St. Louis - No. 21 Saint Louis blanked Charlotte 2-0 tonight in a Conference USA men's soccer match before 1,109 fans at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. After beginning the season with a three-game winless streak, the Billikens have run off four straight victories.
"Our defenders are doing a tremendous job right now," head coach Dan Donigan said. "If we continue to play this well in our end, we'll have the opportunity to win every match that we play."
Still enjoying his recent move to forward from the back, senior Jason Cole scored his career high third goal of the season at 2:18. Freshman midfielder Danny Wynn sent a cross into the top of the 49ers' penalty that was knocked down but not controlled by a Charlotte defender. Cole pounded on the loose ball and pounded it past 49ers keeper Lukas Mackonos from 10 yards.
"Jason's a handful up top, and he's going to do his damage," Donigan said. "He's a problem for every team we play."
After the early pressure by Saint Louis, the game evened out for the remainder of the first half as the Bills had a slight edge in shots (7-5) and corner kicks (2-1). Charlotte senior forward Tim Flavin bid to tie the game in the 16th minute. Billiken keeper Martin Hutton dived to his left to stop Flavin's 18-yard drive off a 49ers counter.
Mackanos kept the 49ers in the match with two excellent plays in the 35th minute. Cole cleanly picked one of the 49ers' defenders and drove in on a two-on-one on Mackanos, who was positioned perfectly and forced Cole to shoot just wide of the far post. Moments later, Mackanos leaped at the last moment to deflect Billiken midfielder Jack Jewsbury's header just over the cross bar at the near post.
The Billikens continued to threaten in the early stages of the second half. Mackanos had to deal with two Cole headers. The SLU forward's first shot went over the cross bar on a corner kick and was in perfect position for Cole's 12-yard header off Kevin Wickart's serve.
The Saint Louis pressure paid off at 63:35. With senior midfielder Nick Walls driving the ball at the 49ers defense, he sent a centering pass to forward Cooper McKee whose shot was knocked down. In an attempt to clear it, Charlotte defender Shane Carew promptly knocked into his own net.
"Our goal is to stay mentally focused at a high level every night," Donigan said. "We flattened out in the late stages of the first half and didn't play as well as we have the last couple matches. But we still managed to get a good win over a good Charlotte team."
Saint Louis out-shot the 49ers (5-2-0 overall, 2-1-0 C-USA) 17-8 and forced Mackanos to make five saves. Billiken keeper Martin Hutton also made five saves while posting his second straight shutout.
The Billikens (4-2-1 overall, 2-1-0 C-USA) travel to Louisville on Sat., Sept. 28, for a 6:30 p.m. (CT) kick-off against the Cardinals
#21 SAINT LOUIS 2, CHARLOTTE 0
SLU 2:18 Jason Cole 10 yds from Danny Wynn
SLU 63:35 Charlotte own goal
Shots: SLU - 17 , CHA - 8 Corners: SLU - 4 , CHA - 4 Saves: SLU - 5 (Hutton), CHA - 5 (Mackanos) Fouls: SLU - 21, CHA - 17 Att: 1,109
