Sept. 8, 2002

Final Stats

St. Louis - Navy made a first-half goal stand up and shut out Saint Louis 1-0 this afternoon to win the Toys for Tots Military Academies Women's Soccer Classic at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Tournament MVP Stacey Finley tallied the Mids' goal to back up the shutout goalkeeping of Kim Bonafede.

Although Saint Louis dominated the possession in the first half and out-shot the Mids 9-2, Navy netted the winner in the 27th minute. Midfielder Ariana Downs sent a cross from left flank into the Billiken penalty area, and Finley flicked a 15-yard header to the right post. Billiken keeper Meghann Burke earlier was sharp on forward Ameilia Sheveland's header on a corner in the 22nd minute.

Saint Louis had two good scoring opportunities in the half. After a Navy defensive breakdown, SLU freshman Christie Cigno jumped on a free ball and drilled an eight-yard shot that Mids keeper Kim Bonafede dived to stop. Just moments before Navy's goal, freshman midfielder Kelly Ferguson's 10-yard volley off a deadball sailed just over the cross bar.

Navy built a barricade around its goal in the second half and attacked only when the occasional opportunity arose. The Bills again out-shot the Mids 8-2 in the second half on their way to a 17-4 advantage for the match. Burke denied Navy with a superior save on the Mids' best second half chance when she changed directions to smother defender Nadia Sheikh's deflection.

The Billikens were unable to capitalize on their second-half chances. In one flurry in the 67th minute, SLU defender Megan McNiff's header off a corner was knocked down by Navy's defense, and Bonafede was right on top of Ferguson's crisp 10-yard volley on the rebound. In the 76th minute, Cigno sent a 30-yard drive off a dead ball over the cross bar.

In the hectic final minutes, SLU forward Jamie Perry was all alone from 10 yards, but Bonafede again stood tall with 90 seconds left. The loss snapped Saint Louis' (3-1-0) three-game season-opening win streak. Navy (4-0-0) won the tournament for the fourth time.

The Billikens challenge Davidson at Wisconsin's tournament in Madison on Fri., Sept. 13.

NAVY-1 , SAINT LOUIS-0
 USNA   26:36  Stacey Finley 15-yd header from Ariana Downs

 Shots:  SLU-17, USNA - 4
 Corners: SLU-6, USNA - 3
 Saves: SLU-3 (Burke), USNA - 11 (Bonafede-10, Team-1)
 Fouls: SLU-8, USNA - 10
 Att:  626