ST. LOUIS, Mo. – A pair of converted Saint Louis penalty kicks along with yet-another steadfast defensive effort from Billikens back line – just five shots allowed with three coming on goal – secured a shutout victory of No. 6 Saint Joseph's (5-8-7) in the Atlantic 10 Women's Soccer semifinals on Wednesday evening, launching SLU into a date with destiny as the program seeks a record fifth consecutive A-10 Championship title later this weekend.
With the semifinal round officially concluded, SLU (19-1-0) will square off agianst No. 2 overall Dayton on Sunday, Nov. 6 for the Atlantic 10 Championship crown, kickoff slated for 1 pm ET / noon CT at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
The Billikens found their edge on the scoreboard in the early going off some aggressive play from Abbie Miller, who recently earned recognition as the A-10 Midfielder of the Year. The senior broke away up the middle for a potential goal-scoring opportunity in the sixth minute, only to garner a whistle after the SJU back line tackled her just after entering the box; Miller proceeded to convert the ensuing penalty kick with relative ease for her third game-winning goal of the season, beating Hawks keeper Katie Cappelletti to the right side of the net.
Caroline Kelly, the league's Offensive Player of the Year, got involved with the match nearing its conclusion at the 71st minute, securing a second penalty kick opportunity after enduring a hard push inside the box near the goal line. The junior foward lanced a shot towards the upper right corner during her attempt, watching Cappelletti get her hands on the shot but fail to slow its momentum, adding a crucial insurance score for Saint Louis heading into the final stretch.
The Saint Joseph's offense found a few early looks during the first half that challenged SLU keeper Emily Puricelli – four of the team's five shots came in the opening period – but a quick adjustment from the Billikens heading into the second saw possession shift in their favor. And while the Hawks struggled to attack during the latter half, Saint Louis saw more chances to extend its lead, offering an additional six shots (14-to-8) when compared to the opening period of play.