courtside
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Posts posted by courtside
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On 11/29/2023 at 11:17 AM, courtside said:
SLU’s Emily Gaebe was named by United Soccer Coaches and Missouri Athletic Club, as one of 15 Semifinalists for best player in Women’s College Soccer.
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Of the other 14 MAC Hermann Semifinalists, SLU played against 5 of them:
Eleanor Dale, Nebraska,
Julia Leas, Georgetown,
Brecken Mozingo BYU
Brittany Raphino, Brown
Laveni Vaka, BYU.
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MAC Hermann Finalists:
Eleanor Dale, Nebraska
Onyi Echegini, Florida State
Brecken Mozingo, BYU
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SLU played against two of the three finalists.
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4 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:
"People have been asking about my skincare routine"
Liz, Matt, Vasil, Jess, etc...all say hi.
You may want to think it through (not your strong suit) before going down this path.
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Received a few inquiries about Jax.
Recent 2024 SLU Men’s Soccer commit Jaxson Lee is a 6’5 rangy Center Back from Oklahoma City, OK that can do a little bit of everything in back. He’ll bring depth to the middle of the back line.
Lee plays on a good 05/06 Oklahoma Energy ECNL team in the rugged Texas League. (3rd out of 18 teams)
He plays club soccer and high school football (kicker) in the Fall, and high school soccer in the Spring. SLU also recently saw Jaxson at the national Fall Phoenix Showcase.
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Congrats to SLI center back Diego Konincks (2nd team) and holding midfielder, Christian Buendia, (3rd team) who were named United Soccer Coaches All Region Players. (There are 8 regions)
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On 11/20/2023 at 10:12 AM, courtside said:
SLU in the polls:
Top Drawer Soccer: 10
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TDS:
BYU 4
Penn State 7
Nebraska 8
SLU 10
Brown 20
Georgetown 22
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Every remaining Elite 8 team is ranked in the top 8. Only Memphis at 9, is ahead of SLU of teams not remaining.
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SLU in the polls:
United Soccer Coaches: 11
Top Drawer Soccer 10
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United Soccer Coaches Final Poll:
BYU 4
Penn State 5
Nebraska 7
Brown, Xavier, Georgetown were 3 of the 4 teams receiving the most non top 25 votes.
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Top Drawer Soccer:
BYU 4
Nebraska 8
SLU 10
Brown 20
Georgetown 22
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8 hours ago, Gremio14 said:
We truly are operating at a Power 5 level in Women’s soccer. Nice to see - at least for the insignificant minority of those of us on this board who enjoy a good soccer game…;)
“Operating” as in performance? Yes. SLU is performing at a higher tier soccer school level, both Power 5 and not power 5. (not all top tier soccer schools are Power 5) “Operating” as in resources and some other things? Not as much.
It’s a good opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate Emily Groark and Anna Lawler. Both were top 40 national recruits. Both transferred to SLU from Power 5 schools when others weren’t. Both put in a lot of work over the years, enduring several knee surgeries between the two of them.Groark and Lawler helped raise SLU’s profile and reputation on the recruiting trail, along with SLU winning at a higher level. Now it’s common for SLU to get incoming high level transfers to fit a mutual need. Houck, Simon, Luebbert, Welker, Howard are examples of that.It also has helped attract higher tier four year players as well. SLU competes against high level soccer schools in recruiting. Win some, lose some. They don’t get every recruit they want, and they don’t compete with a select few highest level schools. But SLU is getting a higher percentage of priority targets. And they are targeting higher level players too. The geography has also expanded. The system and formation SLU plays compared to some others, and the culture, arealso contributing factors with some players.There is still a ways to go and there is still some work to do. But SLU can and does compete well with a majority of high level programs, both on the field, and, in recruiting. And Groark and Lawler were important pioneers in the transfer market for SLU. -
31 minutes ago, Midtown Madness said:
This happened Wednesday night.
