SLU Women's Soccer Thread

[courtside]

6 hours ago, cgeldmacher said:

My sources say that SLU made a very competitive financial package offer to DiMaria, and that North Carolina made a better offer.  She chose North Carolina.  I won't share the exact numbers I heard.  I don't think there is any complaint to be made about what SLU offered.

Beyond that, I hope the choice was made simply because of the reputation of the North Carolina program and the better pay.  I hope her decision wasn't based upon the style of play that Shields coaches.

Her choice wasn’t made based on money. 

Her choice wasn’t made based on style of play. 

[courtside]

3 hours ago, cgeldmacher said:

I don't think so, and I have had others tell me, independently, the same thing.  Shields style is to use our team's typically superior skill level and athleticism to constantly play the ball over the top.  As soon as we get possession, we try to drive the ball downfield to forwards who are very good at accepting the ball and starting a breakout style attack.  North Carolina plays a possession style that is much more similar to the way our Women's National team plays.  The problem with Shields' style of play is that it dominates lesser opponents, but, in my opinion, is not the best system against an opponent whose team has equal skills.  This is why we mop up in most A-10 games, but struggle against other ranked opponents and in the NCAA tournament.  Also, it gives teams like North Carolina and Notre Dame and argument against us in recruiting top players.

This post shows a complete lack of understanding of SLU’s tactical program. More specifically, it shows a lack of understanding of what it is that SLU does, when they do it, and why they do it. It shows a lack of understanding of evolving changes and complexities within a game, game to game, within a season, or among seasons.

Not only is it incorrect, it’s also not a reason as to why the player chose to play elsewhere. It also shows a lack of understanding of all of these things within UNC’s program as well. 

[TheA_Bomb]

37 minutes ago, courtside said:

This post shows a complete lack of understanding of SLU’s tactical program. More specifically, it shows a lack of understanding of what it is that SLU does, when they do it, and why they do it. It shows a lack of understanding of evolving changes and complexities within a game, game to game, within a season, or among seasons.

Not only is it incorrect, it’s also not a reason as to why the player chose to play elsewhere. It also shows a lack of understanding of all of these things within UNC’s program as well. 

So on the spectrum from incorrect to correct you're saying he's incorrect. 

[almaman]

12 minutes ago, TheA_Bomb said:

So on the spectrum from incorrect to correct you're saying he's incorrect. 

in a word.   or so

[Tonka]

On 10/3/2025 at 11:07 AM, slufan13 said:

Most of us knew this was coming for a while. Too bad our "insiders" didn't and don't have any influence. Dang. 

SLU was in it for Maddie almost to the end. They gave it more of push than I ever thought they would or could. In the end we finished 3rd on the #1 ranked recruit in the class of 2027. Hometown and legacy helped but in the end that's pretty impressive regardless. 

[Tonka]

On 10/3/2025 at 4:33 PM, JettFlight5 said:

I don't know a whole lot about women's soccer, but ratings are what they are. Was the player's (DiMaria) interest real, or was this a Tatum situation? Shields has done great things, and I hope they continue. 

It was very real.

[willie]

Unless Tatum or his mother tells me otherwise his interest was real. 

[courtside]

17 hours ago, OkieBilliken said:

Would you happen to know Dayton's RPI?   They are also 5-0 and haven't conceded a goal  in conference.  They have played a  non-conference schedule on par with ours.   Not looking past Duquesne at all but that game vs Dayton will likely decide the conference winner.   I'm glad its at Hermann but that one is massive.   

Dayton has played 4 non conference teams in the RPI top 64. 0-3-1. They also have a draw vs Purdue who does not have a good RPI. They also did a better job of scheduling not as many really bad RPI non-conference teams. And they still have to play 3 really bad RPI league teams out of their 5 remaining league games. 

2024: 3 RPI top 64 NC games

2023: 2 RPI top 100 games

2021: 1 RPI top 100 game.

The knock on Dayton’s wrong side of the bubble several times has been their weak non conference schedule. 

SLU for example only plays home and home. If a team won’f do that. SLU won’t play them.

SLU plays 4 remaining games against top 100 league opponents. And the 5th is low 100’s. SLU’s remaining schedule is tougher than Dayton’s. 

Duquesne this week is top 100. So is Dayton, Rhode Island, Loyola. Fordham is getting closer top 100. These will all be challenging games against capable teams. 
 

[billikenfan05]

10 hours ago, Tonka said:

It was very real.

Seconded. 

[dlarry]

15 hours ago, Midtown Madness said:

Brian Kunderman is not brianstl.

Brian Kunderman wishes he was bianstl 

[TheA_Bomb]

4 hours ago, courtside said:

Dayton has played 4 non conference teams in the RPI top 64. 0-3-1. They also have a draw vs Purdue who does not have a good RPI. They also did a better job of scheduling not as many really bad RPI non-conference teams. And they still have to play 3 really bad RPI league teams out of their 5 remaining league games. 

2024: 3 RPI top 64 NC games

2023: 2 RPI top 100 games

2021: 1 RPI top 100 game.

The knock on Dayton’s wrong side of the bubble several times has been their weak non conference schedule. 

SLU for example only plays home and home. If a team won’f do that. SLU won’t play them.

SLU plays 4 remaining games against top 100 league opponents. And the 5th is low 100’s. SLU’s remaining schedule is tougher than Dayton’s. 

Duquesne this week is top 100. So is Dayton, Rhode Island, Loyola. Fordham is getting closer top 100. These will all be challenging games against capable teams. 
 

So on the spectrum from easy to tough schedules, SLU's is moderately tough. 

[courtside]

3 minutes ago, TheA_Bomb said:

So on the spectrum from easy to tough schedules, SLU's is moderately tough. 

