SLU Men's Soccer Thread

[courtside]

SLU has a 2025 commitment from Kai Jaeger.

Kai is a Forward/Wing from St. Louis City Academy, formerly Sporting Springfield SC. Kickapoo High School.

Most recently, Kai was a part of the St. Louis City Academy Team that advanced to the MLS Next Quarterfinals, with future Billiken teammates Jackson Delkus, Zach Stanton, Braden Benyr, and Braydon Sellers (who also has played for City2)

Kai will play on the St. Louis City UPSL team this season. 

[SLUMedBilliken15]

I cant seem to find the score of the exhibition game anywhere. Did it happen or was it rained out?

[courtside]

39 minutes ago, SLUMedBilliken15 said:

I cant seem to find the score of the exhibition game anywhere. Did it happen or was it rained out?

2-1 Notre Dame. SLU frequently likes to add wrinkles to exhibition games, such as adding an extra 30 minutes of play after the game, (which they did), and or practice PK's, etc....as a chance to work on some different things, and, to get more players some playing time. SLU had the only goal in the 30 minute mini game.

 

[almaman]

ur handle should b pitchside

[SLUBALLS]

Few thoughts from the game.....  Even game for the most part...stats may have favored SLU slightly.  SLU started on the front foot in the attack but ND got on board with a goal on their first shot of the game, which had Mason wrongfooted after a deflection.  Shot came from our lefthand side.  Then we responded with a header/volley (?) goal after a scramble in the box....believe after a corner.  ND then scored again and again, down our left hand side.  Quick cross from just outside 18 found one of their forwards for a header.

Second half was a stalemate.  Then they played the "JV" for 30 more minutes after the original 90; SLU "won" 1-0 off a Wrobel (transfer) side volley from close range....believe Tanner made the cross to him on that one.

Quick takeaways....

Freshman....I like them...just need more time to acclimate but it would not have been easy to spot them based on their play.  Tanner is fast, fearless, with good speed.  Leatherman is the second coming of Demarcus Beasely.....really quick, great feet/skills for a back, smooth overall.  He had a chance to tie the game on a solo run after grabbing the ball from an ND defender but couldn't quite get the chip high enough to clear goalie who came way out.  Torres....unfortunately he received a good knock to the ankle in first half so didn't get to see him much; did not come back in and was hopping on one foot after game. Cole D.....people are going to like this kid.  Plays tough, big, good feet, good vision, vocal, competitor....found Olsen on long diagonal to start the move for the goal in that 30 minute second game.  Sullivan....serious look on his face constantly....you can tell he is out there to compete.  Very tidy on the ball.  Quick with ball as well.

Transfers add some depth.....like Wrobel in that target forward type role.  Galen Flynn adds good size and depth to back line.  

Returners.....Mads was on his front foot when he was out there and battled well up top.  Buendia played like a captain and did what he does well in getting ball back and distributing quickly.  He started second half with a few freshman and they took it to ND immediately....very much felt like a goal was coming.  Coppola.....not sure why he did not pull the trigger multiple times when it appeared he had the shot to take.  But he was active in the box attacking but final product was not there.  Grady, Anderson, Max, Johnson, and Brogan were all doing as they did last year.  

 

 

[billikenfan05]

9 minutes ago, SLUBALLS said:

Few thoughts from the game.....  Even game for the most part...stats may have favored SLU slightly.  SLU started on the front foot in the attack but ND got on board with a goal on their first shot of the game, which had Mason wrongfooted after a deflection.  Shot came from our lefthand side.  Then we responded with a header/volley (?) goal after a scramble in the box....believe after a corner.  ND then scored again and again, down our left hand side.  Quick cross from just outside 18 found one of their forwards for a header.

Second half was a stalemate.  Then they played the "JV" for 30 more minutes after the original 90; SLU "won" 1-0 off a Wrobel (transfer) side volley from close range....believe Tanner made the cross to him on that one.

