It was 2003 when the Billikens last went seven games without a loss.

Not to jinx anything, but the men’s soccer team will have a chance to match that statistic on Saturday, when Saint Louis University takes on Missouri State University in its annual Homecoming match.

Based on the Denver match last Saturday, in which the Billikens won 1-0 with 2:27 left in the game, here are three keys to victory for SLU this weekend:

Finishing chances

Against the University of Connecticut, the Bills were unable to put away one of their four shots on goal. Then against Denver, it looked as though the Bills would tally their fourth draw, before junior James Jaramillo headed in a Brandon Barklage free kick.

“Sometimes it’s game to game,” head coach Dan Donigan said. “You can create a lot of chances and not get that breakthrough goal, but you could explode on a team and can get bounces. You just try to create opportunities.”

Transition from defense to offense

The Bills remain one of the top defensive teams in the country even without All-American defender Calum Angus. In six regular-season games, SLU has only given up four goals and 30 shots on goal. The key to the Bills’ defense, though, will be counterattacking and creating offensive opportunities.

“If we take care of our responsibilities on defense, then it will lead to good attacking,” Donigan said. “We’ve been practicing good starting positions that allow us to attack immediately and give our forwards opportunities to execute.”

High intensity from the start

In the game against Denver, senior midfielder Eric Sweetin said the team started out slow. In order to take down MSU, the Billikens will need to make a statement from the starting whistle. SLU will look to its defense to generate an attack.

“We have to come out with a lot of energy,” Sweetin said. “Sometimes we get caught adjusting to other teams’ style of play. We like to play our game, and hopefully teams will adjust to us.”