When Saint Louis University women’s soccer coach Tim Champion
put together his team’s regular-season schedule, he strove to fill
the slate with tough opponents in hopes of his team garnering a bid
to the NCAA Tournament this season. The schedule featured six teams
that qualified for last season’s NCAA Tournament, one being the
University of Mississippi Rebels, who took on the Billikens Sunday
afternoon at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Champion’s team showed that
they were more than up to the task, defeating the Rebels 3-0 and
winning the Toys for Tots Tournament.
“Mississippi’s one of the better teams we’ve played in a long
time,” Champion said. “I’m incredibly happy with the result today,
knowing that full well Mississippi is going to beat a lot of teams
down the road and help us with the [NCAA] tournament.”
The Billikens opened the scoring in the second minute of the
game. Junior midfielder Kelly Ferguson received a pass from
freshman forward Cassi Winchell, then sent a rocket from the top of
the penalty area into the left side of the net, past Ole Miss
keeper Ann Shelton. The goal was Ferguson’s second of the
season.
The Billikens didn’t take long to add to their lead. Sophomore
forward Maureen Hughes scored her team-leading third goal of the
season in the fifth minute when she quickly gained control of a
serve from senior midfielder Jamie Perry and scored from six yards
out, lobbing the ball over the head of Shelton.
In the minutes following Hughes’ goal, the Rebels put pressure
on SLU junior keeper Amanda Martin, forcing her to make five saves
in the first half, including stopping Ole Miss forward Kelly Renie
as she moved in on goal in the 14th minute.The Billikens added to
their lead in the 22nd minute. They were awarded a penalty kick
after Winchell was taken down in the penalty area by an Ole Miss
defender. Perry converted on the penalty kick, sending the ball
into the left side of the goal for her second goal of the
season.
Mississippi held a large advantage in shots, out-shooting the
Billikens 16-6 for the game. Martin made seven saves in goal,
earning her third consecutive shutout.
States Military Academy Black Knights 1-0 in the first game of the
Toys for Tots Tournament for both teams.
In the 14th minute of the game, sophomore midfielder Courtney
Hulcer sent a lob into the Army penalty area, which was misjudged
by Army keeper Rebecca Garcia. SLU sophomore midfielder Dee Guempel
capitalized on the misplay, heading the ball into the goal from two
yards away.
The Billikens next best scoring chance came in the 31st minute
when Winchell sent a through ball to Perry, who shot the ball just
wide off the side of the net.
SLU out-shot the Black Knights 22-8, though Army still
threatened to score on a number of occasions. Their best chances
came in the first 10 minutes of the second half, which culminated
when Martin tipped a shot by Army midfielder Silvia Longo over the
top of the goal.
With the two wins over the weekend, the Billikens improved to
4-2-1 on the season. They were also crowned as the champions of the
2004 Toys for Tots Tournament. Senior back Kim Sinclair, Martin,
and Winchell were named to the All-Tournament Team. Ferguson was
named the tournament’s most valuable player.
The Billikens are next in action this weekend as they conclude
their current five-game home stand. The Rice University Owls will
come to Hermann Stadium to face off with the Billikens at 7 p.m.
Friday. SLU will then open their Conference USA season at 1 p.m.
Sunday when the DePaul University Blue Demons and the Billikens
will tangle at Hermann Stadium.
This will be a rematch of the championship game of last year’s
Conference USA Tournament, a contest which DePaul won in penalty
kicks.
