BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Saint Louis men’s soccer remained unbeaten in its spring exhibition season, battling to a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Indiana Saturday night Armstrong Stadium.
Leo Novaes tallied the equalizer in the 83rd minute on a free kick to help the Billikens salvage the draw.
The Billikens limited Indiana to just one shot on goal, which was a PK that Indiana scored on in the 64th minute. The Billikens had five shots in the match, two on frame.
“I thought tonight’s performance was another step in the right direction for the group,” Kalish said. “We improved collectively on both sides of the ball since our last match. We defended much better as a team tonight. In our first game of the spring, we were too vulnerable in transition. However, against Indiana, we were able to have more balance when in possession and made better overall decisions, which was vital because Indiana has some very special players.
“Playing against the national finalist on the road is never an easy feat, but I was proud of our team’s collective attitude and overall mentality, Kalish said. “They showed what being a Billiken is all about: blue-collar mindset, working together, resiliency, and many quality soccer moments throughout the game that showed we are improving.
“It was disappointing to give up a penalty so late in the game, but the team’s response was extremely positive to see,” Kalish said. “I loved our aggressive attitude and desire to come back and equalize. Leo’s goal was a spectacular strike. I am happy for the guys to be able to get something out of the game after a quality overall performance.”
The Billikens are back in action next Saturday (April 14) when they host Missouri State at Hermann Stadium. Game time is 3 p.m. Admision for all spring soccer matches at Hermann Stadium is free of charge.
