The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team won their fourth
straight Conference USA postseason tournament title this weekend at
the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis.
After receiving a first round bye, the Billikens rolled over the
University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers 5-1 Friday night in the
semifinals. On Sunday afternoon, the Billikens and the University
of North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers were tied 2-2 after 90 minutes of
regulation play and two ten minute overtime periods, forcing the
championship to penalty kicks, which the Billikens won 5-4.
In the semifinal match against UAB, SLU freshman forward Vedad
Ibisevic led the way to a 5-1 Billikens victory by scoring a
tournament record four goals, all in the first half. It was the
first time a Billiken scored four goals in a game since Dipsy
Selolwane did during the 2001 season.
The Billikens took the early lead in the seventh minute when
Ibisevic split the defense to the left of the goal and fired a shot
from a difficult angle, which went inside the right post from eight
yards away.
Ibisevic added his second goal of the night in the 18th minute
on a rebound after UAB keeper Drake stopped two shots. The
Billikens’ leading scorer collected the rebound in the goalmouth,
then drilled it into the upper netting.
SLU went up 3-0 in the 27th minute when Ibisevic left the crowd
in awe with his dribbling and changing direction, while moving
toward the goal before scoring the third goal. Eleven minutes
later, sophomore midfielder Ryan Wireman crossed the ball to the
far post, where Ibisevic was ready to score his fourth goal of the
night on a header from five yards away. At the end of the first
half SLU held a commanding 4-0 lead.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, the Blazers finally got on
the scoreboard when midfielder Nnambi Ngwe scored in the 60th
minute by plowing into SLU keeper Martin Hutton and a duo of
Billiken defenders near the goal, knocking the ball into the
goal.
In the 83rd minute, Will John closed the scoring by picking up
his ninth goal of the season. Ibisevic assisted on the goal,
picking up his ninth point of the match.
The Blazers, ranked 24th last week, finished their season 10-5-5
and 4-3-2 in C-USA.
The championship match on Sunday afternoon didn’t come as easily
for the Billikens against Charlotte, who had beaten the University
of South Florida and the University of Cincinnati earlier in the
tournament to get to the final.
The 49ers, who showed proficiency on set pieces throughout the
game, took an early lead in the second minute when they won a
corner kick. Sophomore midfielder Sean Zubick struck the ball into
the penalty area, and it was deflected by a 49er to the left post,
where senior back Joe Lampert was waiting to head the ball into the
goal.
The 49ers play was very strong early in the match. In the sixth
minute, Zubick had a goal opportunity stopped when Hutton made a
diving save to keeps the Billikens’ deficit at one.
The Billikens equalized the match when Ibisevic, fresh off his
dazzling four goal, performance in the semifinals, received a pass
with his back facing the goal from sophomore midfielder Cooper
McKee. Upon receiving the ball, Ibisevic turned to his left and
fired a rocket inside the right post for the goal.
The first half ended with in a 1-1 tie, however. Charlotte’s
strong play in the half showed was evident as the 49ers out-shot
the Billikens 8-2.
Charlotte had a good scoring opportunity early in the second
half when junior forward Mira Mupier sent the ball across the
penalty area, but senior Billiken defender Andy Pusateri nullified
any scoring chance for the 49ers by clearing the ball out.
The Billikens took a 2-1 lead in the 73rd minute when Ibisevic
took advantage of a defensive mis-play by Charlotte. A 49er
defender sent the ball back to keeper Lucas Mackanos, but Ibisevic
beat the keeper to the ball and fired a shot inside the near post,
to give his team the lead. The goal was his 15th of the season.
Charlotte equalized two minutes later with their second goal off
a set piece when Floyd Franks sent a free kick to the left of the
Billikens’ wall and inside the left near post.
The second ended in a 2-2 tie, thus sending the match to the
first of two 10 minute overtime periods.
Early in the first overtime Charlotte had a great chance to end
the match when Michael Rose received a cross from John Nabers and
headed it on goal, only to have Hutton come up with an big
save.
SLU had their two best chances late in the first overtime when
freshman midfielder Brian Grazier sent a shot on goal which
Mackanos had to leap at to tip the ball over the cross bar.
Ibisevic moved in on goal with only seconds remaining, but his shot
hit the outside of the goal right before time expired.
The second overtime period went scoreless, sending the
championship match to penalty kicks.
SLU won the shootout, 5-4, with both teams taking seven shots.
Will John, John DiRaimondo, Nick Gannon, Alex Matteson and Grazier
notched goals for the Billikens, with Grazier’s being the clincher.
Michael Rose, Graham Tatters, Joel Wisdo and Evan Harding scored
for the 49ers.
For their efforts Ibisevic, Hutton, Gannon and Pusateri were
named to the All-Tournament team.
The weekend was especially great for Ibisevic, as not only did
he break a few C-USA tournament records and broke U.S. National
Team star Brian McBride’s freshman scoring record at SLU, but
Ibisevic received the prestigious honor of being named the National
Player of the week by College Soccer News.
The Billikens move on to the NCAA Tournament, for which they are
seeded seventh and will receive a first round bye. They will next
be in action on Wednesday Nov. 26 at 7 p.m. at Robert R. Hermann
Stadium. They will play the winner of the match between
Farleigh-Dickinson and Binghamton.
NCAA Tournament Opener
Who: Winner of Farleigh Dickinson vs. Binghamton
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Where: Robert R. Hermann Stadium