I also won’t be publicly naming the 3 SLU Men’s Soccer players who won’t be returning.
Some of us are here for very different reasons.
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23 hours ago, courtside said:
No it isn’t. You could always just ask if you want to know something instead of guessing. And, it’s more than one player.
SLU has a new incoming transfer for next season, Rylee Howard.
Rylee played in 33 games starting 19, over two seasons at Wisconsin. She played mostly as a right forward in 4-3-3 system at Wisconsin. A Big 10 Freshmen Team honoree, Rylee played in 14 games this season before re-injuring a previous hand injury while playing with a cast. Her team advanced to the NCAA 2nd round this season.A Southern California native, Rylee spent her high school years in St. Louis. She was an All American at both the high school (Lafayette) and club level (SLSG) in her youth playing career. She was also named the Gatorade State Player of the Year, Post Dispatch Player of the Year, and the ECNL Midwest Conference Player of the Year. Rylee essentially can play all 3 of the positions in SLU’s attacking system. She is a former club teammate (SLSG) of Izzy Luebbert.Rylee will add depth to an already deep attacking group next season. She has two years of playing eligibility. -
SLU is adding transfer Camille Welker for next season.
Camille played 26 games over two seasons at Iowa, mostly as a holding/defensive midfielder, and wing back, in a 3-4-3, and 4-5-1 system. Her team advanced to the NCAA 2nd round this season.Camille will bring a physical presence and depth to SLU’s holding midfield. She was a high school conference player of the year, and, a First Team All State High School selection at Cor Jesu Academy.Camille was part of the Sporting St. Louis Red Devils GA Final Four team, along with SLU’s Ellie Paloucek and Nina Preusser. She plays Summer Ball with several current Billikens.Camille will have two seasons of eligibility remaining. -
United Soccer Coaches 2023 NCAA Division 1 All-Americans:
1st Team: Emily Gaebe.
2nd Team: Lyndsey Heckel.
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17 hours ago, billikenfan05 said:
@Pistoland I have been joking every time we see Duff post about his daughter at Clemson "when is she gonna transfer home?" Wouldn't be her as Clemson is still alive in the Final Four.
No it isn’t. You could always just ask if you want to know something instead of guessing. And, it’s more than one player.
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14 hours ago, Lord Elrond said:
If they have aspirations to play professionally, then staying makes sense. Given the expansion of the NWSL (two new teams next year, many further groups interested in the next few years) and the start up of the USL Super League (which is expected to be on the same level as the NWSL) with 9 teams in 2024 and 5 more added in 2025, with more potentially coming, there are going to be a LOT more opportunities for women to play professionally coming soon. Last season, 12 teams in the NWSL, roster of 22-26 per team gives about 288 slots for players. 2 more NWSL teams, plus 13 USL SL teams, means 648 players needed to fill out those roster slots, which doesn’t even mention Liga MX Femenil opening up slots for more US players. Another year of play at SLU may very give them enough of a resume to pursue a professional career.
A few SLU players were eager to return to SLU. A few, happily, but reluctantly, will return.
Roughly 2 SLU players out of the 10 received some decent pro prospect feedback. We’ll see next year. It’s not any easing thing to achieve.
There are many professional paths including NWSL, (there are some USL Super League skeptics) about a dozen in Europe, Australia. etc…and so forth. And, different players have different interests.
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2 hours ago, OkieBilliken said:
Final Four or bust next season. Wow, we will have a lot to replace in 2025!
Goals and expectations remain the same beyond 2025. You may however need to learn a few new names.
It’s healthy to have a mix of appreciation and disappointment in not making the elite eight after being so close to it.
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3 hours ago, Pistol said:
Pretty wild to think about, but this basically just confirms they aren't transferring. Only Lawler, Miller, Groark, and Jess Preusser went through senior day.
Transfer where? None of those listed players were set to transfer anywhere else.
The professional prospects for a few of them, weren’t as good as they had hoped. And, a few had to be talked into returning to SLU for another season, more than others. You have to recruit your own players sometimes too.
