ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis junior midfielder Alex Johnston scored in the 58th minute to propel the Billikens to a crucial 1-0 Atlantic 10 Conference victory Friday at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.

The win moves the Billikens to 8-6-2 overall and 5-3-0 (15 points) in A-10 play. SLU is in a tie for third in the A-10 with three other teams and will attempt to qualify for the six-team A-10 Tournament on Sunday when UMass (4-2-2, 14 points) visits Hermann Stadium for a 2 p.m. kick. SLU seniors Stephen Bortolon, James Dice and Jimmy Holmes will be recognized prior to the game.

Johnston’s goal, at 57:00, came on a corner kick. Devon Newport began the scoring play and the ball came to Chad Vandegriffe, who flicked it on to Johnston. With the ball at his feet from five yards out, Johnston calmly poked a shot past the Rhode Island (3-12-2, 1-6-1 A-10) keeper for the game winner. It was his first goal of the year.

“The most important thing for us tonight was to get a win,” SLU head coach Mike McGinty said. “It was fitting that Alex got that goal because he was making plays all over the field. It is that time of the year in the league where every team is fighting, and we are going into Sunday’s game looking for another win.”

The Billiken defense, anchored by sophomore keeper Mark Pais, defended 13 Rhode Island shots for the team’s eighth shutout of the year. Pais made six saves, including one on a rifling shot from Rhody’s Dwayne Williams in the waning moments of the match.