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A little O.T. but of value Stl area college soccer coaching news:

Wash U Women’s Coach Jim Conlan is leaving D-3 Wash U for D-2 Grand Valley State.

In 12 seasons, his teams won 9 Conference Titles. They made the NCAA’s all 12 seasons. They made at least the NCAA Tourney Quarterfinals 8 out of 12 seasons. 4 Final Fours. 2 Runner Up finishes and 1 NCAA D-3 National Title. He had an .824 winning percentage at Wash U. It’s a big loss for Wash U and Stl area soccer. He was well liked and well respected. 

Grand Valley State (MI) is the defending D-2 Women’s National Champion. Their coach Jim Hosler helped lead them to a recent 3 NCAA D-2 National Titles in 7 seasons.

Hosler is leaving Grand Valley State to become the Women’s Head Coach at Michigan St. One of Hosler’s assistants is St. Louis native Megan Link. (and she is already recruiting the area). 

Both the Michigan St. long time Men’s Coach Damon Rensing (SLUH, Michigan St.) and assistant Joe Ahearn (DeSmet, DePaul) are from St. Louis. 

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Any word on if Lawler or Larson are working out and if they will be able to play this year?

edit:  I just saw an article by Stu in the P-D where Katie said Larson is likely out for the year, but Anna Lawler is back.

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16 hours ago, bauman said:

Any word on if Lawler or Larson are working out and if they will be able to play this year?

edit:  I just saw an article by Stu in the P-D where Katie said Larson is likely out for the year, but Anna Lawler is back.

Anna didn’t play this summer but she is still on the team. Hannah obviously didn’t play this summer. They helped out with Summer ID camps. Hannah had her knee brace removed this summer. They both dress and help out with fall training, shagging balls etc…on the sidelines for most things, but taking part in the day to day schedule. I would have some patience. Getting either or both some time this fall would be a bonus. (And of course what that level looks like is another thing as well.) Just have to wait and see how they keep progressing.

Almost every other returning SLU player played some summer ball. Some played much more than others based on what they wanted to do, or what they had going on this summer. 

Hannah Friedrich is throwing out the first pitch at this Friday night’s Cards game at Busch. 

SLU is preseason #21 in the United Soccer Coaches Rankings 

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10 minutes ago, bauman said:

Courtside, thanks as always for your input.  With regard to Lawler. I trust your info more than Stu's.

Stu is fine. He wasn’t entirely clear about the time frames. And, his focus was less on those two players and more about a season preview. 

We’ll have to see how she feels, and see what she can or can’t do, and when. She wants to be out there. She’s a great teammate. 

SLU has a good, experienced, team, with a little more depth. They may even change formations at times, and move a few people around. But they’ll be fine.

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10 hours ago, courtside said:

Stu is fine. He wasn’t entirely clear about the time frames. And, his focus was less on those two players and more about a season preview. 

We’ll have to see how she feels, and see what she can or can’t do, and when. She wants to be out there. She’s a great teammate. 

SLU has a good, experienced, team, with a little more depth. They may even change formations at times, and move a few people around. But they’ll be fine.

-what spots do you see where a new player could take minutes from a lady that played last season?

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On 8/5/2021 at 9:35 AM, Cowboy II said:

-what spots do you see where a new player could take minutes from a lady that played last season?

 

First you have to begin with the fact that all 11 starters return on a top 20 caliber team. And some of them were just getting started, and will make good player development strides this season. (When healthy and ready to go, Lawler and Larson start as well.) So, playing time will be challenging to find. SLU’s depth quality is better now than on some of their other teams in the past. There will be more competition for playing time, and more players that can step in without a drop in level. 