SLU’s non-conference schedule this year is not as good this year as it has been in recent years. There is still time for that to change. But at this time. SLU needed 2 more top 50-60 type of non-conference games. There is a post in the thread recently that outlines this as well. 

[TheA_Bomb]

2 minutes ago, courtside said:

SLU’s non-conference schedule this year is not as good this year as it has been in recent years. There is still time for that to change. But at this time. SLU needed 2 more top 50-60 type of non-conference games. There is a post in the thread recently that outlines this as well. 

So on the spectrum of their normal schedule it's not as tough but moderately tough compared up W Soccer in general. 

I hope they keep this train chugging down the track. 

[courtside]

5 minutes ago, TheA_Bomb said:

So on the spectrum of their normal schedule it's not as tough but moderately tough compared up W Soccer in general. 

I hope they keep this train chugging down the track. 

It’s perfectly fine that you are on the autism spectrum. Everyone is welcome here. Happy to help you with some SLU information. 

[slufan13]

I get my info from Stu. He has amazing inside info and stories. 

Idk who this dude is that he was responding to but looking through his tweets and holy hell he's a moron. 

 

[TheA_Bomb]

5 minutes ago, courtside said:

It’s perfectly fine that you are on the autism spectrum. Everyone is welcome here. Happy to help you with some SLU information. 

Thanks but I'm not sure i have it, I just get hyperfixated and miss social cues.

 

Just now, slufan13 said:

I get my info from Stu. He has amazing inside info and stories. 

Idk who this dude is that he was responding to but looking through his tweets and holy hell he's a moron. 

 

Agree Stu nails it always and he knows a lot about women's soccer. 

[courtside]

14 minutes ago, TheA_Bomb said:

Thanks but I'm not sure i have it, I just get hyperfixated and miss social cues.

 

Agree Stu nails it always and he knows a lot about women's soccer. 

It’s okay that you get hyper fixated on my SLU posts and miss social cues. And it’s great that you and Marty have additional SLU outlets. Good for you. 

[TheA_Bomb]

4 minutes ago, courtside said:

It’s okay that you get hyper fixated on my SLU posts and miss social cues. And it’s great that you and Marty have additional SLU outlets. Good for you. 

Thanks, so on the spectrum from Judge Roy Brown to Wapner, with Wapner being the best how do you rate Stu's Women's Soccer knowledge?

[slufan13]

Just read the super secret update on recruiting and all I can say is uh oh

[TheA_Bomb]

12 minutes ago, slufan13 said:

Just read the super secret update on recruiting and all I can say is uh oh

Is the news about Maddie J. Attacking midfielder  in the U12 Gateway YMCA league? She was killing it last game, I talked with her frenemy, Bella, on the team who said she really likes the colors Blue and White so we might have a shot but that means UNC might too. But I got definite confirmation it's not style of play at all.

[wgstl]

2 minutes ago, TheA_Bomb said:

 her frenemy, Bella,

[RollBills82]

I’m not sure why it’s ok to have a conversation about a basketball player who we would like to track as a recruit and a soccer player.  I think it’s pretty clear that Courtside knows his stuff.  If we want to bust his chops that’s one thing, but to constantly mock him because he actually cares about the details of the soccer recruits is dumb.  If you want vanilla content on here that’s what you’re going to get from casual women’s soccer people. 
 

I pay for Stu’s substack because I like to support people covering the school’s sports.  I also know he doesn’t have the time to dive into details of Olympic sports and the recruiting as much as he might do for basketball. 

[billikenfan05]

16 minutes ago, RollBills82 said:

I’m not sure why it’s ok to have a conversation about a basketball player who we would like to track as a recruit and a soccer player.  I think it’s pretty clear that Courtside knows his stuff.  If we want to bust his chops that’s one thing, but to constantly mock him because he actually cares about the details of the soccer recruits is dumb.  If you want vanilla content on here that’s what you’re going to get from casual women’s soccer people. 
 

I pay for Stu’s substack because I like to support people covering the school’s sports.  I also know he doesn’t have the time to dive into details of Olympic sports and the recruiting as much as he might do for basketball. 

I expect the replies you'll get to this, if at all, will be that courtside brings the criticism on himself. His offenses against many different posters vary. They can individually explain themselves.

 

 

[courtside]

38 minutes ago, RollBills82 said:

I’m not sure why it’s ok to have a conversation about a basketball player who we would like to track as a recruit and a soccer player.  I think it’s pretty clear that Courtside knows his stuff.  If we want to bust his chops that’s one thing, but to constantly mock him because he actually cares about the details of the soccer recruits is dumb.  If you want vanilla content on here that’s what you’re going to get from casual women’s soccer people. 
 

I pay for Stu’s substack because I like to support people covering the school’s sports.  I also know he doesn’t have the time to dive into details of Olympic sports and the recruiting as much as he might do for basketball. 

I’m sure it gets frustrating for the same few vocal minority hero worship/scapegoat crowd. They don’t have information of their own to post, and, they can’t get the information elsewhere.

They are still faithful readers of my posts because they keep responding. They just hate themselves for it because I am the one posting it. It’s a cycle rinse/repeat that they find difficult to escape. Trolling is a low self esteem thing. The silent majority can feel sorry for the trolls and at the same time, enjoy that those topics keep going. That’s great for those programs. 

The non vocal majority is smart enough to just read the information and have normal interactions. Maybe say thanks once in a while, maybe add something of their own, or ask something once in a while. It’s all good. 

[Lord Elrond]

3 hours ago, TheA_Bomb said:

 

Agree Stu nails it always and he knows a lot about women's soccer. 

Love Stu’s work, I encourage every SLU fan to subscribe.