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SLU’s Emily Gaebe was named by United Soccer Coaches and Missouri Athletic Club, as one of 15 Semifinalists for best player in Women’s College Soccer.
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Of the other 14 MAC Hermann Semifinalists, SLU played against 5 of them:
Eleanor Dale, Nebraska,
Julia Leas, Georgetown,
Brecken Mozingo BYU
Brittany Raphino, Brown
Laveni Vaka, BYU.
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United Soccer Coaches All Region Team:
East Region:
1st Team: Emily Gaebe,
1st Team: Lyndsey Heckel,
1st Team: Emily Puricelli.
2nd Team: Caroline Kelly.
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*There are 8 Regions.
Billiken Rich likes this -
https://x.com/mls/status/1728591995546050830?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng
Some saves from Former Billiken Patrick Schulte, that helped Columbus to the MLS Eastern Conference Final.
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Elite 8:
Stanford 2 Nebraska 1 2OT
Florida State 3 Pittsburgh 0
BYU 4 North Carolina 3
Clemson 2 Penn State 1
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Nebraska’s Eleanor Dale finished with 28 goals. (Gaebe finished tied for 5th in goals nationally, tied with Nebraska’’s Weber with 16.)
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BYU returns to the Final Four for the 2nd time in 3 seasons. They had to shovel snow off of the field before their game with North Carolina.
BYU trailed at home, in the 30 degree snow, to UNC, 3-0 at the half. But the Cougars completed the 4 goal 2nd half comeback. Electric is not a strong enough adjective. An all timer. Goals in the 61st, 81st, 82nd, and 89th minutes. (5 BYU players have double digit goals and a 6th has 9.)
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Tough one for Penn State. Good game and well earned by Clemson. 6-7 very good first half opportunities tor PSU, and a few high level early 2nd half opportunities for Penn State to get a couple of goal lead. Mostly Linnehan and MacBean. (who had their goal from top of the box low far post off of the post and in) Linnehan came close a few times as did MacBean. Damico Missed a wide open goal from 8 yards.
Penn State had the better chances in the game. Both Clemson goals were scored by defenders which is often how they score. Morris had a long outside back run from inside of midfield, after a 50/50 ball. Ripped a nice shot on the run from 18 far post. White played a nice long over the top diagonal ball over Schiemann, and Conti ran onto it, great save made but Wiesner overran it and she accidentally knocked it into their own goal full stride on the rebound.
Clemson was a little more efficient. Not the best game from PSU’s holding mids and distribution from the back with them up the middle. Agresti didn’t play, so they played a more traditional 4-2–3-1.
Clemson neutralized the middle of the field. And they had good enough help in back with Linnehan and MacBean. (Morris, White, Hersehfelt, Conti, Lyles, were good) MacBean ripped one off of the post in the final minute from 15. PSU seemed a little fatigued late
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College Cup Final Four:
Florida State vs Clemson
BYU vs Stanford
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14 of 16 2nd round games were decided by 1 goal, and the other two were 2 goals. Clemson needed an 88th minute equalizer and PK’s in Sweet 16 to advance. BYU needed 4 2nd half goals. Stanford needed OT against Nebraska.
Margins are small.
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Clemson became the 36th different school to make a College Cup Final Four.
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Bedlam moment for BYU:
https://x.com/byusoccer_w/status/1728250666630656328?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng
https://x.com/byusoccer_w/status/1728275039060111360?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng
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SLU will host BYU and Penn State next season. And they will travel to Xavier. And there will be a few more good ones added.
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Gremio14, slufanskip and bauman like this -
4 minutes ago, willie said:
Wash U converted to turf this year.
Wake Forest was one of the best teams in the country last year and they have it along with those mentioned, Duke, DBU, Southern Miss. on and on.
This is the final RPI for the 2023 season. There are many turf field programs among the best and better teams on the list.
