ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis freshman Benny Estes notched his first career goal to pull the Billikens to within a goal late, but No. 13 Charlotte held on for a 2-1 victory in Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer action Saturday night at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
The loss snapped the Billikens' four-game winning streak and dips their record to 7-5-0 overall, 2-1-0 in the A-10. Charlotte increases its unbeaten streak to 11 and improves to 8-1-3 overall and 2-0-1 in the Atlantic 10.
"I thought we played well, but it was two lapses that cost us the result we were looking for," SLU head coach Dan Donigan said. "It was a good soccer game. We are getting better and I think we are going to be a tough team to beat moving forward. We now have to pick ourselves up because we have two more important conference games next weekend."
After yielding two first-half goals and trailing 2-0 for much of the second half, the Billiken attack came alive with under 20 minutes to go and got on the board in the 75th minute on Estes' first career goal.
Senior James Jaramillo began the scoring play with a hard run up the left flank, out-racing a Charlotte defender. He led Alex Sweetin, who cut around a 49ers defender to continue the run. After a few touches, Sweetin sent a perfect cross into the box that Estes headed into the back of the net to slim the Charlotte lead to 2-1.
The Billikens continued to press and had a pair of opportunities as time winded down. Alex Johnston send a long serve into the box with 10 seconds to go that was cleared away. He sent another ball in that Nick Maglasang headed, forcing Charlotte keeper David Martin to make a save at the closing whistle.
SLU almost put its first goal on the board late in the second half on a Kyle Hayes shot off a Tim Ream feed. From just outside the box on the left side, Hayes tried to curl the ball inside the far post, but his attempt sailed just wide.
Charlotte tallied in the 16th and 26th minute to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Luke Exley put the Niners on top 1-0 after collecting a loose ball following a Charles Rodriguez service. Exley fired from roughly 25 yards past SLU keeper Ross Kaufman for the opening tally.
Adam Gross scored to make it 2-0. Nathan Mathers sent a cross to Gross, who struck the ball past a screened Kaufman to the far post.
Charlotte out-shot the Billikens 10-7, though SLU held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Kaufman made two saves for the Bills, while Martin's lone save came in the final second.
The Billikens return to action next Friday, Oct. 23, when they host Fordham at 7 p.m. SLU then welcomes La Salle on Senior Day Sunday, Oct. 25, in a 1 p.m. start. Both games will be played at Hermann Stadium.
