ST. LOUIS, MO -- Saint Louis, which has won 10 NCAA men's soccer championships, made its Atlantic 10 Conference debut Friday night at Hermann Stadium against Temple, a finalist in the last two A-10 tourneys. The Billikens broke a 1-1 tie in the 78th minute to open with a 2-1 win in its conference debut.
Despite suffering the effects of a groin injury, senior midfielder Tony Donatelli found junior midfielder Ryan Heins 15 yards out with Heins blasting a goal just inside the right post to give the Owls a 1-0 lead in the 27th minute. John DiRaimondo scored on a penalty kick two minutes later as Temple was called for a hand ball in the box, evening the score at 1-1.
The Billikens weathered a strong Temple attack in the latter stages of the half as SLU keeper Jeff Sackman dived to his left to stop Matt Maher's 20-yard blast and smothered the rebound. On a Temple corner with two minutes remaining, Owls defender James Suevo's header was cleared off the SLU's line by DiRaimondo.
Temple also had the best of the play early in the second half, but the Billikens held off the Owls. SLU slowly took control and didn't allow a Temple shot in the final 25 minutes. DiRaimondo buried the winner from 12 yards to the right of the Owls' goal. Freshman midfielder Chad Hagerty's serve from the left flank was flicked to the far side by freshman forward Dado Hamzagic, and DiRaimondo was free to convert.
Temple (2-8-0 overall, 0-1-0 A-10) out-shot the Bills 11-10, but SLU (4-4-1, 1-0-0) had a wide 9-4 edge in corners. Sackman made four stops, while Owls keeper Tony Pratico made five saves.
The Owls travel to Duquesne for a Sunday contest.
