ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis scored twice early in the second half and hung on for a 2-1 victory over Fordham in the championship match of the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Saturday at Hermann Stadium.
The Billikens earn the A10's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship. The field will be announced during the Selection Show on Monday, Nov. 16, at noon (CT).
It is the sixth A10 Championship crown for Saint Louis and its second straight. The Bills will be making their NCAA-record 53rd NCAA Tournament appearance and their fifth in the last six years.
SLU had to rally to lift the trophy on Saturday, as Fordham went on top late in the first half when Marc-Alexandre Happi Emaga pounced on a loose ball in the box and put one into the back of the net. The Rams led 1-0 at halftime.
It didn't take long in the second half for the Bills to answer. Andrew Heckenlaible was fouled in the box and the Billikens were awarded a penalty kick. Alander Soares buried the chance to knot the game at 1-1.
Moments later, the Billikens got the go-ahead goal on a corner kick. Xavi O'Neil sent in a perfectly flighted ball. It pin-balled in the box, and Drake Fournier stayed with it to ultimately nudge it over the goal line for the eventual game-winning goal. It was Fournier's first goal of the season.
Freshman goalkeeper Lucas McPartlin was named the Tournament MVP, as he posted two shutouts during the tournament and made two big second-half saves against Fordham.Â
