SLU Women's Soccer Thread

[courtside]

NCAA Championship:

UCLA 3 North Carolina 2 2OT

3-5-2 for UNC, something they have had great success with since they switched to it before the tourney. Gobbling up the midfield, defend, and counter.

4-3–3 for UCLA. It took a half., UNC frustrated the strong Bruin attack much of the game, but UCLA finally got it going and had 2 goals in final 10 minutes, including the equalizer with 16 seconds remaining. Game winner late in 2OT.

Marguerite Aozasa, the former Santa Santa Clara player, and former Stanford assistant, won the title in her first season as HC. (previous HC left to coach professionally). She is the 4th Woman to do so.

………………..

Nice few days for Women’s coaches.

Over the weekend, Julianne Stitch became the first Woman to win a national title as a head coach of a Men’s team. She led the U of Chicago Maroons to the Men’s D-3 National Title. 

……………..

SLU dropped from 10 to 20 in the final United Soccer Coaches Poll. Notre Dame was 5th. Arkansas was 8th. Memphis was 21. Xavier was most votes of non top 25.

……………

[courtside]

It’s always good for the program to receive individual recognition. Everyone can’t always be recognized.. 

Top Drawer Soccer Best 11 Nationally, Lyndsey Heckel made the 3rd team.

TDS top postseason top 100:

Heckel 31

Miller 60

Kelly 62

 

 

 

 

 

[courtside]

Adam Denton is the new head coach at Richmond. If his name sounds familiar, it is because he was the head coach at Davidson the past six seasons. He was a many year, Charlotte, youth club soccer coach, prior to that. 

So, there are still two head coaching openings in the A10. The teams with openings have now switched to be The Bonnies and Davidson. 

[bauman]

12 hours ago, courtside said:

It’s always good for the program to receive individual recognition. Everyone can’t always be recognized.. 

Top Drawer Soccer Best 11 Nationally, Lyndsey Heckel made the 3rd team.

TDS top postseason top 100:

Heckel 31

Miller 60

Kelly 62

 

 

 

 

 

Congrats, ladies.  Well done this season.

[courtside]

College Soccer News finally released their final Women’s Soccer rankings, and, SLU finished 11th.

United Soccer Coaches 20

Top Drawer Soccer 24

College Soccer News 11

RPI 10

[Lord Elrond]

21 hours ago, courtside said:

Adam Denton is the new head coach at Richmond. If his name sounds familiar, it is because he was the head coach at Davidson the past six seasons. He was a many year, Charlotte, youth club soccer coach, prior to that. 

So, there are still two head coaching openings in the A10. The teams with openings have now switched to be The Bonnies and Davidson. 

Feels more like a blast from the past since we haven’t played them since 2018, his second year as head coach at Davidson. It’s weird how we can go so long without playing a fellow conference member. Oh well

UPDATE: I forgot to mention that while we didn’t have a regular season game against them, we did play them in the 2020 A12 championship in the spring of 2021. The reason I forgot was because no one was there watching. Covid just sucked in so many ways…

so my point about weird regular season scheduling stands…

Edited December 16, 2022 by Lord Elrond
Update

[courtside]

As expected, SLU’s Bri Halverson is registered for the January 12th NWSL Professional Soccer Draft. Good luck to Bri.

 

[slufanskip]

7 hours ago, courtside said:

As expected, SLU’s Bri Halverson is registered for the January 12th NWSL Professional Soccer Draft. Good luck to Bri.

 

Absolutely. Good Luck Bri

[Lord Elrond]

11 hours ago, courtside said:

As expected, SLU’s Bri Halverson is registered for the January 12th NWSL Professional Soccer Draft. Good luck to Bri.

 

Good luck Bri, and I hope the NWSL’s issues are actually behind them

[courtside]

Dayton’s Itala Gemelli is transferring to Alabama. 

Gemelli is one of the best players in the A10, a dynamic forward and 3 time, First Team, All A10 player. Big loss for Dayton and the league.

Alabama had a dream season with a veteran team, winning the regular season SEC title, and advancing to the College Cup Final Four. They had 3 players drafted in the recent NWSL draft.

 

[Lord Elrond]

9 hours ago, courtside said:

Dayton’s Itala Gemelli is transferring to Alabama. 

Gemelli is one of the best players in the A10, a dynamic forward and 3 time, First Team, All A10 player. Big loss for Dayton and the league.

