St. Louis, Mo. - Ninth-ranked Saint Louis University topped California 3-0 tonight before 2,481 fans at Robert R. Hermann Stadium in the Billikens' own Nike Classic. Junior forward David Beck, a transfer from Butler University this year, scored a goal and assisted on another to have his second-consecutive three-point game.
"David Beck was unstoppable tonight and was just lifted our whole team," Billikens head coach Bob Warming said. "We fought through some pretty thick air out here tonight, and I thought we were able to handle the humid conditions much better than Cal, who played a better game than the statistics show."
Saint Louis dominated the first half by out-shooting the Golden Bears 11-0. The Billikens bid for an early goal in the eighth minute when Joe Hammes' header off a Brad Davis free kick ricocheted off the cross bar. Davis again was dangerous on a free kick from 28 yards, but Cal keeper David Walker punched the high drive off the cross bar. Billiken sophomore forward Nick Walls finally got SLU on the board in a wild goal mouth scramble at 38:31 with Walker off his own line. Beck drew the assist on the play.
Beck collected his second goal of the season at 49:20 to give SLU a two-goal edge. He corralled Andy Pusateri's cross and beat Walker from eight yards to the near post. Jack Jewsbury closed the scoring at 86:50 on a penalty kick after Beck was grabbed from behind in the Cal penalty area.
Cal's Kendall Simmonds recorded the Bears' only shot in the 69th minute when his volley off a free kick sailed wide left. The Bills' defense did not allow the Bears a corner kick, and SLU keeper John Politis was not forced to make a save to record the shutout.
The Billikens improved to 2-0-0, while Cal absorbed its first loss to fall to 1-1-0. In the first game tonight, SMU topped Louisville 2-1. Saint Louis hosts SMU on Sun., Sept. 10, at 2:30 p.m. In the first match on Sunday, the Cardinals challenge California at noon.
SAINT LOUIS 3, CALIFORNIA 0
SLU 6:29 David Beck 8 yds goal mouth scramble
SLU 49:20 Beck from Andy Pusateri 8 yds to near post
SLU 86:50 Jack Jewsbury PK
Shots: SLU 14, CAL 1
Corners: SLU 3, CAL 0
Saves: SLU 0 (Politis), CAL 3 (Walker)
Fouls: SLU 17, CAL 18
Att: 2,841
