The Saint Louis University (SLU) men’s soccer team earned a statement win on Aug. 15, defeating the fifth-ranked Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs by a score of 1-0 at Hermann Stadium. The victory marked SLU’s first win of the season in their second match and snapped an eight-game winless streak against SMU dating back to 2005.
In the 13th minute of the match, SLU sophomore Andrew Heckenlaible found the back of the net after gaining possession 30 yards out and splitting the defense following his relentless drive into SMU territory. Despite the early lead, SLU had to play a tight, disciplined defense to keep the Mustangs off the scoreboard. Heckenlaible was later named the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week following his first career goal.
Jérémi Abonnel, the steady French goalkeeper, made five saves for his second shutout of the season. Named the A-10 Goalkeeper of the Year last season, Abonnel made a key save early in the game that appeared to change the momentum of the match. He will be a key player to follow on this squad throughout the rest of this season.
Carlos Leatherman and Draven Barnett also contributed defensively, making a pair of clutch defensive clearances in the SLU box. While SMU did outshoot the Billikens 14-7, SLU led in corner kicks, 5-4.
Entering Sunday, expectations were mixed as SLU had just come off a scoreless draw versus the unranked University of South Florida (USF) Bulls. On a scenic night for soccer in front of 2,018 spectators, the Billikens were kept off the board despite a 9-3 shot advantage and an 8-2 lead in corner kicks. Regardless, they still showed tenacity, employing their largely “kick and run” driven offensive scheme.
Through two matches and back-to-back shutouts, SLU appears to be a pragmatic, defense-first team built for low-margin games. Under eighth-year head coach Kevin Kalish, the Bills’ gritty, conservative approach should keep them competitive most nights and produce plenty of nail-biters as 17 newcomers continue to integrate into the program.
The Billikens will conclude their season-opening three-game homestand against Seton Hall (1-0-1) on Saturday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m.
