Defense Shines In Men's Soccer 0-0 Draw Against Saint Louis

AMHERST, Mass. - A strong defensive effort by the Minutemen was key as the UMass men's soccer team battled Saint Louis to a 0-0 double-overtime draw on Saturday afternoon at Rudd Field. Prior to the match, the program held a special ceremony to dedicate the Sam Koch Memorial honoring the iconic head coach who passed away in 2014.

The result moves UMass to 2-10-1 overall and 1-1-1 in Atlantic 10 play. The four points earned through two weeks of league action will keep the Minutemen in the top half of the standings going into next Saturday's match-up at St. Bonaventure. Saint Louis moves to 4-4-2 overall and 0-1-2 in A-10 action.

For the match, both teams fired 12 shots on the day with UMass hold an 8-to-3 edge in the first half and SLU returning the favor 7-to-3 in the second half.

UMass keeper Jorge Becerra made three saves to earn his first career shutout with the Minutemen. His counterpart Sascha Otte made five saves in net for the Billikens.

In the first half, UMass nearly went up by a goal in the 45th minute earning a corner kick with 10 seconds left on the clock. Will Ellis was able to get the service off with three seconds to go finding Lenny Sery on the far post. Sery headed the ball into the goal, but the shot did not count as the horn ending the half had sounded before it crossed the goal line.

Otte made a pair of saves in the second half to keep UMass scoreless, while the Minutemen were able to clog the shooting lanes of the Billikens blocking four SLU shots.

Saint Louis had an opportunity in the 100th minute to win the match earning a corner kick with 13 seconds remaining, but UMass was able to turn the effort away forcing the second OT frame.


Neither team managed a shot in the second half ending the match in the draw.