LIBERTY, Mo. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis men's soccer team opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play with a 2-0 win at William Jewell on Friday evening at the William Jewell Soccer/Lacrosse Field in Liberty, Mo. The Tritons improve to 2-0-1, 1-0 GLVC while the Cardinals drop to 0-4, 0-1 GLVC.

The game was scoreless for the first 38 minutes though both sides had their chances. Austin Reis turned away three shots and had another hit off the post while Jose Arellano made a pair of saves.

UMSL broke the scoreless deadlock in the 39th minute. After a foul by the Cardinals, Jack Meuse sent a free kick into the middle of the penalty area and found Luca Saewe who headed it past Arellano for his second goal of the season.

The Tritons were outshot in the first half 5-3 including 4-3 in shots on goal. They did have a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.

Jewell came out aggressive in the second half looking for the equalizer and nearly got it in the 58th minute but Reis made a diving save to punching the potential goal out of play for a corner kick. The Cardinals had another chance to equalize in the 69th minute but Henry Staebell missed his shot wide right.

UMSL added an insurance goal in the 79th minute as Yemil Lopez found Bobby Boone in the penalty box and Boone was able to get enough on his shot getting it past two defenders and Arellano for his first goal as a member of the Tritons.

Gus Mantia nearly made it 3-0 in the closing minutes but his shot was saved by Arellano.

Reis made his sixth and final save of the night in the 87th minute denying Walker Bond to secure his first shutout of the season.

UMSL finished the contest outshooting the Cardinals 11-9 including 8-6 in shots on goal and had a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

The Tritons continue their season opening five-game road trip on Sunday taking on Rockhurst at 2:30 p.m. at Bourke Field in Kansas City.