Quick takeaways....

Freshman....I like them...just need more time to acclimate but it would not have been easy to spot them based on their play.  Tanner is fast, fearless, with good speed.  Leatherman is the second coming of Demarcus Beasely.....really quick, great feet/skills for a back, smooth overall.  He had a chance to tie the game on a solo run after grabbing the ball from an ND defender but couldn't quite get the chip high enough to clear goalie who came way out.  Torres....unfortunately he received a good knock to the ankle in first half so didn't get to see him much; did not come back in and was hopping on one foot after game. Cole D.....people are going to like this kid.  Plays tough, big, good feet, good vision, vocal, competitor....found Olsen on long diagonal to start the move for the goal in that 30 minute second game.  Sullivan....serious look on his face constantly....you can tell he is out there to compete.  Very tidy on the ball.  Quick with ball as well.

Transfers add some depth.....like Wrobel in that target forward type role.  Galen Flynn adds good size and depth to back line.  

Returners.....Mads was on his front foot when he was out there and battled well up top.  Buendia played like a captain and did what he does well in getting ball back and distributing quickly.  He started second half with a few freshman and they took it to ND immediately....very much felt like a goal was coming.  Coppola.....not sure why he did not pull the trigger multiple times when it appeared he had the shot to take.  But he was active in the box attacking but final product was not there.  Grady, Anderson, Max, Johnson, and Brogan were all doing as they did last year.  

 

 

Exactly what I saw. Really felt like SLU turned into that disjointed pressing team we've seen at it's worst at times over the last couple years once that ND goal was scored. 

[brianstl]

Just heard Jack DiMaria just committed to SLU. Jeff  DiMaria’s oldest son. Plays for City SC’s U17.  His dad of course played at SLU, mom played at Loyola and his oldest sister is preparing for her freshman season with Mizzou.  Some talent in that family.

[billikenfan05]

36 minutes ago, brianstl said:

Just heard Jack DiMaria just committed to SLU. Jeff  DiMaria’s oldest son. Plays for City SC’s U17.  His dad of course played at SLU, mom played at Loyola and his oldest sister is preparing for her freshman season with Mizzou.  Some talent in that family.

Jeff was actually at the match yesterday. DiMo rocks.

[courtside]

New SLU 2025 commit Jack DiMaria is a talented two way midfielder for the undefeated U16 St. Louis City Academy team, and, a group winner of MLS Next Flex. He will play with the U17 team there this upcoming season. 

His team was one of the favorites to win the MLS Next playoffs but they lost a tough game earlier than expected. (The U17’s with several SLU commits was the team that advanced to the national quarterfinals.) Jack is a top 125 player nationally.

Jack’s dad Jeff played at both SLU and Connecticut along with SLU Men’s Soccer coach Kevin Kalish. Jeff was a First Team All American the year after Kalish was a First Team All American. Jack’s sister Maddie played for the U14 girls youth national team this past year. She along with 2 other local players, won the inaugural ECNL Conference Cup in California last week. She is a top 25 national player in the class of 2027. 

[courtside]

SLU has a new 2025 commitment from Jacksen McNeal. 

Jacksen is a starting center back for St. Louis City Academy. His U16 team went undefeated in league play and, they won their MLS Next Flex Group. They were a top seed in the MLS next playoffs. 

Jacksen is a do it all player that controls the game from the back, but, who can also get forward into the attack as well. 

Jacksen's sister Ella is a U14 national team keeper, who along with club teammate Maddie DiMaria, was named best 11 at the Inaugural ECNL conference Cup last week. She's one of the top 2 keepers in her class (2027) nationally, and, top 40 overall.

 

 

[SLURadioBoy]

Seems like St. Louis City Academy has become quite a pipeline for Kalish.

[brianstl]

11 hours ago, courtside said:

New SLU 2025 commit Jack DiMaria is a talented two way midfielder for the undefeated U16 St. Louis City Academy team, and, a group winner of MLS Next Flex. He will play with the U17 team there this upcoming season. 

