ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Saint Louis (5-2-3) defeated La Salle (1-3-5) 2-1 in a hard-fought Atlantic 10 conference match on Saturday evening at Hermann Stadium. The match featured intense physical play culminating in two red cards in the final minute.
The teams traded scoring opportunities throughout a tightly contested first half. Saint Louis's Tanner Anderson registered the first dangerous chance in the 3rd minute with a shot that went wide right. La Salle's Americo Pereira responded in the 22nd minute with an attempt that missed left of the target.
The first half saw Saint Louis establish control through possession and pressing, generating 5 corner kicks to La Salle's 3. Carlos Leatherman picked up an early yellow card for dissent in the 7th minute, setting the tone for what would become an increasingly physical match. The Billikens' Andrew Heckenlaible and Jack DiMaria both tested La Salle's defense with shots before halftime, but neither could break the deadlock.
The second half intensity increased immediately as both teams made multiple substitutions. Saint Louis's tactical adjustments paid dividends as they controlled much of the play after the break. Nick Schramm nearly put the Billikens ahead in the 78th minute with a low drive toward the left corner. La Salle's Alexandru Zama responded with two dangerous attempts of his own around the 55th minute mark.
The match statistics reflected Saint Louis's overall control, as they outshot La Salle 11-6 with a 7-3 advantage in shots on target. The Billikens also held the edge in corner kicks (5-3). The physical nature of the game was evident in the card count, with Saint Louis receiving two yellows (Leatherman, Pare) and one red (O'Neil), while La Salle saw Pereira cautioned and Sofus Ulrich sent off.
Several players stood out individually despite the scoreless result. Saint Louis's Theo Franca created multiple dangerous opportunities, including a close attempt in the 59th minute. La Salle's Zeke Zambrano showed excellent defensive work while also contributing to the attack. Both goalkeepers performed admirably, with La Salle's keeper making 5 saves and Saint Louis's stopping 2 shots.
The tactical battle centered on Saint Louis's pressing game against La Salle's attempts to play through the midfield. The Billikens' high pressure forced numerous turnovers, while La Salle found success when they could bypass the press through quick combinations. The introduction of fresh legs through multiple substitutions by both teams kept the energy high throughout.
This victory continues Saint Louis's strong run of form, having won two of their last three matches. For La Salle, the result extends their winless streak despite showing improved defensive organization compared to recent outings. The Explorers' record reflects their competitive play, with five draws showing their ability to stay in matches.
The match reached a dramatic conclusion with both teams being reduced to ten men in the 90th minute as Sofus Ulrich and Xavi O'Neil were shown straight red cards for fighting. Despite the heated finish, both teams displayed quality soccer throughout the evening, with Saint Louis's superior shot creation ultimately proving the difference.
Looking ahead, Saint Louis will host Dayton on October 4th at 8:00 PM, while La Salle travels to face VCU the same evening at 7:00 PM. Both teams will look to build on their performances in these crucial conference matchups.