Katie Houck. She is an experienced backline defender who started every game for Dayton and made the All Rookie Team. She played club ball with several Billikens, including this summer. So, she can contribute immediately on the back line with Stram and Heckel. What that can do, at times, is allow for Halverson and/or Beach to move up as either outside backs, and/or as wide mids. Halverson and Beach aren’t going to give you Larson like attacking third play. But they can play outside, box to box, two ways and run all day, in SLU’s sometimes high press game. (SLU has a few other shut down back line defenders coming in too) 

Emily Gaebe. SLU will need others to help fill the scoring column, especially in big games, with Larson out a while. Gaebe is a goal scoring finisher who scores in a wide variety of ways. She can allow Groark to move around as needed. Groark has midfield and forward versatility. Eventually the future will be Gaebe being the recipient of Madelyn Smith playmaking (like a Preusser) when both adjust to this level. Hannah Sawyer would add the speed and pace component, getting behind defenders, to complement them. How long will it take each to adjust to this level. That will vary.

Another thing is where will SLU find this year’s big improvement returning player? Last season it was Abbie Miller. Perhaps it could be Caroline Kelly this year. Maybe Preusser. They will need as many people as they can to complement Friedrich, as well as Miller on set pieces. 

SLU will miss Larson’s package of. ot only box to box speed and fitness, but her ability to take on defenders 1v1 and finish or create for others, while at the same time chasing down players defensively. 

It should be a fun season. Several Power 5/Bug East opponents as well as some other good ones. 

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18 hours ago, courtside said:

 

First you have to begin with the fact that all 11 starters return on a top 20 caliber team. And some of them were just getting started, and will make good player development strides this season. (When healthy and ready to go, Lawler and Larson start as well.) So, playing time will be challenging to find. SLU’s depth quality is better now than on some of their other teams in the past. There will be more competition for playing time, and more players that can step in without a drop in level. 

Katie Houck. She is an experienced backline defender who started every game for Dayton and made the All Rookie Team. She played club ball with several Billikens, including this summer. So, she can contribute immediately on the back line with Stram and Heckel. What that can do, at times, is allow for Halverson and/or Beach to move up as either outside backs, and/or as wide mids. Halverson and Beach aren’t going to give you Larson like attacking third play. But they can play outside, box to box, two ways and run all day, in SLU’s sometimes high press game. (SLU has a few other shut down back line defenders coming in too) 

Emily Gaebe. SLU will need others to help fill the scoring column, especially in big games, with Larson out a while. Gaebe is a goal scoring finisher who scores in a wide variety of ways. She can allow Groark to move around as needed. Groark has midfield and forward versatility. Eventually the future will be Gaebe being the recipient of Madelyn Smith playmaking (like a Preusser) when both adjust to this level. Hannah Sawyer would add the speed and pace component, getting behind defenders, to complement them. How long will it take each to adjust to this level. That will vary.

Another thing is where will SLU find this year’s big improvement returning player? Last season it was Abbie Miller. Perhaps it could be Caroline Kelly this year. Maybe Preusser. They will need as many people as they can to complement Friedrich, as well as Miller on set pieces. 

SLU will miss Larson’s package of. ot only box to box speed and fitness, but her ability to take on defenders 1v1 and finish or create for others, while at the same time chasing down players defensively. 

It should be a fun season. Several Power 5/Bug East opponents as well as some other good ones. 

-great, thank you

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On 8/5/2021 at 7:19 PM, courtside said:

 

First you have to begin with the fact that all 11 starters return on a top 20 caliber team. And some of them were just getting started, and will make good player development strides this season. (When healthy and ready to go, Lawler and Larson start as well.) So, playing time will be challenging to find. SLU’s depth quality is better now than on some of their other teams in the past. There will be more competition for playing time, and more players that can step in without a drop in level. 

Katie Houck. She is an experienced backline defender who started every game for Dayton and made the All Rookie Team. She played club ball with several Billikens, including this summer. So, she can contribute immediately on the back line with Stram and Heckel. What that can do, at times, is allow for Halverson and/or Beach to move up as either outside backs, and/or as wide mids. Halverson and Beach aren’t going to give you Larson like attacking third play. But they can play outside, box to box, two ways and run all day, in SLU’s sometimes high press game. (SLU has a few other shut down back line defenders coming in too) 

Emily Gaebe. SLU will need others to help fill the scoring column, especially in big games, with Larson out a while. Gaebe is a goal scoring finisher who scores in a wide variety of ways. She can allow Groark to move around as needed. Groark has midfield and forward versatility. Eventually the future will be Gaebe being the recipient of Madelyn Smith playmaking (like a Preusser) when both adjust to this level. Hannah Sawyer would add the speed and pace component, getting behind defenders, to complement them. How long will it take each to adjust to this level. That will vary.

