Saint Louis Wins Men's Soccer Tournament

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Number one seed Saint Louis captured the 2000 Conference USA Men's Soccer Tournament on its home field with a 2-1 win over UAB at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The victory gives the Billikens an automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Tournament, whose pairings will be announced on Monday afternoon.

The win also meant that Saint Louis (13-3-2) became the first team in C-USA history to win an outright regular season championship and the conference tournament in the same season.

"Our conference is so balanced, said Saint Louis head coach Bob Warming. Look at all of the games that went into overtime this season. Look at the teams that couldn't even qualify for this tournament. We're going to enjoy this victory and hope that it happens to us again, but knowing that it may not ever happen again."

Saint Louis put the first goal on the board late in the first half, when Brad Davis took a pass from Andy Pusateri and knocked it into the right side of the goal from 10 yards out for his 11th goal of the season.

"I've played with Andy forever, said SLU midfielder Brad Davis. I've seen that run a million times, I knew that he'd give me the ball."

The Billikens made it 2-0 in the 70th minute when Davis set up a streaking Vedad Alagic on the left side for a goal from about 12 yards out. For Alagic, it was just his third goal this season.

"Davis was spectacular, absolutely spectacular", said Warming.

UAB would answer just six minutes later, when Lane Knight knocked in a rebound in front of the goal for his second goal of the tournament and eighth of the season.

The game was clearly the most physical of Conference USA's six championship matches, with 41 total fouls being called and nine yellow cards being issued.

"It is not unusual for a conference tournament final or any final to not turn physical, added Warming. Both teams are fighting hard and so much is on the line."

"It was very, very physical out there, said SLU midfielder Brad Davis. But, you just have to be heads up and play smart out there. And we did that."

The loss drops UAB to 14-4-2. The Blazers, who advanced to the NCAA final eight last season, and own non-conference wins over No. 2 North Carolina and No. 6 Furman this season, should receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Named to the all-tournament team were UAB goalkeeper David Clemente, Saint Louis defender Joe Hammes, Saint Louis midfielder Brad Davis and Saint Louis forward Nick Walls.

UAB             0       1       -1
SAINT LOUIS     1       1       -2

Saint Louis - Brad Davis (11) from Andy Pusateri, 43:10
Saint Louis - Vedad Alagic (3) from Brad Davis, 60:52
UAB - Lane Knight (8) from Jonathan Wiemer, 63:38


Shots on Goal:  UAB 4, Saint Louis 6
Goalkeeper Saves:  UAB 3, Saint Louis 3
Corner Kicks:  UAB 3, Saint Louis 6
Fouls:  UAB 19, Saint Louis 22