PHILADELPHIA - Saint Louis midfielder Kyle Patterson scored at the 87:22 mark as the ninth-ranked Billikens avoided a scare and posted a 3-2 victory at La Salle Friday in the Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer opener for both squads.
The Billikens, who are 17-1-1 all-time in A-10 regular season matches, move to 5-0-5 overall. La Salle dips to 1-7-3.
Patterson's difference maker came after Brandon Barklage (CBC) tallied in the 67th minute to knot the score at 2-2. The first three goals of the contest came in a 1 minute, 50 second span in the opening minutes of the second half, which forced the Billikens to twice rally from one-goal deficits.
"I had full confidence in our guys that they would pull through," Billiken head coach Dan Donigan said. "They played with great composure and were confident that they would get the desired result. They were not rattled and kept plugging away, which eventually allowed us to get a tough win against a good La Salle team."
Patterson's game-winner was his league-leading fourth of the season and sixth goal overall. He was in good position on a Barklage corner to head the ball into the back of the net with regulation time winding down.
At the 66:53 mark, Barklage tallied his third goal of the season off an Alex Johnston serve to tie the score at 2-2. Running up the right side out of the back, Johnston whipped a ball into the box that Barklage headed past La Salle keeper Andrew Bernhard.
After a rather slow first half that saw the Explorers out-shoot the Billikens 7-3, Tom Kalpokas opened the scoring at the 49:54 mark when he put one past SLU keeper Pat Disbennett.
Just 1:10 later, Kyle Hayes knotted the score at one-all when he broke in and buried a ball into the low-left corner. It was the first goal of the season for Hayes and the sixth of his career.
However, only 40 seconds later, Kalpokas scored again when he headed a Brian Barry pass into the back of the goal.
But Barklage and Patterson's tallies allowed the Billikens to come away with a win in their league opener, the fourth time in as many seasons the Bills have done so since joining the A-10.
Each team had 13 shots on the night, and the Billikens held a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks. Disbennett made four saves to move to 5-0-5.
The Billikens stay on the East Coast and play A-10 foe Fordham Sunday. Match time is set for noon (CT).
