EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Saint Louis scored a pair of goals in each half to upend SIUE 4-1 on Tuesday night at Ralph Korte Stadium.
 
The Billikens (2-3) retain the Bronze Boot trophy with the victory. SIUE snaps its three-game winning streak and dips to 3-2-1 on the year.
 
Saint Louis improved to 23-5-3 in Bronze Boot affairs.
 
Alberto Suarez opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when he scored on a penalty kick. Erich Legut was tripped up in the box to draw the chance. Suarez buried the PK, his second goal of the year, to give SLU the early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Billikens went on top 2-0 when Seth Anderson scored with time winding down in the first half. Christian Buendia sent a long pass to Anderson, who settled it, took a quick touch into the box, and fired just inside the far post for the score. It was Anderson's first goal of the season and the second in Bronze Boot action in his young career as he scored the Bills' lone goal against SIUE last season.
 
It didn't take long for the Billikens to score in the second half. Just five minutes into the second session, Grady Easton scored his first collegiate goal. Lane Warrington started the scoring play with a serve into the box. Max Floriani found Easton who was running into the area, and he headed one past the SIUE goalkeeper to make it a 3-0 game.
 
The offensive onslaught continued several minutes later when CJ Coppola scored the first goal of his career. After a long Billiken throw-in, Coppola pounced on a loose ball in the box and rifled it into the net Saint Louis stretched its lead to four.
 
The Cougars cracked the scoreboard in the 59th minute when Pau Palacin converted a PK. But that is all the offense the Cougars would muster as the Billiken defense was up to the task, limiting the Cougars to just two shots on goal. The SLU defense was especially tough late in the match as it staved off several dangerous SIUE chances.
 
Carlos Tofern made two saves for his first win as a Billiken between the posts.
 
Saint Louis opens Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday when it travels to Philadelphia to take on La Salle. Game time is 6 p.m. (CT).