His team was one of the favorites to win the MLS Next playoffs but they lost a tough game earlier than expected. (The U17’s with several SLU commits was the team that advanced to the national quarterfinals.) Jack is a top 125 player nationally.

Jack’s dad Jeff played at both SLU and Connecticut along with SLU Men’s Soccer coach Kevin Kalish. Jeff was a First Team All American the year after Kalish was a First Team All American. Jack’s sister Maddie played for the U14 girls youth national team this past year. She along with 2 other local players, won the inaugural ECNL Conference Cup in California last week. She is a top 25 national player in the class of 2027. 

You left Tommy out.

[courtside]

56 minutes ago, SLURadioBoy said:

Seems like St. Louis City Academy has become quite a pipeline for Kalish.

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is it's also a combination of other things. 

St. Louis City Academy now fields teams in the younger age groups. Previously they only fielded teams in the top two age groups. The best local and some of the best non-local players play there. And, it isn't just players. Many of the coaches and staff came from other local and non local clubs. Eventually the best players at other clubs find their way to that Academy, and now it is happening at even younger ages. 

SLU is also doing well recruiting at other MLS and non-MLS academies. There is a chance that a top level MLS acdemy player will sign a homegrown deal and not make it campus. This happened with Devin Padelford recently, and, it almost happened with his teammate Carlos Leatherman. SLU is getting most to campus and they have also added recruits from the best non MLS academies too where that isn't a factor.

SLU has shown that it is a viable development option for professional soccer. They have several recent alums playing professional soccer and succeeding at the highest domestic levels. And SLU has shown it can get high level results in the college game.

With all of that said and with the recruiting advantages of SLU Men's Soccer over SLU Women's Soccer, (league and money etc...) SLU still doen't get everyone. They missed out on local players to Virginia, Northwestern, North Carolina, etc...recently too. And that's okay too. You won't get everyone. And that works both ways. SLU's highest rated commitment plays in Utah for example. 

So, it is a combination of things, inside out approach, that also includes regional, national, and international players.

It hasn't happened overnight. It took 4 years to get it going for Kalish, but SLU has it going a little bit. Yes. And several have been coming from St. Louis City Academy. It's fun. 

[Cowboy II]

55 minutes ago, courtside said:

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is it's also a combination of other things. 

St. Louis City Academy now fields teams in the younger age groups. Previously they only fielded teams in the top two age groups. The best local and some of the best non-local players play there. And, it isn't just players. Many of the coaches and staff came from other local and non local clubs. Eventually the best players at other clubs find their way to that Academy, and now it is happening at even younger ages. 

SLU is also doing well recruiting at other MLS and non-MLS academies. There is a chance that a top level MLS acdemy player will sign a homegrown deal and not make it campus. This happened with Devin Padelford recently, and, it almost happened with his teammate Carlos Leatherman. SLU is getting most to campus and they have also added recruits from the best non MLS academies too where that isn't a factor.

SLU has shown that it is a viable development option for professional soccer. They have several recent alums playing professional soccer and succeeding at the highest domestic levels. And SLU has shown it can get high level results in the college game.

With all of that said and with the recruiting advantages of SLU Men's Soccer over SLU Women's Soccer, (league and money etc...) SLU still doen't get everyone. They missed out on local players to Virginia, Northwestern, North Carolina, etc...recently too. And that's okay too. You won't get everyone. And that works both ways. SLU's highest rated commitment plays in Utah for example. 

So, it is a combination of things, inside out approach, that also includes regional, national, and international players.

It hasn't happened overnight. It took 4 years to get it going for Kalish, but SLU has it going a little bit. Yes. And several have been coming from St. Louis City Academy. It's fun. 

-what does that mean? typo?

[brianstl]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv9_F1nrC3E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[brianstl]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv8gkkRtNsP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[brianstl]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv8gkqSN4Oy/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[courtside]

4 hours ago, Cowboy II said:

-what does that mean? typo?

