The Saint Louis University women’s soccer team extended their winning streak to four games after a weekend trip to Philadelphia. The Billikens took on conference foes Temple University and Saint Joseph’s University on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

Sunday’s match against St. Joe’s was a hard-fought match the Billikens barely won, 2-1.

The Billikens scored two first-half goals and managed to stave off a ferocious second-half barrage from the Hawks to hold on for the victory.

“Our defense played really well against St. Joe’s in not letting them come back and tie the game,” junior forward Maureen Hughes said.

Hughes assisted on the first goal of the game for the Billikens.

SLU goalkeeper Amanda Martin punched an attempted shot out of the Billiken zone that was subsequently collected by Hughes.

Then, with a lofted pass, Hughes found sophomore Cassi Winchell streaking down the field. Winchell beat a charging St. Joe’s goalie from 30 yards out.

Not more than six minutes later, the Billikens scored another goal that proved to be the deciding tally.

Senior midfielder Lachlyne Eastman settled the ball on the left side of the field and centered a pass to junior midfielder Kelly Ferguson.

Ferguson moved the ball along to junior defender Tara Gresco.

Gresco sent the ball back to Ferguson, who headed the ball from 10 yards out.

The Hawks scored a goal in the 84th minute, making the Billikens nervous, but the defense tightened and did not allow a tying score from St. Joe’s.

Billiken coach Tim Champion said his club did not feel threatened when the Hawks scored their first and only goal.

“It was not really much of a goal, and they did not have many chances after that…It was kind of a flaky goal,” said Champion.

The Billikens manhandled a far less formidable opponent on Friday, when they beat Temple 4-1.

The Bills notched three first-half goals to end any thoughts of an Owl upset.

Hughes scored two goals in the first half alone to pace the women’s soccer team.

Winchell sent a through pass to a charging Hughes, who collected the ball in front of the goal.

Her shot found the back of the net in the 11th minute, giving the Bills a 1-0 lead.

“My first goal was kind of a gift,” Hughes said. “I got the ball, and the defender and the goalie ran into each other, leaving me with an open net.”

Hughes was the next to score again as she put the Billikens ahead 2-0 in the 30th minute.

Junior standout Courtney Hulcer centered a ball from the right side, which Hughes collected and put inside the right post from 10 yards out.

Hulcer added to her personal points total less than two minutes later.

Hulcer blasted a shot from 30 yards out that rocketed into the top right corner.

Hulcer’s goal gave the Billikens a 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

Junior defender Alex Twellman scored the fourth and final Billiken goal, less than 10 minutes into the second half.

The Billikens again utilized the potency of the give-and-go as Twellman sent a pass to the left to freshman forward Caroline Sweeney.

Sweeney centered the ball back to Twellman, who put the ball past the oncoming Temple goalkeeper.

The Owls scored their only goal in the 67th minute on a header, which beat SLU backup goalkeeper Abby Goellner.

“Temple was not a very strong team, but we still played well in scoring four goals against them,” Hughes said.

Champion was pleaser with his team’s effort against the Owls, especially since he got to give some reserves some playing time.

“We got to play a lot of players who normally don’t get consistent minutes and see how they can do,” said Champion. “It also allowed us to rest some players for Sunday’s game.”

Next up for the Billikens is a road trip to the northeast corner of the country.

The Bills will play the University of Rhode Island on Friday and move to Amherst, Mass., to play the University of Massachusetts on Sunday.

“This weekend we can hopefully repeat last weekend and get two wins against two conference teams,” Hughes said.

“Rhode Island is consistently one of the top two or three teams in the conference,” Champion added. “This is going to be a difficult game on the road. [Junior] Dee Guempel returns after playing only about 10 minutes this weekend, so that will help.”

Guempel had been sidelined with an ankle injury.

The Billikens do not return home again until Oct. 28, when they will host George Washington University at 7 p.m, at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.