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SLU has a new 2024 commit from Andrew Heckenlaible, a 6’1 forward from Des Moines, Iowa.

Andrew helped lead his high school team, Centennial, to the Iowa Class 3 Semifinals. He has 31 goals over his first two seasons, and 21 assists this season alone. 

Heckenlaible plays club ball with VSR Rush, Boys ECNL, where he was recently named 2nd team Heartland Conference. He recently played in the national selection game in the December ECNL St. Louis showcase. (He also played in the Texas game last year) Andrew scored the game winning goal for the West in thrilling fashion after receiving a long ball at hs feet, getting past defenders, and chipping the keeper.3-2. 

Andrew plays has good length, pace, and is good in combination play in transition. He can create for others or himself. High soccer IQ. 

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SLU has two more incoming transfers:

Lawson Redmon, a Junior defender from Indiana. While there, 2 of his 3 teams finished as NCAA National Runner Up, and, last year they lost at Washington 3-2 OT in a Sweet 16 game.

Lawson has appeared in 28 matches for IU over 3 seasons. He has two seasons left of eligibility. He played multiple positions in multiple formations, including wing back in a 3 back formation. IU also played a lot of 4 back so he will fit in with SLU’s often preferred 4 back system. 

A former top 100 recruit, Lawson trained with FC Feyenoord, and played club ball with St. Louis FC snd SLSG. He attended Edwardsville High School.

…………………

Also incoming for SLU is Graduate Transfer Diego Konincks, a 6’2 Center Back from Campbell University in the Big South where he started 40 of 41 games over 3 seasons. He played his first season at NAIA Midland.

Diego was a three time, First Team, Big South Conference player at Campbell, where his teams won 34 games in three seasons. He also was on the All Academic Team.

Diego is a very effective tackler, 1v1 defender, diagonal ball player, and he finishes well aerially in the final third.

He is originally from the Netherlands where he played for Montfoort Samen Verder 2019 (MSV 19).

……………..

 

 

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2 hours ago, Bills By 40 said:

Love that we're stealing a player from Indiana but my question is how important was he to them? Does he look to be a significant role player here next year? @courtside

Lawson Redmon will get a chance to compete for playing time right away at SLU. Indiana is good player development training ground, as is SLU. You don’t get to play in 28 games there if you aren’t any good.

A few recent outside back examples:

Max Floriani was one of the better Freshman in the country this past year at mostly right outside back. He redshirted the year prior. He moved from defensive midfield to center back to right outside back. 

Chandler Vaughn was a Freshman at Pittsburgh who started 15, and played 18 games. He moved down the bench his Sophomore season and appeared in just 8 games. He then transferred to SLU and started 31 of 33 games on one of the best teams nationally. 

…………….

Indiana sometimes played a 3 back system and sometimes a 4 back system. Lawson is an outside back and is better suited for a 4 back system. Indiana’s strength and depth was defense, where Munie was a two time All American at Center Back. Joey Maher played both center back and outside back. Sessock was their true up and down the flank wingback. Bebej also played outside back. Miller played some center back. So that’s Sessock, Bebej and Maher that play his position. Yet another Maher, (Josh) and perhaps the best one will be a Freshman there next season.

Lawson came off of the bench, spot starter, as a flank outside back. (mostly left) player. He started an NCAA game last year, and he doubled his game total from the previous year. They were a College Cup team this year and they were eliminated by the team that knocked out SLU the year prior. 

Carlos Leatherman is a very good outside back (mostly right) for SLU. Easton will also return at center back. Cole Dougherty is a very good center back. Diego Koninicks is a good experienced center back. Galen Flynn the Fordham transfer is an outside back. So that’s really 3 true outside backs including Lawson. (Ross is hanging up the cleats and transferring Moore has changed positions but could change back.) 

I would expect a combination of Floriani, Konincks, Easton, Dougherty, Leatherman, Redmon, Flynn, competing tor playing time among the back four, with three of those being true outside backs. Some could even move around a bit. You have to have a 2nd 11 to compete and win at the highest level. 

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
1 minute ago, OkieBilliken said:

For those interested Tim Ream (Fulham captain) about to take on Chelsea in the Premier League on Peacock.   Ream getting amazing complements this year on his play.    He has had a renaissance this year.  

Any old excuse to skive off I guess......

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  • 2 weeks later...
1 hour ago, HoosierPal said:

@courtside Can you provide an update on John Klein's injury?  I read he did not accompany the team to Florida for training.  I hate to see his journey derailed so quickly.  Hope he returns to action soon and can make a contribution.