1) There are many more Power 5 Women’s soccer programs than Men. (The entire SEC, Big 12, and they have more teams in other P5 leagues than the Men.) Those schools have deeper pockets, and some are willing to spend to be competitive in Olympic sports. 

2) In Men’s Soccer, there is more of an established domestic professional pathway than in Women’s Soccer. With professional soccer as a goal, some Men’s players will play where they think they can make that happen regardless of league affiliation. International players also don’t care as much about Power 5.

3) The sell in Women’s College Soccer is in part the college experience itself, as much as it is a sell about a pre professional soccer pathway. Power 5 schools sell the Power 5 experience. Part of that includes going away to school.

4). Indoor practice facilities for year round training.

5) Charter flights when necessary and needed, and those types of things.

6) International trips. BYU for example visited 4 countries and played 4 games in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy over 2 weeks. Many Power 5 schools have all of their Olympic sports programs take International trips.

7) Official visits often include a Women’s Soccer game, and a high level Power 5 football game the next day, among other activities and events. That isn’t for everyone but picture going on the field in front of 90k fans on a recruiting trip. 

8 Three paid assistants vs 2 plus a volunteer assistant. Many have already moved to do just that.  

9) Good coaches leave schools for more money and compensation. Example: Ole Miss coach left Ole Miss after a solid run there over a decade to take over at Oklahoma. The Tennessee coach left for Florida State. And those are just the lateral Power 5 type of moves. 

10) Facilities. SLU added the Locker Room Facility and the Champions Center. That’s great. This helps SLU try to keep up with everyone in else in the facilities category. It’s valuable to understand that these things while great. are not the end of the road. They are just the beginning to being more competitive at a higher level. 

11) Some schools do preseason training camps elsewhere and other outside of the box things. There’s always something being added or something schools are doing to get an edge.

12) SLU added a game at CityPark. That’s great. Some other schools are doing it too in their cities.

13) This past year for example, the A-10 was the 9th best Women’s Soccer league. Power 5, plus AAC, Ivy, WCC, were all better leagues. 

14) One 2023 Women’s Soccer publication ranked roughly 60 recruiting classes. All of the teams listed except 2 were either Power 5 or located on one of the coasts. Only SLU and SMU were not. 

15) Working out the money situations and types of scholarships etc…

 

[willie]

47 minutes ago, courtside said:

1) There are many more Power 5 Women’s soccer programs than Men. (The entire SEC, Big 12, and they have more teams in other P5 leagues than the Men.) Those schools have deeper pockets, and some are willing to spend to be competitive in Olympic sports. 

2) In Men’s Soccer, there is more of an established domestic professional pathway than in Women’s Soccer. With professional soccer as a goal, some Men’s players will play where they think they can make that happen regardless of league affiliation. International players also don’t care as much about Power 5.

3) The sell in Women’s College Soccer is in part the college experience itself, as much as it is a sell about a pre professional soccer pathway. Power 5 schools sell the Power 5 experience. Part of that includes going away to school.

4). Indoor practice facilities for year round training.

5) Charter flights when necessary and needed, and those types of things.

6) International trips. BYU for example visited 4 countries and played 4 games in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy over 2 weeks. Many Power 5 schools have all of their Olympic sports programs take International trips.

7) Official visits often include a Women’s Soccer game, and a high level Power 5 football game the next day, among other activities and events. That isn’t for everyone but picture going on the field in front of 90k fans on a recruiting trip. 

8 Three paid assistants vs 2 plus a volunteer assistant. Many have already moved to do just that.  

9) Good coaches leave schools for more money and compensation. Example: Ole Miss coach left Ole Miss after a solid run there over a decade to take over at Oklahoma. The Tennessee coach left for Florida State. And those are just the lateral Power 5 type of moves. 