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/baseball/d1/rpi
And there’s also October/November Fall Ball etc…winter months training too.
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22 minutes ago, cgeldmacher said:
The issue with SLU's field is not that its grass. Grass is preferred over turf for baseball. The issue is the stands and other facilities. The picture above does not show that Desmet is getting any more than SLU has. What we need is not turf, its more stands, a press box, concessions, etc.
Actually, it’s the opposite for both similar types of baseball programs to SLU, as well as for bigger programs in better leagues with similar geographical weather challenges.
Much of the Big East, Big 10, Big 12, and some of the ACC, and some of the SEC etc…programs play on turf.
The SEC has been the best league in the country for years and Vandy, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mizzou, soon to be additions Oklahoma, Texas, all play on turf. Notre Dame, Louisville, etc….
College baseball starts in February. Turf allows for more use and more year round training in a more efficient practical manner.
And, if you click on the link provided above it references some of the other things being added that you mentioned, in addition to turf.
It’s a no brainer for SLU to have a turf facility for baseball, and for SLU to make several other necessary upgrades in order for it to be a more competitive program.
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Hannah Larson was named to the Top Drawer Soccer National Team of the Week.
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13 minutes ago, courtside said:
I know the play.
Alonso slotted a ground pass up the middle for Schiemann. Miller slid in front to knock it away. There was some shoulder to contact from behind from Schiemann on Miller that could have been called and wasn’t.
Miller poked it away to Wheeler who beat Kelly to the ball and Kelly fouled her from behind. One was called one wasn’t. Unfortunately, that foul wasn’t necessary because SLU had several players in position to defend. That play wasn’t likely going anywhere.
One minute later Kelly took a pass from Miller and she made a run down the left flank and the same player she fouled a minute earlier, fouled her from behind and knocked her down. Houck free kick was punched out by the PSU keeper.
Kelly forced a few more fouls which were also called and free kicks were taken by SLU.
With about 15 minutes left in the game, Kelly was fouled deep on the far right side line. Alonso was on th ground and tripped Kelly. No call. Kelly keeps the ball and she tries to go around Agresti and she does for a good scoring chance side of the box but they called a foul on Kelly for knocking down Agresti from behind, which she did.
So many of these plays happen during a game, let alone a fast paced end to end game with two great teams.
One thing I would add is players are taught to play strong on the ball, to play through contact regardless of the ref.
Larson scored on a free kick that she earned herself. And she made sure she flopped pretty good to get that call too. It was a legut foul. She did something similar earning the PK goal vs Indiana. Legit trip but some sell better than others, and/or get those calls. And even then it's uneven.
One play MacBean dribbled out of bounds on the far side near the end line. No call and she walked in from the side as a few SLU players hesitated. Have to keep playing.
There were a mix of good and bad calls in the game. It happens.
Obviously the PK was bad and PK's change games. The ref called it on Stram saying that she reached out while on the ground for MacBean even though she didn't make any contact. Many refs would not call that because nothing actually happened, and it didn't impede a goal as Miller came over to slide and clear without making contact with anyone.
And on the PK, somehow Linnehan was allowed to get to the rebound first, sprinting from wide right all by herself unmarked.
The free kick goal was a little lucky for Penn State that Miller's clear landed at the feet of Wheeler running forward before Kelly fouled her. And they had a little luck on the OT goal chain of events. And Puricelli and Lawler collide onnthe free kick goal.
But you create your own luck by hustle plays and putting yourself in position for those things to happen.
And the refs didn't decide this game. Calls went both ways.
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22 hours ago, Gremio14 said:
Larson was second team A10….tell me one player, let alone 11, who are better than she is in the A10. She was the best player on the field today…including the PSU players.
And not taking anything away from PSU. They are the best team the Bills have played since the Rutgers team who scorched us in the second round a couple of years ago.
Agreed on Larson. I don't get too worked up over individual awards. And if I did A10 would be way down my list of people that know better. I have privately lobbied for Larson and Gaebe to be named All Americans this season. Both are deserving.
