The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team split their Atlantic 10 road opener as the team was defeated by No. 17 Xavier 3-2 and edged Dayton 1-0. The Bills (7-3) gain three points in the A-10 conference standings with the victory over Dayton.
The Bills started their conference season in Cincinnati where they faced the Xavier Musketeers. Kingsley Bryce scored a goal within the first two minutes of the game, but Xavier quickly responded with a goal to tie the game 1-1.
In the ninth minute, Xavier scored their second goal, but in the 24th minute Robbie Kristo scored the Bills’ second goal of the game. In the 32nd minute, Xavier scored the eventual game winner, as a wild first half was followed by a scoreless second.
After the wild game against Xavier, the Bills travelled up the road to Dayton, Ohio to take on the Dayton Flyers.
The game was uneventful until the 74th minute when Kristo crossed the ball into the box. The Flyers defender attempted to fend off Kristo’s cross, but accidently knocked it into his own goal.
Bills goalkeeper Nick Shackelford posted the fourth shutout of the season during the Dayton game.
The Bills will play their A-10 home opener against the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at Hermann Stadium and then will face Richmond on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m.
VCU brings one of the best players in the A-10 to Hermann Stadium in junior forward Jason Johnson. Johnson has been named A-10 conference player of the week twice this year already and was named the NCAA player of the week last week for his performances against Charlotte and George Washington.
Johnson scored a goal and made an assist in the games against Charlotte and George Washington. Johnson has scored 8 goals and 3 assists this season and will prove a formidable challenge as he applies constant pressure to the Billiken defense.
VCU has a 2-0 conference record. The Bills are hoping to supply the first blemish to the Rams’ conference record.
Richmond will bring senior midfielder Houston Oldham to Hermann Stadium on Sunday. Oldham has 5 goals and 1 assist this season. Oldham was named A-10 Player of the Week on September 24. Richmond is seeking its first conference win of the season.
The Bills will have a tough test at Hermann Stadium this week as they face robust competition from VCU and Richmond, who house some of the Atlantic 10 conference’s finest individual talents.
