Tampa - Playing through a hurricane watch and a tropical storm warning, Saint Louis tied 16th-ranked USF 2-2 tonight in a Conference USA men's soccer match at USF Soccer Stadium. The tie snapped a two-game losing streak for the Billikens and kept USF unbeaten.

USF capitalized on a Billiken giveaway in the 23rd minute. Bulls forward Rodrigo Hidalgo drilled a 16-yard shot to complete a two-on-one break-in with freshman midfielder Simon Schoendorf. Saint Louis had two good chances to tie the match. Off junior midfielder Danny Wynn's corner kick, Adam Pepper tested Bulls keeper Dane Brenner from 10 yards in the 41st minute, but Brenner was equal to the task. USF out-shot the Bills 7-6 in the opening half and had a 3-1 edge on corners.

Through swirling winds and rain in the second half, the Billikens tied the match in the 67th minute. Tim Ward's centering pass from the right flank found sophomore midfielder Alex Matteson, who deflected it in from six yards to the left post. Ryan Wileman also picked up an assist. The goal snapped the Bills' two-game scoreless streak.

The Billikens grabbed the lead in the 81st minute on freshman midfielder Nick Cicciarelli's first career goal. Cicciarelli stripped a Bulls defender just inside the USF half-line, dribbled in on USF's Brenner and beat the keeper from 16 yards. It was the first time that the Bulls had trailed this season.

The Bulls tied the match in the 87th minute after SLU failed to clear out of its left corner. Sophomore defender Keeron Benito drilled a 19-yard shot under the cross bar with Schoendorf picking up his second assist.

The Bulls had two glorious opportunities to win the game in the opening moments of the first overtime. Christian Jiminez pounded an 18-yard shot off the right goalpost and shortly thereafter Hidalgo was stopped one-on-one by SLU keeper Martin Hutton. The Bills had their best opportunity when Ward's 10-yard chip floated over the cross bar.

USF's Jimenez nearly ended it again in the second OT as his blistering 22-yard drive sailed wide left. SLU's Ward bid to win it with a bending, 30-yard drive but it was just outside the left post.

The Billikens out-shot the USF (5-0-2 overall, 2-0-1 C-USA) 20-18 and had a 7-5 edge on corners. Making his first appearance after off-season surgery, Hutton made eight saves. USF's Brenner made four stops.

Saint Louis (3-3-1 overall, 1-0-1 C-USA) resumes Conference USA action on Sat., Sept. 25 at USF.

SAINT LOUIS 2 , #16 USF 2
USF 22-33  Rodrigo Hidalgo 16 yds from Simon Schoendorf
SLU  66:32  Tim Ward's, Ryan Wileman
SLU  80:90  Nick Cicciarelli's 15 yds
USF  86:21  Keeron Benito 18 yds from Schoendorf

Shots: SLU - 20, USF - 18 Corners: SLU - 7, USF - 5 Saves: SLU - 8 (Hutton), USF - 4 (Brenner) Fouls: SLU - 20, SJU - 21 Att: 821