10) Facilities. SLU added the Locker Room Facility and the Champions Center. That’s great. This helps SLU try to keep up with everyone in else in the facilities category. It’s valuable to understand that these things while great. are not the end of the road. They are just the beginning to being more competitive at a higher level. 

11) Some schools do preseason training camps elsewhere and other outside of the box things. There’s always something being added or something schools are doing to get an edge.

12) SLU added a game at CityPark. That’s great. Some other schools are doing it too in their cities.

13) This past year for example, the A-10 was the 9th best Women’s Soccer league. Power 5, plus AAC, Ivy, WCC, were all better leagues. 

14) One 2023 Women’s Soccer publication ranked roughly 60 recruiting classes. All of the teams listed except 2 were either Power 5 or located on one of the coasts. Only SLU and SMU were not. 

15) Working out the money situations and types of scholarships etc…

 

How many scholarships do we have? And how do they divide them. Does anyone get a full?How does our higher tuition hurt versus a state school? Thanks 

[brianstl]

51 minutes ago, courtside said:

1) There are many more Power 5 Women’s soccer programs than Men. (The entire SEC, Big 12, and they have more teams in other P5 leagues than the Men.) Those schools have deeper pockets, and some are willing to spend to be competitive in Olympic sports. 

2) In Men’s Soccer, there is more of an established domestic professional pathway than in Women’s Soccer. With professional soccer as a goal, some Men’s players will play where they think they can make that happen regardless of league affiliation. International players also don’t care as much about Power 5.

3) The sell in Women’s College Soccer is in part the college experience itself, as much as it is a sell about a pre professional soccer pathway. Power 5 schools sell the Power 5 experience. Part of that includes going away to school.

4). Indoor practice facilities for year round training.

5) Charter flights when necessary and needed, and those types of things.

6) International trips. BYU for example visited 4 countries and played 4 games in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy over 2 weeks. Many Power 5 schools have all of their Olympic sports programs take International trips.

7) Official visits often include a Women’s Soccer game, and a high level Power 5 football game the next day, among other activities and events. That isn’t for everyone but picture going on the field in front of 90k fans on a recruiting trip. 

8 Three paid assistants vs 2 plus a volunteer assistant. Many have already moved to do just that.  

9) Good coaches leave schools for more money and compensation. Example: Ole Miss coach left Ole Miss after a solid run there over a decade to take over at Oklahoma. The Tennessee coach left for Florida State. And those are just the lateral Power 5 type of moves. 

10) Facilities. SLU added the Locker Room Facility and the Champions Center. That’s great. This helps SLU try to keep up with everyone in else in the facilities category. It’s valuable to understand that these things while great. are not the end of the road. They are just the beginning to being more competitive at a higher level. 

11) Some schools do preseason training camps elsewhere and other outside of the box things. There’s always something being added or something schools are doing to get an edge.

12) SLU added a game at CityPark. That’s great. Some other schools are doing it too in their cities.

13) This past year for example, the A-10 was the 9th best Women’s Soccer league. Power 5, plus AAC, Ivy, WCC, were all better leagues. 

14) One 2023 Women’s Soccer publication ranked roughly 60 recruiting classes. All of the teams listed except 2 were either Power 5 or located on one of the coasts. Only SLU and SMU were not. 

15) Working out the money situations and types of scholarships etc…

 

This is the men's soccer thread.  If you want to discuss issues with the women's soccer program there is a thread for that.

[SLUBALLS]

Saw this first hand during a lunch with Kalish a couple years ago.  They have software that helps them allocate the 9.9 in scholarship money men's soccer has to allocate.  It showed how much each position would be allocated per 1 scholarship.  Positions matter so, for instance, a top center forward could get 0.9-1 scholarship while a right back may get 0.25 of a scholarship.  They then aim to augment that with academic scholarships where they can't get to the level of scholarship needed solely by athletic scholarship.  Other variables certainly come into play as well but that is the general gist from what I gathered.

