courtside

TDS Midseason Top 100: Max Floriani. Diego Konincks. …………… TDS Freshman top 100: Carlos Leatherman. ……………

Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Teams who have won 70% or more of its league games in a season, in recent history: Davidson: 4 times in the past 9 seasons, under two head coaches. Dayton: 6 times in the past 9 seasons, under two head coaches. Rhode Island: 4 times in the past 9 seasons, under three head coaches. Saint Bonaventure: 4 times in the past 8 seasons, under one head coach. Saint Louis: 0 times in the past 9 seasons under two head coaches. 3 times in 18 seasons under four head coaches. VCU: 8 times in the past 11 seasons, under three head coaches.

SLU in the polls: United Soccer Coaches: 22 ............ BYU 7 Brown 15 Xavier 20 SLU 22 Nebraska 25 ............

Emily Gaebe was named to the National Team of the Week at Top Drawer Soccer.

Emily Gaebe was named College Soccer News National Player of the Week.

Friends of the program. Starters will get about 20-30 minutes. It isn’t going to hurt the RPI, which is fine. It’s a little bit of a reset, evaluate more players outside of training etc.. If it makes you feel better, some other schools do it too. Indiana plays D-3 Trine.

SLU in the polls: Top Drawer Soccer: 14 College Soccer News: 21 ................. TDS poll: BYU 4 SLU 14 Brown 15 Nebraska 16 Xavier 22 ................ CSN Poll: BYU 5 Brown 17 Xavier 20 SLU 21 Nebraska 26 .................. SLU NCAA nationally ranked stats: 3rd in total goals. 5th in scoring offense. 8th in assists per game. ............

RPI after Sunday: BYU 3 (2nd Place Big 12) Brown 7 (1st Place, Ivy) SLU 19 Xavier 20 (1st Place Big East) Nebraska 21 (2nd Place, Big 10) Dayton 66 Utah State 77 (3rd Place Mountain West) Creighton 119 (idle this weekend)

It helps to see some of the other teams play other games. But even if you haven’t, and even if you don’t know their recruiting level, there are other notable differences between the teams. 1) UMass has a significantly better offense than Rhode island. They have more than twice as many goals. And they have done it against better competition on the season getting better results. They are roughly 100 plus spots better in the RPI. They have 4 RPI top 200 wins, a top 50ish road draw, along with another Power 5 win. Rhode Island doesn’t have any of that. Also understand that SLU is competitive with top 25 teams non-conference. And they recruit at a higher llevel. Those other teams don't have that. 2) The other thing that’s different is SLU. This is the 5th straight game where Gaebe starts. And it’s the 3rd straight game where Kelly started at wing and where Groark started in the middle, with Larson on the other side. 3) While SLU is a pretty well balanced team, one of its strengths is offense. It’s leaving a lot out to simply count goals allowed and say these are two defensive teams. And again, whom you play and getting results against those teams matters. These things matter as SLU prefers a 4-2-3-1. SLU goal 5th minute v George Mason. SLU goal 9th minute, v VCU. SLU goal 16th minute v Richmond. SLU goal 24th minute v UMass. SLU goal 10th minute v Rhode Island. Gaebe either scored or assisted on 4 of 5 of those goals early in the game. And of course, her presence early in games creates space and opportunities for other players too. Prior to that SLU hadn’t scored in the first half in its previous 4 games. They made a few adjustments. Scoring early in games relaxes a team, and, it forces the opposing team to not sit 8 or 9 players defensively behind the ball. It can open up the game. SLU plays much better and much more effectively against these types of teams. It’s what they like. BYU and Nebraska play this way. UMass had a chance to try to make their game v SLU a defensive game but they didn’t. UMass tried to play SLU straight up and it didn’t work at all. Two (or more) different games for example, can have the same scores or similar stats and be very different games.

