Nick Shackelford, Alex Sweetin, Adnan Gabeljic and Jon Roeckle: these four men entered Robert R. Hermann Stadium for likely the final time of their collegiate careers. All four had a hand in the final regular season home match against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks.
The Billikens exited Hermann Stadium with a key 4-1 victory to remain tied at the top of the Atlantic 10 conference standings with George Mason. Shackelford had a key save and deflection, Sweetin and Roeckle each had one assist and Gabeljic scored a goal in the second half.
“I thought it was a good game. That was our fourth game in a week,” said Head Coach Mike McGinty. “It was nice to get back home. It was nice to send our seniors out in the right way, and the guys, after having their hearts broken on Thursday [against Louisville],put in a good performance for their seniors.”
After a tough overtime road loss against nationally-ranked Louisville, the Billikens responded in their final regular season home match.
After honoring the four seniors on the team, the Bills went out ans attacked early. In the 14th minute, Anthony Manning from about 65 yards out sent a ball against the wind toward the box. The St. Joe’s keeper mistimed his jump, allowing Raymond Lee to get in behind him and kick the ball into the then empty net. This gave the Bills an early 1-0 on Lee’s fourth goal of the season.
However, in the 35th minute, St Joe’s responded with a goal of their own, getting the ball under Shackelford for their only goal of the match. In the 37th minute, St. Joe’s had another opportunity on goal, but Shackelford deflected the ball and it hit off the crossbar. The follow-up shot by St. Joe’s was high and that was the last true threat from the Hawks. The Bills controlled the game the rest of the way.
In the 44th minute, Robert Kristo was battling with a St. Joe’s player that was attempting to get the ball out of bounds. However, Kristo won control of the ball after the player from St. Joe’s slid and was unaware that the ball was along the end line. Kristo weaved his way past another defender and then rocketed a ball past the St. Joe’s keeper near the inside post to make it a 2-1 game just before halftime. That goal was Kristo’s seventh goal of the season.
In the 54th minute, Sweetin took a set piece just outside the box and sent it straight to Kristo, who headed it in the back of the net for his second goal of the day and his eighth goal of the season. That was Kristo’s second straight game with two goals.
In the 84th minute, Gabeljic came in for Kristo and added another insurance goal. Roeckle ran down the middle of the field and got a ball in for Gabeljic who shot the ball just inside the box for his third goal of the season and giving the Bills a 4-1 lead.
“I’m pretty happy that the boys responded for the seniors; we tried into the mind frame of everybody playing our last game at Hermann Stadium,” said Shackelford. “It means a lot to play my last game at Hermann, coming to Saint Louis was a second chance to keep playing when McGinty signed me and I hope these guys recognized that we gave all that we could these four years.”
For Sweetin, it was bittersweet to finish his senior season undefeated at home, but also recognize this will likely be his final game at Hermann Stadium.
“That was one of our goals as senior leaders; we didn’t want to give points away at home, and we didn’t do that,” said Sweetin, beginning to recognize the emotion of the moment. “It is just so natural coming up from Chaifetz, up to the locker room and that became a part of who we were. I think the part that I am going to miss the most is just the group of guys and playing in front of my family; they do a great job in supporting me.”
Despite the emotion of this game, the Bills still have unfinished business. They still have two matches left in Atlantic 10 conference play. They sit atop the A-10 conference standings with George Mason with 14 points each.
The Bills will go on the road to conclude their conference season against Rhode Island on Friday, Nov. 8, and then at Massachusetts on Sunday, Nov. 10.
“We have to play well and come away with two wins and that will get us where we want to be going into the post-season. That is what we are looking for to close the season,” said McGinty.
The post-season will begin for the Bills with the A-10 conference championship in Dayton, Ohio on Nov. 14-17 where they will compete for a second-straight A-10 conference title.
