SLU Women's Soccer Thread

[courtside]

SLU 3 Drake 0

Solid effort for SLU coming off of a big win. It could have easily been a few more goals.

One thing of note is that some of the players who stood out Sunday were not necessarily the same ones who stood out Thursday. And that’s a positive. 

4-2-3-1 throughout. Personnel was the same except for two positions swapping out starts to an quality high minute player. SLU was able to get 11 players into the game off of the bench, most playing more than 20 minutes each. It would have been a couple of more if not for sitting out minor injuries.

Quality of game play dropped a bit in the 2nd with a comfortable lead and trying to get several more players into the game. That will improve with more games and reps. 

Groark took the space and let one rip from just beyond 30 yards, upper far post netting. (she has done this many times over the years including in exhibition this season)

https://twitter.com/sluwsoccer/status/1561497558588989440?s=21&t=DNQHc0DZB_UK8SQOJVFxow

Miller to Walsh, who had a nice game, who made a nice pass to Kelly in space who turned and finished low far corner. 

Heckel made a good diagonal pass over the central midfield for Larson fsr side of the box, who settles, cuts in and finishes with her left foot. 

Friedrich had a strong first half, a few near misses, and somehow Hannah Smith, who played well, hit the cross bar from 7 yards out off of an initial Walsh shot off of the crossbar. She’d like that one back.

Shots were 18-2. (Stram and Houck stood out in back) Corners were 4-1. 

Former Billiken Madelyn Smith started and played 51 minutes in the central attacking midfield. And Ellie Rimsky, former SLSG club teammate of SLU’s Hannah Smith played almost 70 minutes of off the bench in back for Drake. 

 

 

[RUBillsFan]

9 hours ago, courtside said:

SLU 3 Drake 0

Solid effort for SLU coming off of a big win. It could have easily been a few more goals.

One thing of note is that some of the players who stood out Sunday were not necessarily the same ones who stood out Thursday. And that’s a positive. 

4-2-3-1 throughout. Personnel was the same except for two positions swapping out starts to an quality high minute player. SLU was able to get 11 players into the game off of the bench, most playing more than 20 minutes each. It would have been a couple of more if not for sitting out minor injuries.

Quality of game play dropped a bit in the 2nd with a comfortable lead and trying to get several more players into the game. That will improve with more games and reps. 

Groark took the space and let one rip from just beyond 30 yards, upper far post netting. (she has done this many times over the years including in exhibition this season)

https://twitter.com/sluwsoccer/status/1561497558588989440?s=21&t=DNQHc0DZB_UK8SQOJVFxow

Miller to Walsh, who had a nice game, who made a nice pass to Kelly in space who turned and finished low far corner. 

Heckel made a good diagonal pass over the central midfield for Larson fsr side of the box, who settles, cuts in and finishes with her left foot. 

Friedrich had a strong first half, a few near misses, and somehow Hannah Smith, who played well, hit the cross bar from 7 yards out off of an initial Walsh shot off of the crossbar. She’d like that one back.

Shots were 18-2. (Stram and Houck stood out in back) Corners were 4-1. 

Former Billiken Madelyn Smith started and played 51 minutes in the central attacking midfield. And Ellie Rimsky, former SLSG club teammate of SLU’s Hannah Smith played almost 70 minutes of off the bench in back for Drake. 

 

 

That shot by Groark.  Wow.

Also always weird / disorienting seeing soccer played on a football field.

[courtside]

Emily Groark did something similar in an exhibition game this season. It’s something she’s capable of doing once in a while.

This one here is also one of my Emily favorites. This was last Summer in a playoff Summer Ball game win for SLSG vs Chicago Mustangs. 

https://twitter.com/slsgsoccer/status/1415838110840201219?s=21&t=2jPakE01stz7ja8imHKYrA

Emily was a top 40 national high school player who unfortunately has had multiple knee injuries in her college career, along with strong seasons at Colorado and SLU. She can play 3 different positions. But she is playing in the central attacking midfield for SLU. And having her back is big plus for SLU. 

[willie]

Whoever complained about espn+ not having a clock ,they listened to you. 

[courtside]

Notre Dame week for SLU.

It will be every bit as challenging as the Arkansas game. 

