SLU Women's Soccer Thread

[BuiltFordBills]

 

[Gremio14]

On 8/27/2024 at 7:42 AM, billikenfan05 said:

You thought so? I thought they were nauseating to watch in the first half. Looked nervous and anxious. 

You’re correct. We were getting battered in the first half.  Until the subs arrived.  Were equal to or better than MU from then on.

On the other hand, BYU had us on our heels for 40 minutes in the first half and 40 minutes in the second half.  We took over for the last 5 minutes in each half….FWIW….

[billikenfan05]

20 minutes ago, Gremio14 said:

You’re correct. We were getting battered in the first half.  Until the subs arrived.  Were equal to or better than MU from then on.

On the other hand, BYU had us on our heels for 40 minutes in the first half and 40 minutes in the second half.  We took over for the last 5 minutes in each half….FWIW….

Good point. I love attending matches but unfortunately I'm not able to really get as good picture of the game as I'd like. Maybe the early goal vs BYU tilted my viewpoint of the overall game flow. 

[courtside]

 

2026 SLU commitment: Lucy Marsh

Lucy is a 5’9 Center Back on the Saint Louis Scott Gallagher 08 Navy team. She helped lead her team to the ECNL National Quarterfinals in 2022. They retuned to the playoffs again this past year after another strong season. She’s a very good individual defender, and, distributor out of the back. 

 

Lucy had interest from several teams from the SEC. Big 12, Big 10, Big East, and AAC.

 

Lucy plays high school soccer (she also runs cross country) with her older sister Ava at Webster Groves High School, where she was a 1st Team All Conference performer as a Sophomore. Ava was also a Final Four Basketball teammate of SLU’s Ellie Paloucek. Lucy’s mom played college soccer for Mizzou. 

 

[slufanskip]

5 hours ago, courtside said:

 

2026 SLU commitment: Lucy Marsh

Lucy is a 5’9 Center Back on the Saint Louis Scott Gallagher 08 Navy team. She helped lead her team to the ECNL National Quarterfinals in 2022. They retuned to the playoffs again this past year after another strong season. She’s a very good individual defender, and, distributor out of the back. 

 

Lucy had interest from several teams from the SEC. Big 12, Big 10, Big East, and AAC.

 

Lucy plays high school soccer (she also runs cross country) with her older sister Ava at Webster Groves High School, where she was a 1st Team All Conference performer as a Sophomore. Ava was also a Final Four Basketball teammate of SLU’s Ellie Paloucek. Lucy’s mom played college soccer for Mizzou. 

 

Thanks for the info. Definitely appreciated 

[courtside]

1 hour ago, slufanskip said:

Thanks for the info. Definitely appreciated 

You’re welcome.

[Pistol]

On 8/27/2024 at 7:53 PM, BuiltFordBills said:

 

[courtside]

9 hours ago, courtside said:

 

2026 SLU commitment: Lucy Marsh

Lucy is a 5’9 Center Back on the Saint Louis Scott Gallagher 08 Navy team. She helped lead her team to the ECNL National Quarterfinals in 2022. They retuned to the playoffs again this past year after another strong season. She’s a very good individual defender, and, distributor out of the back. 

 

Lucy had interest from several teams from the SEC. Big 12, Big 10, Big East, and AAC.

 

Lucy plays high school soccer (she also runs cross country) with her older sister Ava at Webster Groves High School, where she was a 1st Team All Conference performer as a Sophomore. Ava was also a Final Four Basketball teammate of SLU’s Ellie Paloucek. Lucy’s mom played college soccer for Mizzou. 

 

 

[slufan13]

as always thanks to MMP for breaking news for Billiken soccer fans. No idea how good she is as I'm not into high school girls but good news

 

 

[slufan13]

And also big shoutout to MMP for sitting on this insider information and allowing the hard working player to have the privilege to announce this first. Thanks as always for breaking information for us

[slufanskip]

Women go up 1-0 on a Pk about 8 min in. These announcers are confused by the call but the replay clearly shows the keeper wrapping her arms around Hope Kim like linebacker pulling a running back down from behind 

[slufanskip]

2-0 SLU on a goal by Julia Simon. A turnover by the bears bounced to Julia about 8-10 yards out who then chipped a bouncing ball over the head of the keeper. Maybe 18-20 min in

[billikenfan05]

The color commentator sounds like the boss from F is for Family. 

[slufanskip]

5 minutes ago, billikenfan05 said:

The color commentator sounds like the boss from F is for Family. 

