The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team’s fourgame winning streak came to an end Oct. 6 when it tied Buffalo University 3-3.

Junior forward Kyle Patterson scored two goals and assisted another for the Billikens, but Buffalo scored with 8.2 seconds left in regulation to even the score at three a piece.

“Every game, really, we go in expecting to win,” Patterson said. “It was unfortunate that we didn’t get the best result against Buffalo and ended with a tie.”

Head coach Dan Donigan said that the Billikens’ inability to close out the game with a two-goal lead in the second half is unacceptable.

“Give Buffalo credit for fighting back; they are a good team,” Donigan said. “Kyle Patterson scored two good goals, and we did some things well on the offensive end. However, the defensive lapses prevented us from getting the result we wanted. We had a two-goal lead in the second half and let it get away.”

Buffalo did not register its first shot of the game until two minutes into the second half, and the team nearly tallied the equalizing goal only six minutes later.

Despite the disappointing result of a tie, Patterson said his goals were the result of a team effort. In the team’s effort to push towards the goal and create chances, sophomore Jimmy Holmes was brought down in the box, allowing SLU a penalty kick.

Patterson buried the ball in the center of the Buffalo goal to regain the lead 2-1. According to Patterson, the Bills struggled defensively against Buffalo, which allowed them to come back from two goals down.

Because of his efforts, Patterson earned co-Player of the Week from the Atlantic 10 Conference for the second time this season. “This is a deserving recognition for Kyle even though we did not get the result we wanted against Buffalo,” Donigan said. “Typically, players get these awards because of their goals and assists and offensive output, but I think the thing that goes unnoticed about Kyle is his defensive ability. That is what is contributing to his efficiency as a player on our team.”

With four goals and two assists, Patterson leads the team and is seventh in the league with 10 points.

“The individual accomplishments are great, but I would have much rather taken the win over the two goals I scored and the award,” Patterson said.

After a tough non-conference schedule that yielded just one loss, the Billikens will travel to the East Coast to face off against A-10 foes St. Bonaventure University and Duquesne University.

Heading into this weekend ranked 18 in the country, the SLU team has the advantage against both teams, as the Bills are 1-0 all-time against the Bonnies and 3-0 all-time against the Dukes.

The Bills will look to continue their unbeaten streak in five games as they kick off their first two matches in A-10 Confrence play.

“We are past that first stage of the non-conference schedule, and now we are moving on to the conference schedule,” Patterson said. “Every game is important in both stages when it comes time for the postseason.”