Nate Norman in in his 5th season back at ND (former player there), and he has the Irish back in ACC Title games, Sweet 16, etc…the past few seasons. Recruiting has been strong, and they blend a nice mix of experienced All ACC players with some promising newcomers. and even a Keeper transfer.

Notre Dame is one of the many Power 5 teams that like to play 3 in back with 2 forwards. 

Two capable keepers for Notre Dame, included a Northwestern transfer. (Wood)

Very experienced back line with 5’11 size in the middle, Gaetino, who can also play box to box. Ronan on the left and Hudson (who likes to get forward often) on the right. Gaetino is the key in the middle, a very good player.

Two true Freshmen will likely start in the defensive midfield, Klenke, and Matriano. Notre Dame likes to play through them. Cannot let them control the middle of the field. These were highly coveted national recruits who have stepped in right away. Klenke is another 5’11 player with size but also athleticism who can het forward. Matriano is very good at connecting passes out ot the back.

Speaking of the. middle of the field, Kiki Van Zanten will need to be contained, skilled and speedy, who also can play wide left. She is one of the multiple ND players from the Eclipse Chicago program (SLU’s Julia Simon). Druzina and Martinez are solid are experienced on the wings, and include some USYNT experience.

Up top Wingate and Mercado can cause problems in a variety of ways. Mercado is very good in the air, set pieces, making runs. Wingate is a strong finisher, tough player. She can get between and behind defenders in space or as a target, and she can out physical them for space.

I would expect Korbin Albert, another Eclipse club player to be back getting a lot of minutes as she is a dangerous attacking player. 12 goals last year as a Freshmen. She recently played for the U.S. U20 team, and she missed the first few weeks of the season. Potential All ACC player. 

ND has a back line that plays through its defensive midfield, who either make long ground target passes inside to forwards or they also will form sideline triangles with their wings. 

For SLU, have to be rock solid in back, getting good two way midfield play, and, get some numbers behind ND’s defensive midfield, pinching the middle on defense from the wings, and pressuring the two Freshmen defensive midfielders.

………………….

Another big recruiting game, national attention game. If you are able to attend, similar to the Arkansas game. this is one you will want to see. Notre Dame recruits nationally, and they are back to being a Women’s Soccer power.

…………………..

I am not one for preseason polls or preseason individual player recognition, but they have some marketing value. RPI is what matters most as the season progresses. With that said, you will see SLU start to get well earned recognition as they get results over high profile teams. For example, Top Drawer Soccer has SLU at #23 this week after not having them in their top anything. (no one else did either)

Emily Gaebe who had a strong performance against Arkansas putting pressure on their defense all game, was named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of The Week.

……………………

It’s also time to root for fellow league teams’ success, as well as the success of head to head opponents when they aren’t playing SLU. 

 

 

[Cowboy II]

-might as well just win all of them

[HoosierPal]

 

[Lord Elrond]

2 hours ago, courtside said:

……………………

It’s also time to root for fellow league teams’ success, as well as the success of head to head opponents when they aren’t playing SLU. 

 

 

Towards that end, Loyola-Chicago plays Wisconsin at Wisconsin, they aren’t ranked but did make the NCAA last year. UMass plays at Pittsburgh, ACC team. Hopefully they can both win on the road, should be a challenge for them. 

[Midtown Madness]

Big special episode drop Wednesday for SLU Women's Soccer Fans.

[Pistol]

31 minutes ago, Midtown Madness said:

Big special episode drop Wednesday for SLU Women's Soccer Fans.

Yesssss. Very exciting.

Let's break the home attendance record Thursday.

[Lord Elrond]

23 minutes ago, Pistol said:

Yesssss. Very exciting.

Let's break the home attendance record Thursday.

I agree. I do think that SLU does an excellent job in promoting the team. The game environment is fun, exciting, and family friendly.  It is a great game day experience, so if you haven’t been to a game, please consider it this Thursday.

[RUBillsFan]

2 hours ago, Midtown Madness said:

Big special episode drop Wednesday for SLU Women's Soccer Fans.

Excited about the upcoming episode.  I love that you guys come on Billikens dot com to post these little teasers for upcoming shows, post the links, and gather feedback from MBMs.  Sometimes those things get lost on social media and they’re easier to find here.

