Box Score ST. LOUIS – Playing before a near-record crowd at Robert R. Hermann Stadium, Saint Louis women's soccer broke a 1-1 tie in the 77th minute and went on to defeat Western Michigan 3-2 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
The crowd of 2,442 was the second largest for a SLU women's home game, falling just 326 short of the record of 2,768 set against Kansas on Sept. 1, 2000.
Western Michigan, which trailed 1-0 at intermission, scored the equalizer at 54:49 when Liz Abro found the back of the net. Abro was assisted by Ali Russo.
Saint Louis regained the lead at the 76:48 mark. Freshman Cristina Rodriguez, advancing in tandem toward the box with sophomore Jamei Borges, took a touch pass from Borges and tapped in a shot from eight yards away for a 2-1 Billiken advantage.
Sophomore Livi Logan-Wood tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal at 81:37. Logan-Wood took a Borges pass from the right and buried a shot into the right side of the net to make it 3-1 Saint Louis.
The Broncos made it interesting with just 1:01 to play as Megan Ross, assisted by Russo, scored from close range. But the Billikens held on to improve to 11-6-1 all-time in season openers and 15-3 in home openers.
SLU grabbed a 1-0 advantage just 8:34 into the game. Senior Jenny Hummert, assisted by Rodriguez, tucked a low shot from 25 yards out inside the left post.
Sophomore Hanna Benben picked up her first career victory in goal. Benben made three saves.
The Billikens remain at Hermann Stadium for their next contest, hosting DePaul Sunday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m.