I'm not sure why that's the case about the main page or app. I don't pay as much attention to the site as others. And I don't use the app. In the future you can always go directly to the team's page or click on the choose a sport section. Results were immediately posted and real time stats are used. You wouldn't have to wait unless it's a Spring or exhibition game when info is often intentionally not posted. But those are the only times. Results are posted shortly after games. The game was at 3pm. The result and related info was posted on the SLU Athletics site at 5:29pm. The score, box score, recap was all posted. It's time stamped. I don't know about the main page or app etc...It appears SLU also posted about the game in real time on multiple social media platforms. So there was plenty of info out there in a timely manner. They did lose 3-1. Tough first half. Into a swirling 25mph wind, SLU started slow. Got down 2-0, got one back early 2nd half. Loyola's final goal came with seconds left as SLU was pressing for a goal. SLU wasn't efficient and urgent enough, defending the 18. Too much contain, not enough urgency and denial marking. First half approach needed to be more simple, urgent, direct. 2nd half needed more direct to corners of the field to work East/West service. SLU pressured often for the 2nd but didn't get it. CJ was there but he was unable to play in the game. Maurer to Dueso after right side service after a failed clear straight up in the air, 50/50 ball lost, bounced off of the turf. Hustle play from both as Dueso turned in finished. Play was set up by a 50/50 midfield volley in for Gates behjnd the defense. 2nd goal was good run down the left flank, through ball to Cisneros edge of the box who was double teamed but not marked tight enough. His back post cross was headed in by Janjic. SLU got one back early 2nd half with the wind. Buendia from T Anderson. Failed clear on a SLU throw in. Roughly similar to a Loyola goal on that end of the field. 4-3-2-1 for SLU. 4-2-3-1 for Loyola. Bragging rights game for John Gates over former club teammates Seth/Tanner Anderson and Brogan Townsend. He had a good game especially in the first half. SLU had won the previous 3 meetings since playing again after 25 years. Billy Hency moved on to Chicago Fire 2 where he had 8 goals this season. First loss for SLU after the previous 8 games. SLU's RPI is 23.

SLU has moved into the top 5 nationally in both scoring offense, and, total goals. ……………….. 3 Billikens were named to the Top Drawer Soccer midseason top 100. Heckel, Puricelli, Stram. (Gaebe and Larson should be added by season’s end) 10 players from SLU’s opponents made the list. ……………… Haven’t posed the video of the goals as often this season. Just haven’t gotten around to it as often. Sometimes the video shows part of the play developing and sometimes it doesn’t. And they may need more context. These need more context. SLU’s first goal: Far left side, changing fields with a target back to goal pass to Gaebe who makes a good pass to Kelly on the wing. Here, Kelly makes a nice play with Groark for SLU’s first goal. It’s an example of one of the many small overlooked things that Groark does well: https://x.com/sluwsoccer/status/1712628554553270626?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng Here is Larson’s goal, which doesn’t show the great play and left footed diagonal curl pass in space from Gaebe to send Larson in for her goal: https://x.com/sluwsoccer/status/1712631014827176410?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng SLU’s 3rd goal was similar to SLU’s 2nd goal. But this time Simon makes a great play and pass in the middle of the field to send Gaebe in 1v1 for one of her goals. https://x.com/sluwsoccer/status/1712632207402061874?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng SLU’s 4th goal is a classic SLU win the corner set piece goal. Luebbert to Miller to Kelly: https://x.com/sluwsoccer/status/1712640012896924098?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng SLU’s 5th goal: Another Groark play, inside long ball splitting defenders for Gaebe from the middle of the field. 3 of those types of goals on the night: https://x.com/sluwsoccer/status/1712642760988115164?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng SLU’s final goal was another corner, failed clear straight up into the air and bodies in front for the tap in N Preusser to Lutz: https://x.com/sluwsoccer/status/1712651236023902663?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng ……………