He’s a former coach I think but he just states the obvious like it’s brilliant. 
 

Please quit calling Emily an All-Conference GK. She’s an All-American GK

[slufanskip]

SLU has given Mo St a couple of nice opportunities but they haven’t made anything of them. 

[slufanskip]

3-0 Bills 8+ min into 2bd half Gaebe attacking the middle lays it off down the right wing for Larson who crosses it back to Gaebe who volleys it in from about 3 yards out at the near post

Kind of a typical Billiken goal if there is such a thing

[Pistol]

 

[Pistol]

1 hour ago, slufanskip said:

SLU has given Mo St a couple of nice opportunities but they haven’t made anything of them. 

4-0 final.

Definitely some mistakes and there's always plenty to work on but this game felt like progress to me. More confidence, poise, and control throughout. Having Puricelli back there always helps, of course.

Hopefully it's a nice confidence boost before a huge game at home vs. Penn State.

[OkieBilliken]

I really liked how deep LS went to the bench last night.   We got a lead and were able to hold it giving alot of newcomers big minutes.     This is going to be important because arguably the biggest game of the year is Sunday, so they should be pretty well rested.    Some Billiken opponents are having mixed results.    BYU lost for the first time this week to a very good UCLA team.  Missouri last night came down to south Florida and lost to a terrible Miami team.   UMKC has won 3 in a row (all shutouts) against lesser competition.   Xavier is 5-0, including a 3-0 beat down of Dayton on the road.  

[courtside]

2026 SLU commitment, Leah Simpson from NW suburban Dallas, Texas.

Leah can play all 3 attacking positions. and SLU sees her as a central attacking midfielder who excels on the ball with pace, distributing and finishing.

Leah plays as a captain with a talented Spring Black 08 team that is a 4 time Champions League playoff team. They were 17-0-3 in the elite level Texas League, which features clubs from Texas, Colorado, and Utah. They have finished 1st or 2nd in the 16 team league each of the past 4 seasons. They were Texas Cup winners, and 2023 ECNL National Quarterfinalists.

Playing in Texas 6-6A, Leah was named 1st Team All District this past season in high school ball. 

Leah was recruited by several Big 12 and Big 10 schools among others. 

With the addition of Associate Head Coach Colleen Corbin, SLU has been continuing to expand the always growing geographic footprint in recruiting. In particular, Texas. Colorado, Southern California, are among those geographies.

https://x.com/leah_simpson9/status/1829313515561123876?s=46&t=TsCCkuE48YmnkWfoKqc_Ng

 

[courtside]

 

SLU 4 Missouri St. 0

 

Formations:

 

4-2-3-1 for both teams. No defensive or trick formations for the Bears.

 

Kansas City 5-4-1, Mizzou 3-5-2 are challenging defensive formations. There was much more space against the 4-2-3-1.

 

SLU made the adjustment last game to get Luebbert in at outside back to generate more offense out of the back. She was rewarded with a start, and it led to an 8th minute goal for SLU. Left side run, diagonal ground oasis to Simon. squared it wide to Larson 1v1 left side of the box, centered to multiple Billikens. Hope Kim was fouled by the keeper. 1-0 Heckel PK. An early goal often changes the game. 

 

Missouri State wasn’t getting high pressure in their formation, which allowed time for SLU center backs. and also allowed outside backs to get up the wings to play through them.

 

Strong bounce back game for Julia Simon.!She’s one of SLU’s most skilled on ball attackers and passers in the attacking third. Her play was rewarded on the 2nd goal. 

 

19th minute goal was an example of much discussed need for some diagonal balls in the final 40 yards. Missouri St. had 8 defenders, man marking well. Heckel had time, placed an aerial diagonal ball for Simon in behind the defense. SLU started to do more of this against Mizzou. This then opens up the defense and the game, which is something SLU prefers.

 

54th minute. Heckel over the top finds the defense but good aggressive defensive positioning allowed Lang and Simon force the turnover near midfield and square it to Gaebe off to the races down the middle. She angled a pass to Larson on the wing edge of the box, who returns the cross volley for Gaebe’s goal. Better middle of the field positioning for SLU across midfield. 3-0

 

74th minute. SLU pressure, wins a midfield ball. Paloucek played the ball wide to Luebbert who made another run and ripped a shot off of the post and Preusser was able to tap it to Smith who’s shot was able to go in off of the defender.