Another thing is where will SLU find this year’s big improvement returning player? Last season it was Abbie Miller. Perhaps it could be Caroline Kelly this year. Maybe Preusser. They will need as many people as they can to complement Friedrich, as well as Miller on set pieces. 

SLU will miss Larson’s package of. ot only box to box speed and fitness, but her ability to take on defenders 1v1 and finish or create for others, while at the same time chasing down players defensively. 

It should be a fun season. Several Power 5/Bug East opponents as well as some other good ones. 

All 11 starters return technically, but Larson won't be starting this year. So really only 10

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2 hours ago, slufanskip said:

All 11 starters return technically, but Larson won't be starting this year. So really only 10

Right, which is what I was trying to allude to after after saying that. Technically 11 return plus Lawler. But 10 starters from last season are healthy and ready to go. 

We all know, if and when Lawler and Larson are ready to go at 100%, they start and play a lot. Returning at anything less than 100% would make that a bit different, and, playing time would vary more based on their health and level of fitness and contribution. 

And, Larson will initially be a big hole to fill. It will not happen with one player. It will be a combination of various players, both returning and new, moving pieces around.  But, SLU's roster is as deep as it's been, and, there is good, healthy competition for playing time. 

SLU will rely heavily upon experienced starters, Puricelli, Stram, Heckel, Halverson, Beach, Kohl, Friedrich, Miller, Groark, Preusser. SLU will also get to take a look at a lot of new players tonight in an exhibition with a solid SIUE team. SIUE has been recruiting well, and they are coming off of an Ohio Valley Championship. Their coach played high school ball with new SLU defender Katelyn Brinkman's dad. 

Brinkman, Stureman, Houck, are stay at home defenders. Smith is a two way quarterback distributor and playmaker in the midfield with good on ball technical skill. Gaebe and Sawyer are finishers but do it in different ways. Summers is a versatile position player.

You have returning players that have seen a lot of time in the past such as Walsh, Kelly, Denison, others, etc...

You also have the continued development of many other starter/high minute players, and perhaps a push from some others that had a bit less playing time in the past, seeking a little more time as well. Some of them have put in time and effort and some summer ball too.

Should be fun to get it going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, courtside said:

Right, which is what I was trying to allude to after after saying that. Technically 11 return plus Lawler. But 10 starters from last season are healthy and ready to go. 

We all know, if and when Lawler and Larson are ready to go at 100%, they start and play a lot. Returning at anything less than 100% would make that a bit different, and, playing time would vary more based on their health and level of fitness and contribution. 

And, Larson will initially be a big hole to fill. It will not happen with one player. It will be a combination of various players, both returning and new, moving pieces around.  But, SLU's roster is as deep as it's been, and, there is good, healthy competition for playing time. 

SLU will rely heavily upon experienced starters, Puricelli, Stram, Heckel, Halverson, Beach, Kohl, Friedrich, Miller, Groark, Preusser. SLU will also get to take a look at a lot of new players tonight in an exhibition with a solid SIUE team. SIUE has been recruiting well, and they are coming off of an Ohio Valley Championship. Their coach played high school ball with new SLU defender Katelyn Brinkman's dad. 

Brinkman, Stureman, Houck, are stay at home defenders. Smith is a two way quarterback distributor and playmaker in the midfield with good on ball technical skill. Gaebe and Sawyer are finishers but do it in different ways. Summers is a versatile position player.

You have returning players that have seen a lot of time in the past such as Walsh, Kelly, Denison, others, etc...

You also have the continued development of many other starter/high minute players, and perhaps a push from some others that had a bit less playing time in the past, seeking a little more time as well. Some of them have put in time and effort and some summer ball too.