[brianstl]

4 minutes ago, SLUBALLS said:

Saw this first hand during a lunch with Kalish a couple years ago.  They have software that helps them allocate the 9.9 in scholarship money men's soccer has to allocate.  It showed how much each position would be allocated per 1 scholarship.  Positions matter so, for instance, a top center forward could get 0.9-1 scholarship while a right back may get 0.25 of a scholarship.  They then aim to augment that with academic scholarships where they can't get to the level of scholarship needed solely by athletic scholarship.  Other variables certainly come into play as well but that is the general gist from what I gathered.

The scholarship limit definitely hurts SLU.  A local kid can pay instate tuition for what the scholarship doesn't cover through a reciprocal program at a school like IU instead of having to worry about covering the remaining much higher amount at SLU.

[willie]

I don’t deny any of this but I would assume most of these kids come from upper income families. Club soccer isn’t cheap. 

[Cowboy II]

1 hour ago, courtside said:

1) There are many more Power 5 Women’s soccer programs than Men. (The entire SEC, Big 12, and they have more teams in other P5 leagues than the Men.) Those schools have deeper pockets, and some are willing to spend to be competitive in Olympic sports. 

2) In Men’s Soccer, there is more of an established domestic professional pathway than in Women’s Soccer. With professional soccer as a goal, some Men’s players will play where they think they can make that happen regardless of league affiliation. International players also don’t care as much about Power 5.

3) The sell in Women’s College Soccer is in part the college experience itself, as much as it is a sell about a pre professional soccer pathway. Power 5 schools sell the Power 5 experience. Part of that includes going away to school.

4). Indoor practice facilities for year round training.

5) Charter flights when necessary and needed, and those types of things.

6) International trips. BYU for example visited 4 countries and played 4 games in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy over 2 weeks. Many Power 5 schools have all of their Olympic sports programs take International trips.

7) Official visits often include a Women’s Soccer game, and a high level Power 5 football game the next day, among other activities and events. That isn’t for everyone but picture going on the field in front of 90k fans on a recruiting trip. 

8 Three paid assistants vs 2 plus a volunteer assistant. Many have already moved to do just that.  

9) Good coaches leave schools for more money and compensation. Example: Ole Miss coach left Ole Miss after a solid run there over a decade to take over at Oklahoma. The Tennessee coach left for Florida State. And those are just the lateral Power 5 type of moves. 

10) Facilities. SLU added the Locker Room Facility and the Champions Center. That’s great. This helps SLU try to keep up with everyone in else in the facilities category. It’s valuable to understand that these things while great. are not the end of the road. They are just the beginning to being more competitive at a higher level. 

11) Some schools do preseason training camps elsewhere and other outside of the box things. There’s always something being added or something schools are doing to get an edge.

12) SLU added a game at CityPark. That’s great. Some other schools are doing it too in their cities.

13) This past year for example, the A-10 was the 9th best Women’s Soccer league. Power 5, plus AAC, Ivy, WCC, were all better leagues. 

14) One 2023 Women’s Soccer publication ranked roughly 60 recruiting classes. All of the teams listed except 2 were either Power 5 or located on one of the coasts. Only SLU and SMU were not. 

15) Working out the money situations and types of scholarships etc…

 

-okay, got it, thanks

[billikenfan05]

15 hours ago, SLUBALLS said:

Saw this first hand during a lunch with Kalish a couple years ago.  They have software that helps them allocate the 9.9 in scholarship money men's soccer has to allocate.  It showed how much each position would be allocated per 1 scholarship.  Positions matter so, for instance, a top center forward could get 0.9-1 scholarship while a right back may get 0.25 of a scholarship.  They then aim to augment that with academic scholarships where they can't get to the level of scholarship needed solely by athletic scholarship.  Other variables certainly come into play as well but that is the general gist from what I gathered.

Man this is a great post. Thank you for sharing, I knew how frustrating the scholarship issue was but I didn't know they had a program to assist. Probably should have figured something like that existed.