(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
No. 18 Saint Louis scored early and often in a 5-0 victory against Massachusetts Sunday in Atlantic 10 Conference men’s soccer action at Hermann Stadium.
The Billikens, who scored three goals in the first 20 minutes and never looked back, move to 10-3-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the A-10. UMass, which played a man short after a player received a red card in the eighth minute, falls to 1-11-1 and 0-3-1 in the league.
SLU Starters – GK: Sascha Otte. D: Tyler David, Max Karcher, Anthony Manning. MF: Marco Heskamp, William Hidalgo, Raymond Lee, Filip Pavisic, Francisco Vizcaino. F: Kingsley Bryce, Robert Kristo.
SLU Subs – Julian Gieseke, second half; Pavisic, second half; Patrick Sarr, second half; Joe Saad, second half; David Geerling, second half; Justin Graham, second half.
SLU Goals – Manning (Hidalgo), 1:57; David (Manning), 16:35; Bryce (unassisted), 18:26; Hidalgo (Kristo), 61:17; Karcher (Bryce), 69:15.
The Billikens got things started in second minute when they scored on a corner kick. Senior William Hidalgo sent a ball into the box that senior Anthony Manning headed home. It was Manning’s fourth goal of the season.
SLU converted on another corner kick in the 17th minute. Hidalgo again started the play, but Manning’s header ricocheted off the cross bar. Junior Tyler David was there to bury the rebound to make it 2-0 SLU. For David, it was his second tally of the season.
Senior Kingsley Bryce made it 3-0 just several minutes later. After racing up the left flank, he looked to dish it off but saw an opening just inside the near post. He poked a shot over the goal line for his third goal of the season.
The Billikens did not let up in the second half. Hidalgo scored in the 62nd minute thanks in part to a nice run by senior Robert Kristo. He sent one across the box for Hidalgo, who buried it to make it 4-0 in favor of SLU.
Sophomore Max Karcher completed the scoring at the 69:15 mark when he scored off of a Bryce pass. It was Karcher’s first career goal.
The Billikens outshot the Minutemen 21-7 and held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
SLU keeper Sascha Otte made one save for his ninth shutout of the season.
The Billikens head to Dayton, Ohio, to face the Flyers (6-4-3, 2-1-1 A-10) in a pivotal A-10 matchup next Saturday. Game time from Baujan Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT).