SLU 6 UMass 0 4-2-3-1 for both. UMass had 1 first place vote in the preseason A10 poll. SLU noticed. SLU failed to convert a few of about a half a dozen chances in the first 7 minutes of the game. (Gaebe alone on a diagonal run over the goal, Larson from 5 yards deflected Luebbert corner loose inside the 5, free kick Houck to Heckel headed wide, off of the keeper wide, etc…) The difference is SLU had sustained 90 minutes of pacey pressure, and defensive positioning. And this was quickly turned into offense. ……………. Talked recently that Emily Gaebe is a very good and willing passer, and her efforts helped set up SLU’s first two goals and it moved Gaebe into a tie for the team lead in assists on the season. She switched fields and played a ball to Kelly who chips to Groark for the far post header 1-0. She then curled a nice left footed ball diagonal ball in space dor Larson to run onto for the bottom far post left foot finish from the left side. 2-0. ………………. Gaebe went on to score 2 goals on 2 equally great passes from the central attacking midfield into space, one was a diagonal ball from Julia Simon, and the other was inside out classic from Emily Groark between 2 defenders. ………………. It was the 3rd straight game Gaebe has started, and it was the 2nd straight game where Kelly started at the same time. SLU has outscored opponents 10-0 in those 2 games. It’s still a 4-2-3-1 formation. It moves Groark to the middle and brings in Simon at that spot later in the half. The attack often begins with Larson and Gaebe. But with tweaked personnel and positioning, extending it with Kelly, Groark, Simon, etc…and some others, is what can separate SLU from some other teams. ……………… 2nd straight game Jordan Gary played up top (and wing) as Sam De Luca has been out with injury. Sawyer also played up top later in the game. SLU is keeping Koch on the wing even though she played exclusively up top prior to SLU. She’s learning the wing. Defensive midfield for N Preusser the past few games. Started the season there, switched to attacking mid awhile and she’s back to dmid. She’s an attacking mid player that’s playing both positions. (J Preusser played the central attacking mid position in the game) ………………. Clare Nicholas sat out the rest of the game as a precaution after picking up a later first half injury sprinting forward, jump stopping, defending the UMass wing from right back. She sat out the rest of the game just as a …………….. Izzy Luebbert places many high level end swing corners over and over again, with good pace, height,’location. And another goal happened there as Miller headed to Kelly for the volley goal off of a corner. …………….. This is more of the 90 minute start to finish dominant performance that SLU is looking for as a team against the top tier A10 teams. Pressuring turnovers into quicker transition offense, sharp passing combination play, instead of methodical build from the back East/West possession mode, knock it around a bit. ……………. It was a good RPI night for SLU. RPI after Thursday: SLU 23 BYU 5 (Nation’s best offense) Brown 7 Nebraska 19 (20 goals for Dale) Xavier 25 Dayton 73 Utah State 83 (have won 5 of 6) Creighton 117 (2 straight league wins) …………….

Nope. Fake news. That isn’t what happened in that exchange.

Patrick has a good chance. He’s earned it. It helps that Patrick has a lot of U.S. Youth National Team experience. He played with both the U.S. U18 and U20 teams. He has a lot of International experience. Chris Brady, one of the four keepers in camp, came up through the Chicago Fire system. The U.S team’s head coach used to coach with Chicago Fire. So they have a connection. It would be great to see Patrick go from NCAA Quarterfinals with SLU, to MLS Next Pro Champion with Columbus, to MLS starter with Columbus, to U.S. Olympic Team. It’s exciting.

This will be my last post about it before posting about Patrick. And it’s only to be clear (if it wasn’t already) that I have zero issue with Tom’s tweets. You, not Tom, posted here that Tom “reported” blah blah blah. He didn’t report anything because what he did wasn’t “reporting.” It was retweeting. Retweeting and reporting are two different things.

Actually, you posted what U.S. Soccer reported, and what Tom retweeted. That isn’t the same thing. And again, to Tom’s credit, he never said otherwise.

? I don’t have a problem with Tom’s post after the game at all. All I said in part of my reply to you was that Tom didn’t report anything because he wasn’t there and he didn’t see the game. And Tom of course said as much in the tweet you provided.

Scouting UMass: They like to play a 4-2-3-1. They will often build wide up the wings, especially the left side through Lamond. She works well with Racinos at central attacking mid. Those 2 provide the bulk of the UMass attack. Very experienced center backs with Kane and Peric who adds a lot of size. Ryan likes to get forward at RCB and tackles well. Mendoza is solid in goal. A defense first team that finds ways to keep opponents off of the board. This is one of the the top tier A10 opponents for SLU.

