PHILADELPHIA – Chandler Vaughn scored early in the second overtime session to power the No. 14 Billikens past Saint Joseph's 3-2 Wednesday night in a key Atlantic 10 Conference matchup at Sweeney Field.
Saint Louis improves to 8-0-3 on the year and remains perfect in the A-10 with a 4-0 conference mark. Saint Joseph's dips to 4-8 overall and 2-2 in the league.
Simon Becher and
Chase Niece scored in regulation for Saint Louis, but it was Vaughn who won it with the golden goal. In the 101st minute, Becher received possession of the ball in the right side of the box. He beat his defender and took the ball the endline before centering it across the face. Vaughn was there to meet it at the far post, scoring his first goal of the season as the Billikens remain unbeaten on the year.
Becher opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he scored on an assist from
John Klein and
Alex Shterenberg. Klein has now recorded at least one point in all 10 of his appearances this season. Becher has scored in five straight matches.
Saint Joseph's tied the scored a 1-1 with a goal in the 24th minute before Niece put SLU on top 2-1 later in the opening half. On a SLU corner kick, the ball was deflected in the box right to Niece. He hammered it into the back the net for his first goal of the season, giving the Billikens the lead going into halftime.
The Hawks scored the lone goal of the second half in the 71st minute and the game eventually went into overtime, setting up Vaughn's heroics.
SLU outshot the Hawks 17-13 and had a 9-5 advantage in corner kicks.
The Billikens remain on the road to face VCU on Saturday night. The Rams, who are receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches poll, defeated Duquesne 4-1 tonight to improve to 3-1 in league play.
