Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
13-7-0
Saint Louis -- NCAA Tournament
13-5-2
| Team | 1 | 2 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Saint Louis | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wildcats Upset 11th-Seeded Saint Louis, 1-0
11/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 16, 2006
Box Score
ST. LOUIS -- Waiting an extra day to play their NCAA tournament second round match against Saint Louis did not bother the 'Cats one bit. David Roth (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade College Prep) scored the only goal of the match and Justin Pines (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) made seven saves as the Wildcats upset the 11th-seeded Billikens, 1-0. Northwestern will host the round of 16 match Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game committee members deemed the playing surface at Robert R. Hermann Stadium, site of this year's College Cup, unplayable Wednesday afternoon as the field suffered through harsh rain. Thursday afternoon provided brisk temperatures, but clear skies, and the natural grass surface showed no ill effects of Wednesday's storms.
The Billikens came out with a flurry, keeping play in the Northwestern end right from the opening whistle. The Wildcats had their first opportunity off a corner kick taken by Roth. Carl Pett (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) took the crossing pass and fired a shot high.
Saint Louis came back with a scoring opportunity in the 14th minute. Alex Matteson of the Billikens rocketed a shot from point blank range, just to the left of the Wildcat goal box. Pines was in the right place and made the stop. Saint Louis had their large fan contingent at Hermann Stadium on their feet during the ensuing minutes with several shots sailing wide or high of the Northwestern net.
The Wildcats struck first against the 11th-seeded Billikens on their home field. Roth, a St. Louis native and 2006 All-Big Ten first-team selection, belted a strike from 30 yards that deflected off the cross bar and into the net to give Northwestern a 1-0 lead at the 20:15 mark of the first half. The junior found himself with some space and a clear line to the net and uncorked a laser of a shot. Roth increased his season point total to 20 on his eighth goal of the year.
Saint Louis almost tied the game in the next minute, but Pines stood on his head and made another stop on a one-on-one opportunity by Casey Spiess, his second point blank save of the afternoon. Pines needed to make another big save on another shot from less than 10 yards, this time by John DiRaimondo. The Wildcats survived a late charge by the Billikens and went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
With 30 minutes remaining, the Wildcats survived another blitz by the 11th-seeded Billikens. Pines made his sixth save, again on a shot from must outside the six-yard box and a strong Wildcat defense blocked another chance. After a Billiken's bicycle kick attempt sailed high the 'Cats tried to slow the tempo.
In the last 20 minutes Saint Louis went to the soccer equivalent of a "full-court press", forcing corner kicks and taking shots at the Northwestern goal. The Wildcats held tough and while Pines stood on his head, defenders found themselves in exactly the right spot to deflect passes, head crosses out of the box or clear the ball away from the Wildcat net. The Billikens almost evened the score with two minutes remaining when Spiess let loose a shot from just outside the box. The outstretched arm of a diving Pines tapped the ball out of bounds, forcing a corner kick. The 'Cats survived the attack and went on to win 1-0 to knock off the 11th-seeded Saint Louis Billikens.
"Five years ago we lost 35 games in a row," head coach Tim Lenahan said. "With the tradition of Saint Louis and to make the round of 16 here is just amazing. Guys like Dave (Roth) and Justin (Pines) made the decision to come here when we were nothing and this win is something special."
Northwestern will host the round of 16 match against UNC Greensboro at 1 p.m., Sunday afternoon at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex. Tickets are $7 for general admission, $5 for youth, seniors and students with I.D. and $1 for infants two and under.
Team Stats
Roth, David (8)
35 yrds off crossbar
19:15