? Tom posted this AFTER the game. And he acknowledged that he didn't cover the game.

Actually Tom didn't cover the game and he said as much. I was only able to see a cell phone recorded version of the game. From only that Patrick looked good, composed, controlling the 18, and making a few big early 2nd half saves up 1-0. 4 keepers in camp competing for 2 spots. And this doesn't count the possibility of an added overage keeper. Good start for Patrick. A ways to go to make the team.

Patrick is starting tonight for the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team vs Mexico in Phoenix. No tv or stream. But there will be a stream Tuesday vs Japan.

This is a set play. The player crossing the ball, Lawson Redmon #22 is trying to send it in the air curled in towards the goal as he is left footed on that side. The player moving to the near post Max Florian, #5 is supposed to flick it with his head in the air to the back post, where CJ Coppola #13, is supposed to knock it in the goal out of the air. That didn’t happen as the defender was able to clear it out instead, but right to Christian Buendia who chested the ball down to his feet and blasted it in the top left corner from 20 yards. SLU likes to keep certain defensive midfielders where Buendia was playing for exactly this reason. https://x.com/slumenssoccer/status/1712194920788771161?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng

SLU 3 Central Arkansas 1 SLU is now 6-0-2 since they tweaked formations and personnel. Player development, training, trying differrent things is the fun part of the challenge of problem solving. Putting players in the best positions to maximize success. 4-3-2-1 for SLU. Alternating games w/2 good keepers L2R Abonnel Redmon, Floriani, Konincks, Flynn Townsend, Johnson, Buendia (Sullivan) Anderson, Leatherman (TD, KK, JM) Coppola (Wrobel) Embracing the team strength of defense via formation and personnel, has helped SLU defend at a high level especially in the middle of the field. And that stability has brought improved comfort and confidence to the attacking side of the ball in recent games. Tues was a good combination of pressure, transition, and quicker possession distribution and combination play. Dovidaitis and Komodi have received some attacking wing opportunities off of the bench the past 2 games. And they have taken advantage. Sullivan slowly getting more time at dmid. Pressure, set piece corner clear to Buendia top of the box for the 18 yard finish, far corner bins. Seth 1v1 service side of the box to Coppola for the chest deflection goal. Diego long ball aerial clear flicked on by Wrobel to Komodi in space, back to Wrobel for the 2v1 finish. Several other point blank chances for SLU. UCA used a few midfield long balls in space for pace players in the final third for the bulk of their limited offfense and eventual goal. SLU RPI is 19 after Tuesday.

Lol. That's easy for Mike Gundy to say since he's been a beneficiary of $325 million worth of facility projects since he began coaching at Oklahoma State over the past two decades. And, they recently unveiled plans for additional $325 million in new facilities upgrades. What's changed? It's in your linked article. Many other schools built nice facilities too, to keep up with Oklahoma State etc...even Kentucky which was the school mentioned in your linked piece. Uk's Stoops complained that Georgia is buying better players after UK's 51-13 loss to Georgia in football last weekend. Hmm...Kentucky has 2 league wins vs teams with a winning league record in 11 seasons. That's 2 out of their last 32 league games. Can't blame NIL for that too. NIL money is separate from, and in addition to, facilities. Facilities and NIL aren't an either/or situation. Gotta have both if you want to be more competitive at the highest levels. The coaches in the examples complaining already have the facilities. They have the luxury of not needing both. Florida St., UCF, USF, UF all have 9 figure facility projects each, in the works in just one state alone. Even Vandy has a $300 plus million athletics facilities project going on right now. Facilities projects aren't going away. SLU needed a Champions Center in order to not get left behind with facilities. NIL $ is a different and separate need from that. SLU can walk and chew gum at the same time. This is of course if SLU wants to be competitive in Athletics. The Men's hoops team has won 70% or more of its league games just 3 times in the past 18 seasons. And that's because of one of those four head coaches. NIL didn't have anything to do with that.

SLU has the most votes of any team not in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 poll this week.