The Billikens lost both of their road games at the open of the conference season. The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team dropped their contests to No. 4 Rhode Island and No. 7 Massachusetts, both 1-0, and fell to 2-7-1 for the season and 0-2 for the Atlantic 10 conference season.
This was their third straight loss. On Friday, Rhode Island’s Reece Markman scored in the 64th minute to lift URI to the 1-0 victory. SLU keeper Nick Shackelford made a diving save on the initial shot into the box, but Markman was there to pounce on the rebound for the game winner.
The Bills applied pressure late in the game, but they could not manage to score, as Rhode Island’s goalkeeper had five saves. Jon Roeckle fired a team-leading three shots, while Kingsley Bryce got off a pair of chances.
The Bills then took on the Minutemen of UMass Sunday. The Bills nearly scored at the beginning of the first half when Michael Robson hit a header off a corner kick, but the chance was cleared off the line.
SLU got into trouble when they were whistled for a hand ball in the box at 49:27, giving UMass the penalty kick attempt. UMass’ Brett Canepa fired to the right, and the ball caromed off the goal post and into the net for the first and only point of the game. Freshman Kingsley Bryce had an opportunity to tie the game in the second half. Bryce, in the 65th minute, drew the UMass goalkeeper off the line, but his shot sailed wide.
The Bills return to Hermann Stadium for a two-game homestand, playing Duquesne on Friday, Oct.14 at 7 p.m. They then play St. Bonaventure on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1p.m. Duquesne (3-5-2) comes in having lost every road game this year. The Dukes are led by sophomore forward Simon Gomez, junior defender Adam Clement and junior forward Joshua Patterson.
Gomez is currently tied for fourth in the A-10 with 11 points (4G, 3A). Clement has 9 points (3G, 2A) and Patterson is fifth in the A-10 with 29 shots attempted. Duquesne has drawn 124 fouls this season, compared to opponents’ 97 fouls.
St. Bonaventure (4-5-2) brings some serious talent to Hermann Stadium on Sunday. James Reed is tied for fourth in points and second in goals (5G, 1A) in the A-10. Emmett O’Connor is tied for the lead (1G, 5A), while James Iannacito is tied for third (1G, 4A)., for assists in the A-10
Bonaventure has tied in their only A-10 match this season against Duquesne. Bonaventure will play on Friday, Oct. 14 at nationally ranked Charlotte before playing the Bills. These next two contests will give them a chance to get back on the right—winning—track.