 

Better middle of the field positioning, getting outside backs forward, diagonal passes on the ground or in the air out of the back center mid wide back to center mid. All of these are important as SLU continues to try to get more dangerous on set pieces to add another option they’ve had in the past.

 

27 of 30 roster players played. 2 of those are injured and 1 is a goalkeeper. So, all healthy Freshmen and returning players have now played this season. It’s a talented, high volume Freshman class combined with high level experience. Lots of healthy competition for playing time.

 

[Box and Won]

On 8/28/2024 at 10:00 PM, Pistol said:

 

Love the Webster-to-SLU pipeline.

[courtside]

 

SLU 2026 commitment: Keira Bartholet

 

Keira is a 5’10 wing with length and pace on the outside, from SLSG 08 and Nerinx Hall High School. 

 

She helped lead her high school team to the Missouri Class 4 State Title this past Spring, after helping them to a State runner up position as a Freshman. 

 

Keira is a club teammate with Lucy Marsh at SLSG Navy 08. They were undefeated Midwest Conference Champions in 2023. And they were a Champions League Playoff team each of the past 2 seasons. Keira was also a high school teammates with SLU’s Nina Preusser.

[courtside]

 

Penn State.

 

Penn State had 5 players drafted in the NWSL after last season. A Goalkeeper, Center Back, 2 Outside Backs, and a Forward. (Asman, , Wheeler, Wiesner, Linnehan)

 

But it’s Penn State. They return several others, they added several transfers, Freshmen, and they have a strong player development system. Penn State has 12 Redshirt players. 6 grad students.  

 

Penn State is a mix of returning starters, high minute players, less experienced players. transfers, and a few Freshmen. 

 

Redshirt Senior Kaitlyn MacBean returns after scoring 2 goals in Penn State’s 4-3 OT win over SLU in the Sweet 16 game. She already has 6 goals this season. She’s a highly skilled physical power forward that can’t be left alone or 1v1 near the 18. She likes to use her physicality to draw fouls and pk’s too.  

 

The other attacking player to watch is Tennessee transfer Jordan Fusco, a playmaking and scoring central attacking midfielder. Have to front and double her from receiving distribution. Make Penn State build wide without going through her. 

 

Penn State has been playing a 3-5-2 this year. Their coach adjusts formations based on personnel. Last year, with 2 of the best outside backs nationally, PSU played 4 in back. Some other coaches prefer a set formation. 

 

One outside is a North Carolina transfer. Their Center Back is a UPenn transfer, and their other outside back is familiar, Mieke Schiemann. The outside backs switch sides sometimes. Schiemann is the 5’11! physical defender who tied the game with SLU last year with 3 minutes remaining on a set piece header. She is by far their best set piece aerial player. Have to focus on her with set pieces more than anyone else. On the flip side, she is vulnerable to pace on the outside from SLU’s attacking wings as long as SLU can spread out Penn State’s back 3. 

 

Fontenot, the UPenn transfer is athletic and good in the middle but she lacks size. 

 

Lapi and Martin at defensive mid. Fusco at CAM, MacBean up top. The others will vary as PSU will sub on the wings. Damico and White will probably get a first look with Wilson. Lots of pace on the wings without the size. Cooke, Kulpa,  Kershner all will rotate to play opposite of MacBean

 

Penn State recruits some of the best Freshmen in the country. many of which won’t be playing.

 

3-5-2 PSU attack. 

 

1. They will play through their defensive mids up the middle to Fusco. This is first and direct approach. SLU has had some issues there.
2. Back line diagonal wide to the wings who then play through Fusco or MacBean. Smaller faster wings. Size up top and in the middle.

 

Despite playing a 3-5-2, PSU has been aggressive with it, pressing and forcing turnovers. 2-3 up top pressing. 

 

SLU meeds a front foot start, full 90. Spread out and isolate their back 3, playing over the 5 midfielders. Get more shots up and dangerous service with their new keepers. Extra focus on MacBean and Fusco. But everyone on their team is capable too. 

 

Penn State is another SLU opponent that is playing one of the toughest schedules nationally. They are a well respected college soccer blue blood with 17 straight NCAA appearances under Dambach. A National Title, a few Final Fours. And several other deeper NCAA tourney runs.

 

Offense has been clicking early for Penny State. 

 

Great opportunity for SLU against a high level team.

[Lord Elrond]

Game time at Hermann. I chose the women over City vs the Galaxy, I think it’s a good choice.