Fresh faces paid dividends for Saint Louis University on Tuesday night, as freshman Larry Geraghty buried his first goal of the exhibition season. Geraghty’s goal, along with a strangling defensive showing, led the Billikens in defeating challenger Lindenwood, 1-0.
Geraghty’s goal, a side volley from two yards out, came off a Danny Wynn cross that was threaded through the Lions’ back line. Wynn created the chance by beating two defenders, while making a 40yard run along the right side of the midfield. After carrying the ball into the penalty area, Wynn laced a low cross through the defense behind goalkeeper Bryce Flynn. Geraghty, who was crashing the net on the play, struck a one-time shot to net the game winner.
“Lindenwood was in a formation that didn’t play wings, and we were trying to isolate them out wide,” Wynn said. “I saw the defender get a foot out and pushed it past him into the corner. I saw that Larry [Geraghty] was making a run, and he had a great finish.”
Though the Bills only scored once, they were not without chances. Freshman Dad Hamzagic broke away from the defense in the 41st minute to make a one-on-one run at the Lions’ net. Flynn, however, made a sliding save at the top of the penalty area to squash the chance.
Hamzagic had two other chances with a numbers advantage, but could not finish on any of the three. Alex Matteson fed a ball to Hamzagic to create a two-on-one opportunity in the 63rd minute.
The Bills may have had their best opportunity when Hamzagic created another one-on-one chance with Flynn. Hamzagic took three touches past a diving Flynn, but bounced his 15-yard shot off the front face of the goalpost.
Freshman Chad Hagerty created another one-on-one chance with Flynn, but fell to the turf in the penalty area as he ran around the goalkeeper.
“For me, this was a great exhibition,” coach Dan Donigan said. “We need to improve in the attacking third, but that’s always a concern every year. Over time it will come. We just need to be more consistent and move forward.”
SLU was dealt a blow in the 30th minute when Billiken goalkeeper David Greathouse was injured while making a sliding save on Pedro Chain’s breakaway chance. The ball was cleared away safely, but Greathouse had to come out of the game with an apparent knee injury. Sophomore Pat Disbennett came on to finish the game in goal. Greathouse and Disbennett combined to make four saves en route to their second shutout of the season.
Help will likely come for the Billiken net-minders in the form of Jeff Sackman’s return. He meets NCAA eligibility requirements, but is waiting for clearance to play. Sackman played 180 minutes in 2004, allowing only one goal.
The Bills are also likely to bolster their roster with the arrival of freshman forward Kyle Patterson from England. Patterson has been cleared to play by the NCAA, but is awaiting his visa.
The Bills are 2-0-0 in the pre-season after two 1-0 wins.
The first win came as SLU defeated Creighton, 1-0, on a penalty kick goal scored by John DiRaimondo on Friday. DiRaimondo’s goal was set up when Hamzagic was fouled in the penalty area during the second half in Omaha, Neb.
Butler will visit St. Louis on Saturday, as the Bills close the pre-season with their third game. Kick-off is at 7 p.m. at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