As for other teams? SLU has played a few in recent years. Arkansas and Notre Dame last year were that level. BYU this year. And there were others that were just below that level. Nebraska, Brown, Memphis, Xavier, etc...
And remember in 2021 Gaebe was just a Freshman, and Larson didn't play. So SLU wasn't as good as they are now either.
SLU will continue to try to schedule good to great teams non-conference. And they will continhe to play some top teams as they advance in the NCAA tourney.
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3 hours ago, RUBillsFan said:
I didn't go back & watch the replay & don't know how egregious it was or the players involved, but it looked like they could have called a foul on Penn State right before the foul on SLU that lead to the game tying goal. I remember it like this: SLU player has the ball facing SLU's goal, Penn State player contests / bumps / pushes her from behind & she goes down, Penn State player gets the ball & move up field, SLU player running beside her bumps her & she goes down leading to the foul call. Credit to Penn State for executing the set piece & getting the goal after the call went their way.
I know the play.
Alonso slotted a ground pass up the middle for Schiemann. Miller slid in front to knock it away. There was some shoulder to contact from behind from Schiemann on Miller that could have been called and wasn’t.
Miller poked it away to Wheeler who beat Kelly to the ball and Kelly fouled her from behind. One was called one wasn’t. Unfortunately, that foul wasn’t necessary because SLU had several players in position to defend. That play wasn’t likely going anywhere.
One minute later Kelly took a pass from Miller and she made a run down the left flank and the same player she fouled a minute earlier, fouled her from behind and knocked her down. Houck free kick was punched out by the PSU keeper.
Kelly forced a few more fouls which were also called and free kicks were taken by SLU.
With about 15 minutes left in the game, Kelly was fouled deep on the far right side line. Alonso was on th ground and tripped Kelly. No call. Kelly keeps the ball and she tries to go around Agresti and she does for a good scoring chance side of the box but they called a foul on Kelly for knocking down Agresti from behind, which she did.
So many of these plays happen during a game, let alone a fast paced end to end game with two great teams.
RUBillsFan likes this -
23 hours ago, Pistol said:
Houck came way up on that possession and it didn't pay off. No one in the neighborhood for Borgen going the other way. Also thought Puricelli was going to get to it before Linnehan did.
Actually 4 players were in the neighborhood. That’s a good play from Houck to step up and through. She had a strong game.
What happened is SLU (multiple players) won a 50/50 midfield ball. Kelly then lofted the ball over the top for Gaebe. cleared it while back pedaling, out to Wiesner.
Houck didn’t get there first but her hustle forced a soft straight up in the air harmless clear from Wiesner at the edge of the circle on Penn State’s side of the field. There were 4 other SLU players there. That ends Houck’s involvement on the play.
Then it was a combination of a few things that went Penn State’s way and against SLU:
1) Kelly missed the settle entirely from the clear. She had time and space. It went right through her. Borgen was in front of her a few steps as a distraction but she just simply missed the ball.
2) Stram beat MacBean to the ensuing bouncing ball. And full stride, she half chested the ball down but right to the foot of Borgen. (unlucky) Borgen reflexes a half volley touch pass off of Stram’s ball, to MacBean on a quick give and go. Bockius stepped in to defend MacBean but she was unable to block the quick return pass that went through her legs back to a running Borgen. Nice combo play and fortune there for PSU.
Miller, the 4th SLU player stayed adjacent wide left because presumably 1 of those 3 SLU players would win the ball. They didn’t.
Then Borgen was off to the races, with 3 to 4 SLU players behind her and 2 in front of her. Borgen played an unexpected early through ball straight ahead on the ground from 30 plus yards out for Linnehan. It was unexpected because she still had time and space to keep her dribble run.
This early pass seemed to surprise Heckel, Schreiber, and Puricelli a little bit. Heckel turned her head back and forth between Linnehan cutting and Borgen with the ball. It slowed her down just a bit while both Borgen and Linnehan were running full speed straight ahead and not sideways or backwards.