Alabama had a dream season with a veteran team, winning the regular season SEC title, and advancing to the College Cup Final Four. They had 3 players drafted in the recent NWSL draft.

 

It’s not good to not have other good teams in the league. In looking at the top point scorers for the A10 last year:

1 - Caroline Kelly 13 G 6A 32 points-returns to SLU

2- Itala Gemelli 12 G 3 A 27 points - out of the league from Dayton to Virginia

3 - Emily Gaebe 9 G 6 A 24 points - returns to SLU

4 - Emily Groark 8 G 6 A 22 points - returns to SLU

5 - Lauren Bonavita 10 G 1 A 21 points - graduated from UMass, out of eligibility

6 - Rachel Sorkenn 9 G 1 A 19 points - has a year left after playing 3 seasons and losing 2 due to injury, but already a grad student this year, we’ll see if she’s back at GW

7 - Kendyl Sarver 8 G 2 A 18 points - returns to VCU

8 - Kelli McGroarty 6 G 5 A 16 points - out of the league from LaSalle to Iowa per Top Drawer Soccer

9 - Hannah Larson 5 G 4 A 14 points - returns to SLU

10 - Kanna Matsuhisa 4 G 6 A 14 points - returns to VCU

So of the 6 top point scorers not at SLU, 3 are gone due to transfer/graduation. Too early to say much, but top talent leaving doesn’t help the other league teams, looks like SLU needs to schedule another tough group of non-conference opponents.

 

 

[courtside]

17 hours ago, Lord Elrond said:

It’s not good to not have other good teams in the league. In looking at the top point scorers for the A10 last year:

1 - Caroline Kelly 13 G 6A 32 points-returns to SLU

2- Itala Gemelli 12 G 3 A 27 points - out of the league from Dayton to Virginia

3 - Emily Gaebe 9 G 6 A 24 points - returns to SLU

4 - Emily Groark 8 G 6 A 22 points - returns to SLU

5 - Lauren Bonavita 10 G 1 A 21 points - graduated from UMass, out of eligibility

6 - Rachel Sorkenn 9 G 1 A 19 points - has a year left after playing 3 seasons and losing 2 due to injury, but already a grad student this year, we’ll see if she’s back at GW

7 - Kendyl Sarver 8 G 2 A 18 points - returns to VCU

8 - Kelli McGroarty 6 G 5 A 16 points - out of the league from LaSalle to Iowa per Top Drawer Soccer

9 - Hannah Larson 5 G 4 A 14 points - returns to SLU

10 - Kanna Matsuhisa 4 G 6 A 14 points - returns to VCU

So of the 6 top point scorers not at SLU, 3 are gone due to transfer/graduation. Too early to say much, but top talent leaving doesn’t help the other league teams, looks like SLU needs to schedule another tough group of non-conference opponents.

 

 

Dayton did a nice job finding Itala Gemelli and giving her an opportunity. She was not super highly recruited heeding into college. She is a example of a really good player that was under recruited out of Michigan.

Itala was loyal to Dayton for 3 great seasons. Her lead recruiter left to be a head coach at a good D-2 program in North Carolina this past year. And she also wants to play in the NCAA tourney and beyond. Dayton, while solid, has slipped into being a non-NCAA tourney team in recent seasons.

On the positive front for Dayton, their new keeper this year Batoul Reda, was called up into the U.S. U19 National Camp last week. She’s good. And they have a few strong recruits coming in next season. The Freshman defender from KC in particular was highly recruited.

VCU and Loyola are the other two teams ahead of some of the other league teams. 

A few other transfer losses for the A10 include a nice player from Davidson, Sophia Caruso, who is headed to Kentucky. LaSalle’s Lauren Castello os headed to Indiana. Transfers in and out are going to happen almost everywhere. Roughly 2,000 players or 10% or more of players from different levels have been entering the portal each year the past two years. 

SLU Women have been looking at 3 different players in the portal so far. One is from the A10, one is from the SEC, one is from the AAC. 

SLU Men have already added 4 players via the transfer portal. They are more aggressive in the portal.

Some transfers want to play more. Some good ones want to play at a higher level, and/or on better teams. Some players graduate early and leave for a grad program elsewhere. There was a group of players (5) this year that all transferred to one school for religious reasons. All kinds ot reasons for transfers. Coaching changes, program culture etc….

