Oct. 24, 2003

Final Stats

MACOMB, ILL. - Saint Louis University women's soccer dominated Western Illinois in a 2-0 victory this afternoon. The Billikens out-shot the Leathernecks 19-0 and force three Western keepers into nine saves. Junior forward Jamie Perry (St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) picked up the game winner in the 36th minute, and freshman Dee Guempel (St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word) bent a corner into the goal in the 77th minute for SLU.

The Billikens maintained constant pressure against Western and beat the Westerwinds to nearly ever 50-50 ball. SLU put the defense under such pressure that Western gave up 12 corners in the outing, including four consecutively in the second half.

Freshman Tara Gresco (St. Louis, Mo./Ft. Zumwalt South) started the game winning goal by stripping a defender in the midfield and sending a ball through a tri of defenders to Perry. The program's all-time leading goal scorer carried the ball to the right side of the box before sending it to the lower left corner out of the reach of Western keeper Carey Cowhey.

With relentless pressure in the second half, the Billikens put their 16th shot up when Christie Cigno (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph's) sent a shot in from the left side that forced back-up keeper Sarah Yakapovich to punch it over the cross bar. The resulting corner was the first of four in a row that eventually led to Guempel's strike. From the right corner, she bent the ball in at the near post where it deflected off a defender and into the goal.

The Westerwinds had their best opportunity late in the game. On a corner in the 81st minute, Sarah Gathje sent a serve in to Andrea Fernandez. Fernandez turned to shoot, but junior sweeper Tressa Pecher (St. Louis, Mo./Parkway West) blocked the ball and cleared it from the box.

With the win, SLU improves to 11-3-2 on the season, while Western falls to 2-14-1. The Billikens play their final road game on Sun., Oct. 26, at Marquette at 1 p.m.