Really appreciate you selflessly doing this Podcast for no pay and always putting Billiken athletics #1.  Clearly if you were shilling for page views or listens you’d choose a different topic to cover than collegiate women's soccer.

Since we’re only allowed one thread for womens soccer, it makes total sense to post about an upcoming womens soccer podcast here.  The unofficial führer of the one & only sacred womens soccer thread always says that anyone is welcome to post here, so I can’t see a problem with promoting womens soccer content.

[Pistol]

The Shields conversation was fantastic. She was one of the first people we talked to last year when we were still new at this thing, and this talk is several times better. She's so easy to talk to and at times could barely contain her excitement about this program and group of players. We really can't wait for you all to hear this one.

The goal is to break 5,000 fans at Thursday's game against Notre Dame. If you have any ability at all to get down there, please go support them.

[courtside]

SLU moved to 28 in the College Soccer News Poll this week.

………………………

Soccer Analytics inStat numbers are in for SLU vs Arkansas:

Top 5 rated players for the game, were all from SLU. 
 

Emily Gaebe

Hannah Larson

Emily Puricelli 

Bri Halverson

Anna Walsh.

Arkansas was held to their lowest offensive statistical production since it’s opener last year vs Duke.

…………………

 

[courtside]

2 hours ago, Lord Elrond said:

That seems right to me. Walsh also had a strong game against Drake, I thought. 

She did. Good observation. Set up another goal too. She is playing better defense this year so far. That is what has jumped out, along with good positioning. And she is connecting well in the attacking final third. Good for her.

 

[slu72 fan]

Going to be a big crowd. The SLSG ECNL teams are attending. 

[BuiltFordBills]

 

[slufanskip]

Just now, BuiltFordBills said:

 

That stinks. Wishing her the best. 

[billikenfan05]

Just now, BuiltFordBills said:

 

The good news is...to quote Coach, "we have her for 3 years"

[courtside]

4 minutes ago, BuiltFordBills said:

 

Yep. Tough one for Julia. 

Terrific player. Julia can play up top at forward alone or paired. Combines well. Finishes well. She can and does also play central attacking midfield, where she would have been an immediate impact, high minute player there this year for SLU. She scores and creates a lot of goals.

As some know Julia was named the MVP of the United Women’s Soccer National Championship Team this Summer. (Chicago Mustangs) She competed in the same league against several current SLSG SLU players. 

Julia had a strong first year at Louisville. SLU has targeted a few recruits connected with Julia via club and high school soccer as well.

 

[Midtown Madness]

We're dropping our interview with Coach Shields in prime time! I kinda like the idea of Youtube premiers being "live broadcast". I think it's perfect for this type of thing too. Tune in at 7pm CT Billiken Soccer fans! #RollBills #HTR

[courtside]

SLU is ranked 19th this week in the United Soccer Coaches poll. 

After two comfortable wins, Notre Dame falls from 16th in the ore-season poll, to the first team out of the Top 25, receiving the most votes.

https://unitedsoccercoaches.org/rankings/college-rankings/ncaa-di-women/

[courtside]

2 hours ago, slu72 fan said:

Going to be a big crowd. The SLSG ECNL teams are attending. 

Yep. Other clubs will be there too. Last year it was the Xavier game. 

https://twitter.com/slsgecnlgirls/status/1428526194463551493?s=21&t=boY3SbKAaoKk5kPvGwewcg

Hannah Smith is this year’s addition from their club. 

SLU has 4 commits from SLSG for 2023 class. 

And, SLU hosted a few recruiting targets, from SLSG and from out of town for the Arkansas game. (They will do so again for the Notre Dame game) Both SLU 2024 commits from other local clubs were there as well. (It went well) SLU will be getting a few upcoming commits from their recent 06 National Championship team. 

(SLU recruits from a variety of local club teams as well as everywhere Nationally.) 

As soon as SLU completed its schedule, Arkansas and Notre Dame became very high profile home games of interest to many. It will be another fun game. 

 

 

 

[Lord Elrond]

1 hour ago, BuiltFordBills said:

 

Very sad, I wish her a speedy recovery.

[Lord Elrond]

3 hours ago, slu72 fan said:

Going to be a big crowd. The SLSG ECNL teams are attending. 

Agreed. Should be an even bigger crowd than last week.