Should be fun to get it going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not that I don't think we can overcome the loss, but the loss of Larson worries me a bit as we had no one else on the roster as dynamic or as creative as she was. If I had 1 player last year to choose to go at a defender 1v1 it was Larson easily. 

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33 minutes ago, slufanskip said:

Not that I don't think we can overcome the loss, but the loss of Larson worries me a bit as we had no one else on the roster as dynamic or as creative as she was. If I had 1 player last year to choose to go at a defender 1v1 it was Larson easily. 

Right. And there are no Larson types in this year’s class. That isn’t a knock on anyone else. There are good players. They just play a different way and bring something different to the table.

There are positives too. The team depth is better across the board. But it will take a little bit from here, a little bit from there, to produce the missing offense of what Larson brings. Halverson, Kohl, Beach etc can bring the defense, ball winning, chase people down part. 

Gaebe and Smith are good offensive players once they get acclimated. Sawyer will add a speed component. They all bring something a little bit different than what SLU has had recently. I think Preusser, (playmaking) Kelly (scoring) and a few returning players also have an opportunity to step up as well. 

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Exhibition games are just that, exhibition games. It’s a chance to see what you have, what’s new, rest any injuries, and prepare for your first game. It’s subject to change.

3-0 SLU over SIUE.  ‘35, Summers (Groark), ‘63 Groark (Walsh), ‘65 Miller. Puricelli and Phelps with the shutout.

Notables:

Didn’t dress due long term injury: Lawler, Larson. 

Didn’t dress but have been participating fully in fall camp, minor injuries/other: Kohl, Denison, Arthur, Deberardinis, Stureman. 

As expected, SLU is beginning with mostly a combo of returning starters, plus Houck, plus returning bench players for much of its early minutes. 

Houck, Kelly, Walsh received starts for SLU. Houck is an immediate impact, high minute, transfer defender. Kelly, will provide some scoring opportunities and punch.  Walsh, can do a variety of things in the midfield. (She had a nice one touch through ball on Groark’s goal). 

Hatfield and English, returning midfielders who played a lot of summer ball this year received some run. Veteran and returning players will get lots of opportunity early.

It’s sometimes a quicker transition for defenders and versatile players to the next level. Brinkman (defender) Summers (versatility) received some run. 

Brinkman is another Kansas City recruit, Sporting Blue Valley Girls Academy. It’s a very good program that had multiple elite level teams in various age groups this year. 2023 SLU commit Ashley Koch played there before switching to KC Athletics. SLU frequently, successfully, targets both programs. Her dad played on a few of the all time great Vianney teams locally, as well as at Rockhurst U.

Perhaps everyone was happiest for Mattyn Summers. High level athlete that comes from a long list of family high level athletes in Utah. (expanding the geographic footprint). Summers was getting Mountain West offers when SLU was recruiting her. The 16’s version of her club team won the USYS National Title this summer. 3 of her uncles currently coach American Football at USC, BYU, Weber St. Her relatives have also played at Oregon, Arizona St. etc…as she is related to a list of American Samoa football players from Utah and Hawaii. This includes a former St. Louis Ram. 

Exhibitions can be tricky, trying to work on some things, rest some players, try different things, but it also has value to win the game. 

SIUE played much of its entire roster. They lost some players from their Ohio Valley Championship team. But they are recruiting well this year and next year etc…so it’s always an important local game, exhibition or not.

A few of the goals. Opportunity for Groark to take it to another gear this year, and she has been doing that this summer, and in this game. (goal and assist) And, Walsh with a nice one touch through ball on Groark’s goal, a miniature version of Groark’s playoff club ball goal this summer.

On to the next one.

https://twitter.com/sluwsoccer/status/1424169771470307333?s=21

 

https://twitter.com/sluwsoccer/status/1424180899621527556?s=21

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Did we lose the Goalie recruit from the KC area?(I don't remember her name)  She is no longer listed on the roster.

