The SLU Billikens are 7-4-2 and undefeated at home this season. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Saint Louis University Men’s Soccer // Match Information
Match No. 14Dayton (5-6-4, 2-1-3) at #25 Saint Louis University (7-4-2, 4-1-1)
Date // TimeSaturday, Oct. 21 // 7 p.m.
LocationSt. Louis, Mo. (Hermann Stadium)
StreamESPN+
Live StatsStatBroadcast

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

ST. LOUIS, MO — The Saint Louis University men’s soccer team had its eight game unbeaten streak snapped in its last outing, in a 3-1 loss last Saturday at Loyola Chicago. And in the process, the Billikens also lost their grip on first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings and fell into second place, behind now league leader Davidson.

Both clubs have two conference games left in the regular season, so Saint Louis still has time to make up the ground it needs, but it will probably need a little bit of help.

Davidson is 5-1 in league play and SLU is 4-1-1. That one extra win for the Wildcats and one tie for the Billikens, has Davidson two points ahead at 15 to 13. SLU will likely need to win both its remaining conference games and have Davidson lose at least one, for the Billikens to win the league title.

That run at either or both begins Saturday night, when Saint Louis will host Dayton and Davidson will go on the road to play Massachusetts.

The Billikens have been fantastic at home this season, boasting a 6-0-1 record at Hermann Stadium. Davidson (9-2-1) only has two losses on the year, but one of them did occur on the road (at Fordham on September 30). So the precedent is set that SLU could regain first place as soon as Saturday night, if the Billikens can hold serve at home against the Flyers and Davidson slumps on the road at UMass.

Another possibility for Saturday night is Davidson could clinch the league title if it were to win and Saint Louis were to lose.

So no matter what happens, it will be high drama on the field throughout the Atlantic 10 on Saturday.

Players to Watch: Until giving up three goals in the game last week at Loyola, defense, defense, and more defense had been the mantra for Saint Louis. In fact, the Billiken defense had been stifling in the four games before the matchup with Loyola.

In those contest, Saint Louis had given up just one goal and produced three straight shutouts. Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Mason Hart had made 18 straight saves and played nearly 300 straight minutes without giving up a goal. The Billikens will look to restart that trend on Saturday.

Offensively, SLU has been led by sophomore CJ Coppola, who didn’t play in the game against Loyola, but hopes to be back to face Dayton. He leads the team with five goals and one assists this season. Coppola also leads the entire A-10 with four game-winning goals this year.

Junior midfielder Christian Buendia has four goals and three assists this season. He scored that fourth goal in the game against Loyola.

Dayton might be the best offensive team in the A-10 this season. The Flyers lead the league in total shots (280), shots on goal (220), and corner kicks (104), and they are second in the conference in total goals scored (26).

The Flyers have four players with at least three goals scored this season. Hjalti Sigurdsson, Joseph Melto Quiah, Sidike Jabateh all have four goals, and Kenji Mboma Dem has three.

Coming off a tough defensive night in its last outing, SLU might need to play its best defensive game of the season to get past the high-flying Flyers.

Up Next: Saint Louis will step out of the conference for its home finale on Tuesday, when they’ll face Blackburn College. That will be the Billikens’ annual Senior Night game and it is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.

2023 Saint Louis Billikens Upcoming Men’s Soccer Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
October 21, 20237 pmHomeDaytonHermann Stadium
October 24, 20236 pmHomeBlackburnHermann Stadium
October 28, 20236 pmAwaySaint Joseph’sPhiladelphia, Pa.