Juan Martin Devoto scored the game-winning goal with less than seven minutes to play as Lewis University edged Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for the 2001 Great Lakes Valley Conference men's soccer title Sunday at Bob Guelker Field.
         SIUE, ranked No. 11 in the NSCAA/NCAA Division II poll, fell to 15-2-3 and suffered its first Great Lakes region loss of the season. The Cougars are hoping Sunday's loss won't have a factor in earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament starting next weekend. Lewis and SIUE may match up again in the first round of the 16-team NCAA Championships.
         "We came up a little bit on the short end," said SIUE Coach Ed Huneke. "But we weren't short on heart and intensity."
         Lewis, 20-0-1 and ranked No. 2 in the nation on the NSCAA/NCAA Division II poll, scored the game's first goal at 25:06 as John Thompson scored with an assist from Carlos Stremi.
         SIUE couldn't counter until 79:44 when Cress Maddox headed the ball in off a throw-in from Matthew Horan.
         Huneke said his Cougars have come from behind before and were playing calm, patient soccer in the game's final minutes.
         "We've been down before and come back. We have confidence in those situations," said Huneke.
         Lewis, however, closed the scoring with Devoto's goal at 83:13. Devoto scored from five yards out on a crisp pass from 40 yards out from Rob Green.
         The Flyers 12-11 outshot SIUE. Cougar goalkeeper Matt Evers had four saves while Lewis goalie Jordan Gustman recorded six saves.
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