Thanks for the excellent recap of the SIU-E game, including all the background information.

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6 hours ago, bauman said:

Did we lose the Goalie recruit from the KC area?(I don't remember her name)  She is no longer listed on the roster.

Thanks for the excellent recap of the SIU-E game, including all the background information.

Lily Ellis. Yes. 

Ellis played club only ball for her first 3 years of high school with Sporting Blue Valley. Her Senior year she played at Kearney High School, (same high school as Billiken Caroline Kelly) was 1st Team All State. 

SLU had two keepers ahead of her on the roster. Both Emily Puricelli and incoming SLU transfer Natalie Phelps (Illinois) played U23 UWS for SLSG this summer and shared time. Both played at the same club as youth players as well. Both are young players that are 1 and 2 on the depth chart. Puricelli of course had a great season this past year and was one of the best young keepers in the country.

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SLU exhibition vs Evansville. 1-0 win. Evansville has several local area players, and a newer coach trying to build something in the Ohio Valley. 

Katie Houck scores in the 9th minute off of a set piece corner from Hannah Sawyer. (headed on from Jess Preusser)

https://twitter.com/sluwsoccer/status/1426699436814741508?s=21

Emily Puricelli had a 64th minute PK save dive to her right.

https://twitter.com/ybrammer/status/1426742637344837632?s=21

https://twitter.com/sluwsoccer/status/1426750080598646787?s=21

Not dressed: Friedrich, Groark, Larson,  Miller, Walsh, Lawler, Halverson, Hatfield, Stureman.

Starters: Puricelli, Sawyer, Kelly, Summers, Kohl, Houck, Beach, English, Heckel, Stram, Preusser.

Different approach to this exhibition, as SLU didn’t dress 5 of its starters. And, SLU substituted often, getting more players deeper from the bench, into the game. 

First game is Thursday vs Xavier. 

 

 

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Preseason College Soccer Rankings often heavily reflect the results of the prior season. For example, upcoming SLU opponent Xavier was picked to win their division in the Big East after winning both the conference title, and, winning the conference tourney title, the season before. They instead struggled. But they often can have some team value. 

SLU is preseason ranked 16th Nationally, in the first Top Drawer Soccer poll. 

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Game day, Home opener for SLU vs Xavier. It’s the first of five Power 5/Big East games on the schedule.

Xavier is only two seasons removed from being Big East regular season and conference tourney champions under Nate Lie. He’s done a nice job there his first three seasons before taking a step back during this past pandemic season. 

Xavier has two local Stl, long time defensive stalwarts, Hayley Jakovich (Eureka, SLSG), and Grace Brauer (Belleville East, SLSG). Jackovich earned all conference U23 Summer Ball honors this summer. The other local player to watch is Chloe Netzel. Chloe was the Golden Ball winner on the 16’s USYS National Championship team for Lou Fusz. (some of her teammates included Billikens Madelyn Smith, Enily Gaebe, and 2022 Commit Ellie Paloucek) Netzel is a goal scorer in a variety of ways. High motor and work rate, has a speed component to her game. Her younger brother is a defender for St. Louis City Academy. It will be interesting to see what kind of time she gets early in her college career and how she adjusts to the college game. 

Speaking of adjusting to the college game, local stand out Sydney Stephens was named offensive player of the year in U23 WSL. Stephens is an example of a good player, good student, good person, that had some challenges adjusting to the college game. (Georgia. She has since transferred to Illinois.) But she has bounced back in a big way. Two of Stephens’ Billiken teammates this summer were also named all conference, Emily Groark and Katie Houck. Billiken Caroline Kelly was named all conference for KC. 

Both Groark and Kelly have carried over their strong (and needed) offensive play into the preseason. Houck, a high minute defender, scored the game winner in SLU’s most recent exhibition game vs Evansville.

SLU was able to get two first half goals, and make it stand, vs Xavier this past Spring in a unique indoor, neutral site setting. 

Anna Lawler has been participating in “light” non contact drills and cardio. Liz Stureman has been out with injury during the preseason. Larson is obviously out. There have been a few other “minor” injuries but most are ready to go. 

