Saint Louis 2, Tulsa 0
Saint Louis senior forwards Kingsley Bryce and Robert Kristo scored to propel the Billikens to a 2-0 victory over Tulsa Thursday in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship at Hermann Stadium.
With the win, the Billikens (14-4-2) advance to face Louisville on Sunday in Louisville, Ky. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT). Louisville, the No. 13 overall seed, received a bye to the second round. Tulsa’s season comes to a close at 11-6-3.
It was the Billikens’ 12th shutout of the year, which is tied for the third-most all time in school history (1989, 1990 and 1993).
“The guys did a great job in what was a really tough game,” SLU head coach Mike McGinty said. “Tulsa is not an easy matchup. We knew how good they were and did not look past them. Our guys found a way to win, which is what it takes in November.”
Bryce recorded the eventual game-winning goal at 63:20 of the second half. Kristo started the scoring play with a nice move on the endline. The Tulsa keeper was unable to corral Kristo’s shot, and it came to Bryce, who poked it in from three yards out. It was Bryce’s sixth goal of the season.
It was Kristo’s turn later in the match. He received a pass from Bryce on the right flank and fired from about 20 yards for the insurance tally. It was Kristo’s team-leading 14th goal of the season.
“Tulsa is one of the top teams in America, and with the way they play they are not easy to beat,” Kristo said. “This is a happy feeling, but we aren’t done yet.”
“We all wanted this one,” Bryce said. “Everyone contributed to this win. We had guys come off the bench and show just as much heart as anybody.”
SLU goalkeeper Sascha Otte made three saves for the shutout. Shots were even at 10 apiece, while SLU held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Dartmouth 2, Fordham 1
Prior to the Rams' opening round game of the NCAA Championship, Fordham head coach Jim McElderry said his team would compete and that they did, scoring an equalizing goal with just over 11 minutes left in regulation against the 20th-ranked Dartmouth Big Green at Burnham Field in Hanover, N.H. However, Alex Adelabu scored the go-ahead goal with under five minutes left to push the Big Green past the Rams, 2-1.
After a corner kick opportunity for each squad in the first 10 minutes, the first true scoring chance came off a Fordham turnover. A through pass got to Alex Adelabu for a one-on-one chance against Fordham goalkeeper Sean Brailey. Adelabu beat Brailey to the left side, but the ball hit the left post and stayed out, keeping the game scoreless.
Fordham's first chance came off the foot of Aleksandar Mastilovic in the 27th minute from 12 yards out, forcing Dartmouth goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland to make a diving save to the left side.
Dartmouth rang another shot off the left post in the 38th minute, this time off the foot of Colin Heffron, which rolled out of play.
A final chance before halftime came for the Big Green in the final 60 seconds. Matt Greer got around a Fordham defender for a cross that was blocked by Ryan Cupolo, bounced off the right post, and cleared by Christopher Bazzini, leaving the game scoreless at the half.
Ole SandnesRight off the bat in the second half, Jannik Loebehad an early chance for Fordham that was stopped by Cleveland, while Adelabu got a quick opportunity for the Big Green that Brailey knocked away.
The Big Green then broke through in the 61stminute, as Robin Alnas netted his third goal of the year from 10 yards out. Adelabu popped the ball into the box, off of Matt Danilack's head to Alnas for the one-timer shot.
Fordham found the equalizer in the 79th minute off a set piece. After a foul, Mastilovic teed up a free kick from 40 yards out. Christopher Bazzini got a head on it, deflecting it left off Cleveland's hand to the post and in for his second goal of the season.
Dartmouth had the response with under five minutes to go, as Adelabu rifled a shot to the right corner for his tenth goal of the year, with Danilack and Heffron recording the assists.
The Rams were unable to get another scoring chance, as Dartmouth advances to a Saunday match with Providence.
In goal, Brailey made three saves, while Cleveland had two for the Big Green.
Fordham ends the season with an 8-9-4 record.