St. Louis - SMU midfielder Duke Hashimoto scored on a breakaway in the 95th minute as the Mustangs topped fourth-ranked Saint Louis 1-0 in overtime tonight at the Saint Louis Nike Classic before 1,993 fans at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. The loss snapped the Bills' two-game winning streak to start the season.
The decisive goal came after a defensive miscue by the Bills along the right sideline in front of the SMU bench. SMU midfielder Dario Saintus stole a back pass and sent Hashimoto in on SLU keeper Pat Disbennett. Hashimoto drilled a 10-yard shot to the left post for the winner.
"We played terrific soccer tonight, and if we continue to play that well, we'll get the necessary result more often than not," said Billikens coach Dan Donigan, who watched his club out-shoot the Mustangs 17-10. "It was unlucky, and that happens sometimes. We need to get ready for Sunday, that's what we need to concentrate on."
Saint Louis had the better scoring opportunities in a scoreless first half as SLU junior midfielder Danny Wynn was dangerous throughout the half. Wynn was just wide of the right post in the 12th minute and went just high over the cross bar in the 31st minute. Junior midfielder Ryan Wileman had the best chance on a 12-yard shot off John DiRaimondo's perfect through ball, but SMU keeper T.J. Tomasso made a brilliant save. Tomasso also was equal to the task in the 40th minute when Alex Matteson broke in one-on-one off the left flank.
SMU's best chance in the half came in the 42nd minute on senior midfielder Jake Jackson's 15-yard blast that SLU keeper Pat Disbennett stopped and corralled the rebound as it dribbled toward the right post. SLU out-shot the Mustangs 7-4 for the half.
Play opened up in the second half with each team consistently attacking and creating chances. SLU's DiRaimondo busted in on a throw-in, but shot just wide of the right post in the 66th minute. Hermann Trophy candidate Will John brought the crowd to its feet by beating Tomasso from a difficult angle to the right post, but the play was ruled offside despite SLU's vigorous protest.
After a Billiken giveaway in its own end, SMU sophomore midfielder Alex Smith ripped a volley from tight quarters off the cross bar on Duke Hashimoto's cross. John excited the crowd once again with a volley into the outside of the goal from the left side in the 87th minute. The Billikens survived a scary moment when Disbennett got caught off his line, and defender Brandon Gasparovic stepped in to clear SMU freshman back Scott Corbin's 18-yard potential winner.
In the early stages of overtime, the Billikens continued to pressure. Wileman sent a 20-yard drive just wide in the 91st minute. SMU's Tomasso parried Gasparovic's 25-yard blast over the cross bar.
Tomasso made 10 saves for the Mustangs, while SLU's Disbennett stopped five shots. The Bills had a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Saint Louis (2-1-0) hosts No. 11 Virginia at 3 p.m. on Sunday, while SMU (2-1-0) faces Cincinnati at noon.
#24 SMU 1, #4 SAINT LOUIS 0
SMU 94:50 Duke Hashimoto 10-yd break-in from Dario Saintus
Shots: SLU - 17, SMU - 10 Corners: SLU - 4, SMU - 3 Saves: SLU - 6 (Disbennett - 5, Team-1), SMU - 10 (Tomasso) Fouls: SLU - 17, SMU - 16 Att: 1,993
