November 26 (1960)

St. Louis University overcomes an early deficit and wins the Billikens’ second consecutive NCAA soccer championship by defeating Maryland, 3-2, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Maryland’s Juan Martin scores just five minutes into the game, but two goals by Don Range and another by Gerry Balassi put the Bills up, 3-1, in the first half. Substitute goalkeeper Mike Quinn, pressed into action to replace injured regular keeper Bill Mueller, misplays a shot that he tries to slap over the crossbar, and Cliff Krug scores easily to cut Maryland’s deficit to 3-2. Quinn recovers and plays well in the game’s fourth quarter to preserve the victory and the national championship. After losing their opening game of the season, the Bills win all the rest of their matches and finish the season with a 14-1 record. They outscore their opponents, 73-10, and impress observers with their short passing game. But the real reason for the Bills’ success in their second season of varsity soccer, and the second season for soccer as an NCAA sport, is their depth. With the semifinals and final played on consecutive days, St. Louis U. coach and future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Bob Guelker goes to his backup players frequently to keep fresh players on the field. “Without the depth in reserves it is questionable if the Billikens would have won this one,” U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame journalist Dent McSkimming will write in the Nov. 27, 1960, St. Louis Post-Dispatch.