WASHINGTON, D.C. - Saint Louis (8-2-1) continued their winning streak with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over George Washington (3-5-3) on Sunday afternoon in front of 157 fans at the GW Soccer Field. The win marked the Billikens' third straight conference triumph while extending the Colonials' losing streak to three matches.
Rylee Howard was instrumental in the opening half, testing the Colonials' defense with three dangerous shots in the first 15 minutes. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when Howard's persistence paid off, leading to Saint Louis taking a 1-0 advantage. George Washington equalized through Kate McGrath's well-placed strike in the 48th minute, but the Billikens secured the winner through Eva Schreiber's effort in the 66th minute.
The first half showcased Saint Louis's attacking prowess, with Howard leading the charge. The Billikens recorded 11 shots before halftime, including three on target. Elizabeth Cruz and Amelia Booth each had blocked attempts for George Washington in the 22nd minute, demonstrating the home team's ability to counter. Nina Preusser and Hope Kim controlled the midfield for Saint Louis, with Kim drawing two tactical fouls in the 22nd and 23rd minutes.
Second-half substitutions proved crucial as both teams made tactical adjustments. George Washington introduced fresh legs with Lucy Stenning and Elizabeth Cruz entering around the 60-minute mark, immediately impacting their attacking rhythm. Saint Louis countered by bringing on Adee Broesder, who created two scoring opportunities within minutes of entering. The match's intensity peaked in the final twenty minutes, with both teams generating quality chances.
The final statistics reflected the match's competitive nature, with Saint Louis outshooting George Washington 23-15. The Billikens earned nine corner kicks to the Colonials' four, while both goalkeepers were kept busy - Saint Louis recording five saves and George Washington making seven crucial stops. Neither team received any cautions in what was a cleanly contested match.
Individual performances stood out on both sides. Howard's first-half display included three shots on target and constant pressure on the Colonial defense. Kathleen Ngulefac showed impressive defensive work for George Washington, while Blakely Hockett's late-game efforts for Saint Louis nearly resulted in an insurance goal in the 76th minute. Julia Simon's midfield control for Saint Louis helped maintain possession during crucial periods.
Tactically, Saint Louis's high-pressing approach forced George Washington into defensive adjustments throughout the match. The Colonials responded well with quick counterattacks, particularly through Cruz and McGrath's combination play. The Billikens' strategy of utilizing wide areas proved effective, leading to their high corner kick count and creating consistent attacking opportunities.
This victory strengthens Saint Louis's position near the top of the conference standings, extending their impressive run of form. For George Washington, despite the loss, their competitive showing against a strong Billikens side demonstrated their potential to compete with the conference's best teams.
Looking ahead, Saint Louis will host La Salle on October 2nd, aiming to extend their winning streak to four matches. George Washington travels to Loyola Chicago on the same date, seeking to snap their three-game losing streak and return to winning ways.
The match officials maintained consistent control throughout the contest, allowing for an entertaining and flowing game that showcased both teams' attacking capabilities while maintaining competitive intensity until the final whistle.