Do you see him at City2 this season or with the varsity?

Yes and yes.

Johnny’s fine. He had surgery after the SLU season for his Osteitis Pubis (sports hernia) injury. And he is rehabbing that. If you recall, Johnny sat out a little but in August with it. 

As mentioned last season, patience is virtue. Marathon not a sprint. The other half of “Shake and Bake” (Simon Becher) played his first season on the 2nd team in Vancouver before signing an MLS first team deal this season. He’s looked good playing half of the game in his first two preseason games so far.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

SLU has a new 2024 commit from Connor Dillman.

Connor is a 6'2 Goalkeeper for U17 SLSG Academy, MLS Next. He attends Sacred Heart Griffin High School in Springfield, Illinois, but does not play high school soccer. Connor has also trained at Feyenoord Academy in The Netherlands.

Most recently Connor and his team played in MLS Next Fest in Indio, CA. And they will be playing in the National Academy Championships in Bradenton, FL at IMG, later this month.

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On 1/12/2023 at 1:59 PM, OkieBilliken said:

For those interested Tim Ream (Fulham captain) about to take on Chelsea in the Premier League on Peacock.   Ream getting amazing complements this year on his play.    He has had a renaissance this year.  

Fulham Chelsea (again) yesterday only this time at Stamford Bridge. Great game by Ream, great draw by Fulham. Ream saved a goal in the 2nd half with a goal line slide after Leno had wandered too far out of goal. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Some here already know these games but not everyone:

https://slubillikens.com/news/2023/2/15/mens-soccer-billikens-spring-schedule-announced.aspx

……………….

New Spring transfer faces are:

Diego Konincks a center back from Campbell and the Netherlands. 

Matthew Wrobel, a 6’3 Forward from St. Bonnies

Galen Flynn an outside back from Fordham. 

Lawson Redmon, an outside back from Indiana. 

……………..

Early enrolled Freshmen that are playing this Spring:

Axel Torres, a midfielder from Rise Academy in Houston

Cole Dougherty, a center back from Solar Academy in Dallas.

……………..

Not on campus early:

Carlos Leatherman is training with the first team at Minnesota United FC this Spring. (Speaking of Minnesota, former SLU commit Devin Padelford has a chance to start with the first team at outside back this MLS season.  Former SLU commit Patrick Weah is also there and thriving after injury last year)

Jack Sullivan is playing with Colorado Rapids 2. He played 9 games with them this past season. 

Tanner Anderson is playing this Spring with SLSG.

Marcos Moore is playing with Rise Academy this Spring.

………….

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

SLU played a combination of high minute/low minute/no minute returning players, some early incoming Freshmen, and some new incoming transfers. SLU returns 8 to 10 players who played quite a bit last year, as well as some others too. SLU has also had some redshirt success. 

Marcos Moore is a very good, explosive, dynamic forward who is still playing for Rise in Houston this Spring. His club teammate Axel Torres is an early arrival, and he had a goal vs Ohio State.

Some other new faces will be Summer arrivals. There is one commit (Carlos Leatherman) that is still training with an MLS first team this Spring. Another (Jack Sullivan) is playing with a 2nd team. So it varies.

A few did transfer out for more playing time elsewhere: Legut (Drake) Zabala (Georgia State), Moore (Charlotte) Ross is at TCU.

Indiana defeated Louisville 4-0 in the later scrimmage. (The game was closer than the score.)

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Some stlCITY2 highlights:

SLU alums AJ Palazzolo and John Klein. 

SLU 2024 commit Braydon Sellers.

Ryley Gibbs, younger brother of SLU’s Karson Gibbs.

Indiana commit Josh Maher.

Northwestern commit Fritz Volmar. (possible future stlCITY homegrown signing)

Tyson Pearce, recent U16 USYNT player. 

Aaron Heard, the number 2 ranked player nationally in the class of 2025 and USYNT player. (talking with European teams)

Mykhi Joyner.

……………….

SLU:

Buendia, Anderson, Floriani, Johnson, Peterson, Coppola, Easton, Townsend,  Olson, Alwang, Mika, Iverson. Gibbs, Bosso, Komodi, Hart, Alwang, Sade, Shapiro, Dovidaitis. Warhaft, Roberts.

……………

New faces:

Torres, Dogherty, Konincks, Redmon, Flynn, Wrobel.

Not on campus yet:

Moore, Leatherman, Sullivan, T Anderson.

 

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