ST. LOUIS – Playing before a near-record crowd at Robert R. Hermann Stadium, Saint Louis women’s soccer broke a 1-1 tie in the 77th minute and went on to defeat Western Michigan 3-2 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The crowd of 2,442 was the second largest for a SLU women’s home game, falling just 326 short of the record of 2,768 set against Kansas on Sept. 1, 2000.

Western Michigan, which trailed 1-0 at intermission, scored the equalizer at 54:49 when Liz Abro found the back of the net. Abro was assisted by Ali Russo.

Saint Louis regained the lead at the 76:48 mark. Freshman Cristina Rodriguez (St. Charles, Mo./St. Dominic), advancing in tandem with sophomore Jamei Borges (Woodridge, Ill./Benet) inside the box, took a touch pass from Borges and tapped in a shot from eight yards away for a 2-1 Billiken advantage.

Sophomore Livi Logan-Wood (Cincinnati, Ohio/Walnut Hills) tallied what proved to be the game-winning goal at 81:37. Logan-Wood took a Borges pass from the right and buried a shot into the left side of the net to make it 3-1 Saint Louis.

The Broncos made it interesting with just 1:01 to play as Megan Ross, assisted by Russo, scored from close range. But the Billikens held on to improve to 11-6-1 all-time in season openers and 15-3 in home openers.

SLU grabbed a 1-0 advantage just 8:34 into the game. Senior Jenny Hummert (Wildwood, Mo./St. Joseph’s), assisted by Rodriguez, tucked a low shot from 25 yards out inside the left post.

Sophomore Hanna Benben (St. Louis, Mo./Villa Duchesne) picked up her first career victory in goal. Benben made three saves.

The Billikens remain at Hermann Stadium for their next contest, hosting DePaul Sunday, Aug. 25, at 1 p.m.