AKRON, Ohio – Saint Louis punched its ticket to the 2025 Men's College Cup with a thrilling 3-2 victory at Akron Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.

The Billikens (13-2-8) are making their 17th overall College Cup appearance and first since 1997. The College Cup will be held Friday, Dec. 12 (semifinal) and Monday, Dec. 15 (final), at First Horizon Stadium in Cary, N.C. 

As they have done several times throughout their run in this NCAA Men's Soccer Championship, the resilient Billikens did not panic and stayed true to form.

Akron scored two goals in the first half to lead 2-0 at halftime, only to the see the Billikens storm back with three unanswered tallies in the second half.

The first Billiken goal came via an Akron own goal in the 50th minute. Abdoul Karim Pare created the opportunity when he sent a ball into the area. It deflected off an Akron defender and over the line to trim the Billiken deficit to 2-1.

SLU was awarded a penalty kick in the 78th minute after Pare's entry into the box hit the arm of a defender. Quinten Blair buried it for the equalizer, and all the sudden it was a 2-2 game.

The game-winning goal came in the 87th minute off a set piece. Jack DiMaria played a corner kick short to Andrew Heckenlaible. He took the ball into the box and centered it. Tanner Anderson was there to magnificently deflect the ball into the upper netting for the eventual game-winner. SLU held on down the stretch to seal the win.

Billiken keeper Jeremi Abonnel made two saves, including a stop on a first-half penalty kick that ended up looming large. SLU fired 15 shots in the second half after having just one in the first half.

Akron played a man down for the final 27 minutes of the game after receiving a red card.

Saint Louis extended its unbeaten streak to 14 games with the victory.