St. Louis - Saint Louis senior forward Dipsy Selolwane scored in the 82nd minute to propel the third-ranked Billikens past pesky Southwest Missouri State 2-1 tonight in a men's non-conference soccer match before 2,447 at Robert R. Hermann Field. It was the first time this season that the Billikens big three of Selolwane, Hermann Trophy candidate Brad Davis and All-American striker Jack Jewsbury were in the lineup together and all three figured in the scoring.
"It doesn't matter what our national ranking is or what kind of season they're having, we know this game will always be a struggle," Billikens head coach Dan Donigan said. "Dipsy used his great experience to make a critical play late in the game, and he made sure that he finished it."
After missing three weeks and three regular-season matches with a lacerated foot, Jewsbury scored his first goal of the year in the 11th minute. Davis chipped a ball to Jewsbury that caromed off a Bears defender and sent Jewsbury in alone on SMS keeper Matt Pickens. With Pickens retreating, Jewsbury patiently drilled a 10-yarder inside the left post to put SLU on top. The Billikens carried the lead to halftime.
SMS tied the match in the 52nd minute as Bears forward Jamal Sutton capitalized on a Billikens defensive miscue. Sutton stole the ball from SLU defender Mike Kirchhoff and beat Billiken keeper John Politis to his right with a quick shot from 14 yards. The goal snapped a three-game drought for SMS.
"Sutton made an outstanding play," Donigan said. "As quick as he is, you can't keep the ball around him very long. He caught John a little off balance with a quick release."
The Billikens began to turn up the pressure as evidenced by their 8-0 edge in corners in the second half. Nevertheless, Politis had to make two good saves to keep SMS from a second tally. Politis was alert on James Lavesque's eight-yard header in the 73rd minute and was quick to knock down Sutton's sharp drive from 18 yards in the 83rd minute.
Selolwane put the game away by stealing the ball from a SMS defender inside the Bears' penalty area. After wheeling around the fallen Bear, Selolwane beat the diving Pickens from four yards. Conference USA's leading scorer with 15 points, Selolwane has scored in each of the Billikens' games and has three game winners.
"Dipsy bumped the defender and just took it from him," Donigan explained. "Once he gets one-on-one with a keeper that deep, he's quick and decisive.."
Saint Louis (5-0-0) stretched its unbeaten streak to 11 dating back to last season. Meanwhile, SMS (2-6-1) saw its winless streak reach four. The Billikens out-shot the Bears 10-8. Politis made two saves, while Pickens stopped five Billiken shots.
Saint Louis returns to Conference USA action on Sat., Sept. 29, when TCU visits Hermann Stadium for a 7 p.m. start.
SAINT LOUIS 2, SMS 1
SLU 10:01 Brad Davis
SMS 51:13 Jamal Sutton 14-yds to left post after steal
SLU 81:42 Dipsy Selolwane 4-yds off steal
Shots: SLU-10, ECU-8 Corners: SLU-5, ECU-8 Saves: SLU-2 (Politis-2, Team-1), SMS-5 (Pickens) Fouls: SLU-15, SMS-5 Att: 2,447
