SLU’s Hannah Larson races for a loose ball while a St. Joe’s defender chases during Wednesday’s Atlantic 10 Conference semifinal game at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

NCAA Women’s Soccer12Final
#5 Saint Joseph’s (9-4-7)000
#1 Saint Louis (13-1-6)112

SCORING SUMMARY

TimeTeamDescription
20:14SLUJulia Simon (4)
Assisted By: Lucie Schwartz, Hope Kim.
62:08SLUEmily Gaebe (13)
Assisted By: Elise Le, Hannah Larson.

Nora Nichols
Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Saint Louis University women’s soccer team advanced to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament championship game for the seventh time in a row, thanks to a 2-0 win, Wednesday night over Saint Joseph’s in a semifinal round game at Hermann Stadium.

Julia Simon and Emily Gaebe scored the goals for top-seeded Saint Louis, while its defense smothered fifth-seeded St. Joe’s in a contest that featured 22 SLU shots — 12 on goal — and just nine shots for SJU (only three on goal).

Simon’s goal, her fourth of the season, came in the 21st minute on a rebound, following shot attempts by teammates Lucie Schwartz and Hope Kim. Gaebe’s goal, her team-leading 13th score of the year, came on a play where the ball seemed to just find her in front of the net. Teammates Elise Le and Hannah Larson were credited with assists on the play.

“We’re really, really happy,” Billiken head coach Katie Shields said. “I’ll take it. You’ve got to be there. You’ve got to believe, you’ve got to follow it up.”

SLU players celebrate with Julia Simon after she scored to give the Billikens a 1-0 lead in Wednesday’s game against Saint Joseph’s. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

The victory extended SLU’s unbeaten streak to 15 games in a row. The Billikens are 11-0-4 in those matches and are 13-1-6 on the season. SJU ended its season at 9-4-7.

The championship game will be played on Sunday at Hermann Stadium against No. 3 seed Massachusetts, which upset second-seeded Dayton 2-1 on Wednesday. SLU defeated UMass 1-0 when the teams played on September 19.

The winner of Sunday’s matchup will not only be crowned league champions, it will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament, which will begin around the country next week.

Saint Louis has won the A-10 Tournament six years in a row.

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QUARTERFINALS – November 1 & 2
On Campus of Higher Seed
Match 1: No. 1 Saint Louis 2, No. 8 Davidson 0
Saturday, November 2 — 5:00 pm
Match 2: No. 5 Saint Joseph’s 2, No. 4 Fordham 1
Friday, November 1 —  6:00 pm
Match 3: No. 2 Dayton 1, No. 7 VCU 0
Friday, November 1 —  6:00 pm
Match 4: No. 3 Massachusetts 1, No. 6 Loyola Chicago 0
Saturday, November 2 — 12:00 pm
SEMIFINALS – Wednesday, November 6
On Campus of Higher Seed
Match 5: No. 5 Saint Joseph’s 0, No. 1 Saint Louis 2
Wednesday, November 6 — 7:00 pm
Match 6: No. 3 Massachusetts 2, No. 2 Dayton 1
Wednesday, November 6 — 6:00 pm
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME – Sunday, November 10
On Campus of Higher Seed
Match 7: No. 3 Massachusetts at No. 1 Saint Louis
Sunday, November 10 — 12:00 pm