It’s also a big game for both Xavier and SLU as they both recruit Cincinnati, and the Ohio, Indiana, Michigan region for players. Ohio Elite, Cincinnati United (CUP), Internationals SC (Cleveland) Michigan Hawks, FC Pride, Indiana Fire, Louisville, etc…

 

 

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Xavier 1 SLU 0.

Not the start SLU wanted. Full credit to Xavier who came ready to play from the opening whistle. They played hard, and made things uncomfortable for SLU much of the night.

SLU played without Beach, Kohl, Friedrich, Groark, Walsh, Denison, Stureman, and of course, Lawler and Larson. That’s a lot. And, two other Billikens suffered injuries during the game, Halverson and Summers. That’s potentially 7 starters, 9 players, and even 11 when you consider in game injuries. As challenging as that is, it’s a next player up game of opportunity.

Xavier’s goal came late in the 85th minute. Interestingly enough, SLU had won a 50/50 Puricelli clear at midfield, something they didn’t do much of on the night, and was able to send it on to Kelly wise right who deftly won a 1 on 3 corner. As had been the case all night, Xavier liked to push and counter off of corners and set pieces. A diving header clear and off to the races as SLU had one non keeper player not inside the 18. Sonia Vargas out ran 3 SLU defenders for a 2 on 1 with Emma Marcus, and she finished her service nicely.

SLU had subbed out Halverson in the 65th minute. She had a later first half injury on a tackle, but she returned for the 2nd. Without Halverson and Beach, the shut down speed of the backline lessens quite a bit. 

Xavier had 3 separate dangerous chances in the 2nd, all from getting behind 3 separate SLU backline defenders 1v1, but Puricelli made in close saves all 3 times. Xavier’s first half chances were less threatening for the most part, more from distance. They did a nice job building from the back and connecting passes. SLU was struggling a lit bit in the defensive midfield. Half time adjustments there were good. 

Xavier came out with more of a sense of urgency in the first half. SLU matched that after half time. SLU was controlling play and getting chances until Mattyn Summers went down while attacking wide right near the box, in what appeared to be more of an upper body tackle from the X defender and she fell awkwardly and couldn’t out any weight on her left leg as she was helped off. That in part changed some momentum. That and Halverson coming out were two keys to the 2nd. Xavier put pressure on in the final 15 as SLU fatigued a bit. Much of their pressure were speedy counters as opposed to build ups.

Houck had perhaps SLU’s best chance midway first half, inside the box on a laid off pass from Sawyer. Upper 90 tip save from Xavier’s keeper Jenkins, who had a nice game. Kelly has the ability to create a little space for herself but she needs more accurate shots thus far. 

SLU players that I thought were a little more poised on the ball in the middle of the field included Arthur, Preusser, Summers. Would have liked to have seen a little more poise more often, especially from some high minute returning players. 

Being shorthanded also meant more players had to play more minutes earlier in the season. Local Stl players for X were as advertised. Strong back line 90 minute games from Jakovich and Brauer. Netzel made things happen offensively and played about half of the game. 

SLU didn’t connect/distribute well enough out of the back, (even though the backline defended well) and, they weren’t able to build from the wide midfield as they like to do. And they couldn’t get good enough, organized, high pressure up top. The midfield was perhaps the biggest key to the game. Lots of players playing out of position and/or getting more minutes and time than expected for necessity reasons. Being disorganized at times, and losing shape was going to happen a little bit at times. (SLU often builds wide with its outside backs and outside mids.)

Nice crowd, nice night for soccer, many of the SLU men’s players were on hand to support the Women. Some local youth club teams as well as some SLU recruiting targets on hand for the game. 

Starters: Puricelli, Houck, Stram, Heckel, Halverson, Miller, Brinkman, Hatfield, Preusser, Kelly, Sawyer. Subs:  Gaebe, Summers, Arthur, English, Debaradinis. 

SLU hosts Iowa Sunday. 

 

 

 

 

 

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