SLU Women have done well to keep most of its key players while adding 1 or 2 key transfers. Last year, SLU lost a couple of players to transfer that wanted and indeed received more playing time elsewhere. SLU was good enough to feature those players in Spring games before they left.

Julia Simon was a big addition last year for SLU from Louisville. She will be ready to go this season 

SLU has been scheduling 4 to 5 top level non-conference opponents annually for several years. (RPI top 10 seasons 2  of past 3 seasons) It hasn’t been a one year thing. And yes they will need to keep doing so annually, and they will need to get results when doing so. They will. Other A10 schools need to make good hires and invest more into their programs. But until then, SLU is becoming a national Women’s Soccer power with or without them. 

 

[Lord Elrond]

10 minutes ago, courtside said:

Dayton did a nice job finding Itala Gemelli and giving her an opportunity. She was not super highly recruited heeding into college. She is a example of a really good player that was under recruited out of Michigan.

Itala was loyal to Dayton for 3 great seasons. Her lead recruiter left to be a head coach at a good D-2 program in North Carolina this past year. And she also wants to play in the NCAA tourney and beyond. Dayton, while solid, has slipped into being a non-NCAA tourney team in recent seasons.

On the positive front for Dayton, their new keeper this year Batoul Reda, was called up into the U.S. U19 National Camp last week. She’s good. And they have a few strong recruits coming in next season. The Freshman defender from KC in particular was highly recruited.

VCU and Loyola are the other two teams ahead of some of the other league teams. 

A few other transfer losses for the A10 include a nice player from Davidson, Sophia Caruso, who is headed to Kentucky. LaSalle’s Lauren Castello os headed to Indiana. Transfers in and out are going to happen almost everywhere. Roughly 2,000 players or 10% or more of players from different levels have been entering the portal each year the past two years. 

SLU Women have been looking at 3 different players in the portal so far. One is from the A10, one is from the SEC, one is from the AAC. 

SLU Men have already added 4 players via the transfer portal. They are more aggressive in the portal.

Some transfers want to play more. Some good ones want to play at a higher level, and/or on better teams. Some players graduate early and leave for a grad program elsewhere. There was a group of players (5) this year that all transferred to one school for religious reasons. All kinds ot reasons for transfers. Coaching changes, program culture etc….

SLU Women have done well to keep most of its key players while adding 1 or 2 key transfers. Last year, SLU lost a couple of players to transfer that wanted and indeed received more playing time elsewhere. SLU was good enough to feature those players in Spring games before they left.

Julia Simon was a big addition last year for SLU from Louisville. She will be ready to go this season 

SLU has been scheduling 4 to 5 top level non-conference opponents annually for several years. (RPI top 10 seasons 2  of past 3 seasons) It hasn’t been a one year thing. And yes they will need to keep doing so annually, and they will need to get results when doing so. They will. Other A10 schools need to make good hires and invest more into their programs. But until then, SLU is becoming a national Women’s Soccer power with or without them. 

 

A healthy conference with 2-3 bids to the NCAA on a routine basis would be of great benefit to SLU and all the other conference members. 

[courtside]

On 1/15/2023 at 9:28 AM, Lord Elrond said:

A healthy conference with 2-3 bids to the NCAA on a routine basis would be of great benefit to SLU and all the other conference members. 

Sure. 

Also of importance is the bottom of the league. Every A10 team needs to have a goal of top 100 RPI, and, no worse than top 150. (as long as RPI is used) Teams such as VCU, Dayton, Loyola need to be seeking top 50 RPI’s annually. (5 A10 teams were sub 200 RPI this season)

Scheduling, recruiting, player development, program culture, resources, investment, are a few of the many important aspects. It would help if the league was more forward thinking and cooperative with types of scheduling as well.

With regard to transfers, and recruiting, Florida State recently scooped up a few great players from Tennessee, their head coach’s previous school, etc…Texas scooped up a few high profile players from big time programs and so forth. Few schools are immune from the crowded and busy transfer portal. 

 

 

 

[courtside]

We’ve talked at length here about SLU’s 10 player, 2023 recruiting class.

Here they are on one page:

https://slubillikens.com/news/2023/1/15/womens-soccer-shields-announces-2023-recruiting-class.aspx

Most recently SLU was in Lakewood Ranch Florida for the Winter ECNL Showcase. This week they will be in Mesa, AZ for the USYS event. Always be recruiting. 

