ST. LOUIS - Junior midfielder Kyle Hayes scored the game winner and assisted on two other goals as the 16th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens rolled to a 4-0 victory against St. Bonaventure Friday night in Atlantic 10 Conference soccer action at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Keegan Smith, Kyle Patterson and Brandon Barklage also scored for SLU.
The win pushes the Billikens' overall record to 8-2-5. They move to 4-2-0 in the A-10 and are in good position to contend for a top-two seed in the league tournament in two weeks. SBU dips to 4-5-4 and 2-3-1 in the A-10.
"I was happy with the way we continued to play in the second half after opening up a 3-0 lead," SLU head coach Dan Donigan said. "Give credit to St. Bonaventure, because they continued to play and battle. You try to build habits and a mentality for certain game situations, and that was our emphasis tonight. Regardless of the score, you have to keep going at them. Obviously we are never completely satisfied, but I thought our guys did a nice job tonight."
The Billikens jumped on the scoreboard at the 28:44 mark when Hayes notched a goal, his second of the season, on a rebound. Patterson started the scoring play when he volleyed a ball to Scott Wisniewski. After generating a clear look, Wisniewski unleashed a left-footed drive that SBU keeper David Flynn was unable to control. Hayes ran onto the play and touched the ball over the goal line to give the Billikens a 1-0 lead.
Freshman Keegan Smith scored his first career goal when he connected with Hayes at the 40:00 mark. Hayes had the ball on the left side, and sent a long cross into the box. Smith was in good position and managed to deflect the ball past Flynn to give the Billikens a 2-0 lead.
Just one minute and 32 seconds later, the Billikens again scored on a rebound. Dado Hamzagic, who came off the bench tonight after missing the last six games with an injury, ripped a shot that Flynn managed to get a hand on. He was unable to corral the rebound, however, and Patterson was there to clean it up to give SLU a 3-0 advantage. It was Patterson's team-leading 10th goal of the season.
SLU went into halftime leading 3-0 and had a 14-2 advantage in shots at the break. Patterson had the first chance of the game 16 minutes in on which Flynn made a nice save. On the subsequent corner kick, Barklage sent in a ball that Calum Angus headed high. Later in the half, Josh Aranda whistled a 30-yard drive that Flynn grabbed.
The Bills picked up right where they left off in the second half and continued to apply pressure in Bonnies' territory. Tim Ream played a nice ball to Patterson, who deflected the pass just high. Later, Barklage tried to sneak a shot into the net at the near post, but Flynn made a nice diving stop to his right.
Barklage opened the scoring in the second half when he finished a play set up by Hayes and Patterson. Hayes controlled the ball near midfield, and put a ball at Patterson's feet. Patterson then threaded a perfect pass through several Bonnies defenders to a running Barklage, who buried it inside the far post to put the Billikens up 4-0.
Overall, SLU out-shot St. Bonaventure 20-5 and held a 9-1 advantage in corner kicks. Pat Disbennett, who started in goal for SLU, made three saves. Ross Kaufman, who came into the match for the final 28 minutes, posted one save.
The Billikens host Duquesne (5-7-4, 1-4-1 A-10) at Hermann Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. Prior to the match, SLU will recognize its six seniors as part of Senior Day ceremonies.
