikens’ lead in the 42nd
minute. On a restart in the UAB half of the field, freshman
midfielder John DiRaimondo sent a long serve to Will John, who
retrieved the ball on the left side of the penalty area and fired a
volley that found its way inside of the right post for John’s
seventh goal of the season.
scoring chances than the Billikens and held an advantage in time of
possession. The Blazers’ best scoring chances all came from forward
Jerson Monteiro. In the early going, SLU junior keeper Martin
Hutton had to make a leaping save to stop a shot from Monteiro to
the left post.
In the 25th minute, Monteiro had a drive tipped over the cross
bar by Hutton. UAB’s last scoring chance came very late in the half
when Monteiro flicked a header over the crossbar.
Will John stretched the Billikens’ lead to 3-0 in the 62nd
minute when he bent a low free kick around the UAB wall and inside
the left post. The goal was John’s eighth of the season.
The Blazers got on the scoreboard when forward Leandro de
Oliveira received a pass from Jose Rayo and fired a shot from 18
yards away on the left flank which found the right post. The goal
was in the 75th minute.
While the Blazers finished with a 15-6 advantage in shots and a
10-0 corner kick advantage, it was the Billikens who left the pitch
Saturday night with the 3-1 victory.
John’s two-goal game led to his selection as the C-USA
co-Offensive Player of the Week. It was the third time this season
that John has received this honor.
With the win, the sixth-ranked Billikens finished their regular
season 6-2-1 in C-USA and 12-3-2 overall, while the 20th-ranked
Blazers finished their regular season 4-3-2 in C-USA and 9-4-5
overall.
The share of the title marks the sixth consecutive season in
which the Billikens have won the C-USA regular season title, either
in a tie with another team or outright. The University of
Cincinnati Bearcats won two matches over DePaul and Marquette,
respectively, to finish in a tie with the Billikens.
Since the Bearcats beat the Billikens earlier this season,
Cincinnati will be the top seed in the C-USA postseason tournament,
while SLU will be seeded second. Both teams will have first round
byes.
The Billikens will head to Memphis for the C-USA postseason
tournament this week. They will be in action next on Friday at 7:30
p.m. in the semifinals of the tournament and will play the winner
of the quarterfinal match between UAB and Louisville.
With a win Friday, the Billikens would play on Sunday in the
championship game.
C-USA Tourney Opener
Who: The winner of UAB vs. Louisville
When: Tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Memphis, Tenn.
