Piscataway, N.J. - Seventeenth-ranked Saint Louis University topped third-ranked St. John's 1-0 in overtime this afternoon in Rutgers' Philips Lighting/adidas Classic at Yurcak Field. Billiken freshman Brad Davis found the back of the net at 109:39 for the game winner.
"This was best college soccer match that I've ever witnessed, and even the referee came up to us and said the same thing," Billikens head coach Bob Warming said. "With a stiff wind, St. John's had the better of the play in the first half, but we turned it around in the second half. The overtime featured end-to-end action with the last defender available making great plays to turn threats away."
St. John's had the better of the play in the first half and out-shot SLU 5-0, but the Billikens escaped to the break with a scoreless tie as New York native John Politis made a pair of saves.
Saint Louis reasserted itself in the second half with the wind at its back. The Billikens had five good scoring opportunities as Davis, sophomore forward Jack Jewsbury and sophomore midfielder Nick Walls each had shots go just wide. Red Storm defender Ommar Chavez was particularly adept at breaking up SLU scoring thrusts to the point that SJU keeper Jeff Stoklosa didn't make a save all afternoon.
On the winning goal, Walls won a ball about 40 yards from the St. John's goal and found Jewsbury at the top of the Red Storm's penalty area. Jewsbury left it for Davis, who was crossing along the top of the box, and he buried it to the lower left corner.
"As good as Chavez was, both Jason Cole and Joe Hammes were equally outstanding for us," Warming said. "David Beck also returned to the form that he displayed earlier in the season."
The Red Storm out-shot the Billikens 8-6, but Saint Louis had a 6-3 edge in the second half. The Billikens are 7-2-1 overall, while St. John's is 8-2-2. Saint Louis returns to Conference USA action on Sat., Oct. 14, at Louisville. The Billikens return home to entertain Cincinnati on Wed., Oct. 18.
SAINT LOUIS 1, ST. JOHN'S 0 OT
SLU 109:39 Brad Davis 18 yds from Jack Jewsbury and Nick Walls
Shots: SLU-6, SJU-8
Corners: SLU- 2, SJU-5
Saves: SLU-3 (Politis-2, Team-1), SJU-0 (Stocklosa)
Fouls: SLU-23, SJU-18
