TAMPA, Fla. - Saint Louis University men's soccer knocked off sixth-seeded Marquette 2-0 this afternoon in the Conference USA Tournament Finals. With the victory, the Billikens (16-1-0) swept both the regular-season and postseason tournament titles for the second-straight year.
Billiken senior forward Dipsy Selolwane picked up the game winner just 33 seconds into the championship match. Senior midfielder David Beck made a run up right side and centered the ball to Selolwane. His initial shot hit off the right post and bounced back to him to put away in the left corner.
"Early goals occur when good teams put in proper pregame preparation, come out strong and play a sharp game," Saint Louis head coach Dan Donigan said. "Right now, Dipsy has to be considered one of the most dangerous attacking players in the country."
Selolwane nearly made it a two-goal game in 28th minute when junior Nick Walls sent a cross in after nice run on right side. Selolwane's volley went just wide of the near post. Shortly after that play, junior Jack Jewsbury sent a 15-yard shot to the far post, but MU goalkeeper Adam Ubert was there with the diving save.
Marquette's best opportunity in the first half came in the 26th minute. After a Billiken giveaway in the midfield, forward Derek Gutierrez had shot from 25 yards and SLU keeper John Politis sprawled to make the save.
After halftime, MU picked up its offensive pressure. Gutierrez was generating offense again 59th minute. With a Billiken defender all over him, he sent a 10-yard shot just over crossbar. That play came just a minute after Ubert was perfectly positioned to stop a diving header by Selolwane. The shot came after tremendous passing among Jewbury, Davis and Selolwane. Davis sent a looping serve into Selolwane for the shot. Ubert was again with the quick save as Walls took a shot from 18 yards out through traffic in the 63rd minute.
Selolwane picked up an insurance goal in the 74th minute as MU started sending more and more people forward. Senior midfielder Mike Hill sent a long ball ahead for Selolwane to collect. The striker fended off a Golden Eagle defender to go 1-on-1 against Ubert and put it past him.
Junior defender Jason Cole preserved the Billiken shutout in the 87th minute. MU's Sean Reti was on a 2-on-1 break and had Politis beat to the far post. Cole out-ran the shot to clear it off the line.
The Billikens took a clean sweep of the All-Tournament awards. Selolwane was the Most Valuable Forward, while Davis was named Most Valuable Midfielder. Senior sweeper Marty Tappel picked up Most Valuable Defender honors with Politis selected Most Valuable Goalkeeper.
Saint Louis now awaits the NCAA Tournament pairings which will be announced Mon., Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. The Billikens will gather to watch the selection show in the Hall of Fame Room in the Bauman-Eberhardt Center on campus.