Linnehan was able to get on the inside of Schreiber when Schreiber needed to take the inside there.
Puricelli came out but her first step was backwards and to her right to stay back and cut the angle on Borgen running all the way in with a left footed shot. Once Borgen played the early ball on the ground inside the 18, Linnehan was already at the 18 in full stride, as were Heckel and Schreiber. Puricelli had made it only just beyond the 6 yard box when Linnehan touched the ball first.
Linnehan ran all the way from the right wing, and she split Schreiber and Heckel who were defending. Linnehan got to the ball first amongst those 3 and Puricelli who didn’t get there in time. Full stride, Linnehan pushed the ball to the side of Puricelli and up and in the goal before Schreiber could get there to block it. Heckel went to the middle of the goal.
The 5 to 6 players defending for SLU were not SLU’s pace players. And Borgen and Linnehan are the two fastest players on Penn State’s team.
Several things had to go just right for Penn State on that play combined with several things on SLU’s end.
Sometimes margins are small.
Earlier in the game, when Borgen was off to the races down the middle, Heckel ran over to get in front of Borgen and run right at her to force a harmless well wide shot from 22 yards. Sprinting to a spot directly in front would have possibly intercepted the Borgen to Linnehan pass.
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On Penn State’s first goal. Wheeler cut in on Larson right side, and she served a ball in the middle of the box. Miller was all alone for the routine clear header but she missed the ball entirely. And so did Stram as it flew past Miller. Stram was expecting Miller to head it out. She stuck her foot out. Missed it. MacBean found the space the ball found her.
On the play, Lawler was running towards goal to get inside of Borgen. Stram was at the PK spot almost colliding with Lawler as the ball goes past Miller and it splits the two of them and lands at the feet of MacBean. MacBean one hop settles and places it right corner just past the diving fingertips of Puricelli who almost made a spectacular save. Houck was over by the back post as Wiesner was top of the box there. It’s another play where SLU had 3 defenders involved in the play and a 4th adjacent to them.
Again small margins with several things happening and needing to go certain ways.
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On the 2nd Penn State goal, SLU was too deep with its pressure earlier in the game. Agresti uncontested, played it wide left over Kelly to the feet of Wiesner along the sideline. She settles it out of the air and pushes the ball immediately down the end line, as Houck runs at her. Stram overruns the play and marks too close and allows MacBean to cut inside instead of forcing her outside. No help D there so MacBean walked in to the 6 yard box. Puricelli went down to force a high shot and MacBean did just that for the finish.
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On SLU’s first goal, it was Houck’s run and pressure that made the play. She took a square ball and she played it ahead to Gaebe and Sawyer who played it deep into the corner to Houck who never stopped running forward. Houck 1v1 wide with . Larson and Simon both ran right by Schiemann for the finish. Wheeler played the Houck role of taking back side runners, in this case it was Miller. Neithe Wheeler nor Schiemann ran with Larson or Simon. And Asman never stepped forward to go get the cross. She watched the ball the entire time and never saw SLU’s runners.
Small margins.
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OT goal free kick. Schiemann faked outside on Lawler,’and she went inside. Perfect pass. Puricelli was a step slow to get to the spot. You either have to get there or stay back. And when she punched the ball out and knocked down a player, it was Lawler instead of Schiemann (who headed in the goal) while Lawler was injured and taken out of the game on the play.
Small margins.
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Gaebe’s goal was a food individual effort, a good bounce, and a shot that went through just enough to find the corner.
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Larson’s goal, she earned herself a free kick and she needed a perfect shot from there to score and she did it.
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And those are just the goals scored let alone many near misses, and free kicks etc…and so forth in the game.
SLU Women's Soccer Thread
in Billikens.com Main Board
Posted
Nate Lie was named by Kansas as its next head coach. Big get for KU. Big shoes to fill as Xavier. Lie is someone that did a lot with less.