 

[Lord Elrond]

53 minutes ago, courtside said:

Sure. 

Also of importance is the bottom of the league. Every A10 team needs to have a goal of top 100 RPI, and, no worse than top 150. (as long as RPI is used) Teams such as VCU, Dayton, Loyola need to be seeking top 50 RPI’s annually. (5 A10 teams were sub 200 RPI this season)

Scheduling, recruiting, player development, program culture, resources, investment, are a few of the many important aspects. It would help if the league was more forward thinking and cooperative with types of scheduling as well.

With regard to transfers, and recruiting, Florida State recently scooped up a few great players from Tennessee, their head coach’s previous school, etc…Texas scooped up a few high profile players from big time programs and so forth. Few schools are immune from the crowded and busy transfer portal. 

 

 

 

It would be nice if that were to happen. Iron sharpens iron. Wish I had a way to make it happen. Oh well.

[Lord Elrond]

52 minutes ago, courtside said:

We’ve talked at length here about SLU’s 10 player, 2023 recruiting class.

Here they are on one page:

https://slubillikens.com/news/2023/1/15/womens-soccer-shields-announces-2023-recruiting-class.aspx

Most recently SLU was in Lakewood Ranch Florida for the Winter ECNL Showcase. This week they will be in Mesa, AZ for the USYS event. Always be recruiting. 

 

Should be an impressive team next year. 4 Billikens were in the top 10 in the A10 in points, Julia Simon (who was right up there with that group and poised to have a great season) should be healthy, last years class was loaded with talent, and the 2023 group looks extremely impressive.  Lots of competition to replace the minutes from the departing players. 

[cgeldmacher]

On 1/15/2023 at 9:28 AM, Lord Elrond said:

A healthy conference with 2-3 bids to the NCAA on a routine basis would be of great benefit to SLU and all the other conference members. 

Another reason that it would be nice to get into the Big East.  The Big East had two teams finish in the Top 25 in both the  men's and women's polls.  Add SLU to that and having 3 Top 25 teams makes for a pretty good conference.

[courtside]

Of the 30 something leagues, plus independents, the A10 had 5 RPI top 100 Women’s Soccer teams this season. (15 team league) How did it stack up? Six leagues had more. 

…………….

AAC          4 of 9.

Sun Belt.  4 of 14. 

……………..

A10           5 of 15.

Big East.  5 of 11.

Ivy            5 of 8.

…………….

WCC        6 of 10.

Big 12      6 of 10.

Big 10      7 of 14.

……………..

Pac 12     11 of 12.

SEC         11 of 14.

ACC        13 of 14.

……………

 

[courtside]

Loyola’s Megan Nemec is transferring to Minnesota for her 5th season. 

Former MVC Freshman of the year, MVC player of the year, All American, and all A10 player this year, a dynamic attacking midfielder and forward. Great 4 year career at Loyola. 

 

 

[courtside]

Congratulations to 2024 SLU commit Ulla Sharp, for being selected to the 18 player National Olympic Development Program rosters (05 age group) for both Dallas Cup, and Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup. (which includes an International trip to England)

 

[slufanskip]

On 1/18/2023 at 5:59 PM, courtside said:

Congratulations to 2024 SLU commit Ulla Sharp, for being selected to the 18 player National Olympic Development Program rosters (05 age group) for both Dallas Cup, and Las Vegas Mayor’s Cup. (which includes an International trip to England)

 

Thanks for continuing to provide these updates on both the men’s and the women’s teams. 

[courtside]

7 minutes ago, slufanskip said:

Thanks for continuing to provide these updates on both the men’s and the women’s teams. 

Sure. 

SLU Women’s staff are in both Mesa, AZ and Indianapolis this weekend recruiting. SLU Men’s staff is in Orlando, and Mesa, AZ this weekend/next week. 

[Lord Elrond]

Bri Halverson has accepted an invite to the preseason training camp of the Houston Dash in the NWSL.

[courtside]

1 hour ago, Lord Elrond said:

Bri Halverson has accepted an invite to the preseason training camp of the Houston Dash in the NWSL.

Well earned for Bri. There was some hope that she would get drafted and/or an invite especially with KC. Bri has put in a lot of effort for this. Great opportunity for her. She’s good enough. 

(I know of at least one NWSL player that tried out 5 times before landing a spot on an NWSL roster)