The sorting and planning of personnel use for the St. Louis University women’s soccer team included two large subsets of talent when the Billikens convened in August.
Coach Katie Shields has three players who earned All-America status in the two previous seasons among seven returning starters. She also has a massive group of talented freshmen, whose ability to contribute was unknown.
The first six weeks of the season have required a meshing of those elements. Despite some inconsistencies, SLU is 6-1-3 and ranked No. 20 in the country entering a home game Thursday night against Loyola-Chicago.
“We have influential young players with experienced old,†Shields said. “The older ones have done a fantastic job of being open to the youngers, giving them confidence and showing them the way to help them feel that they can perform. The newcomers have done a fantastic job of uplifting the training level and challenging, being a source of energy.â€
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Seven freshmen have made starts — five at forward and two in the midfield — contributing six goals and two assists. Freshman Hope Kim scored the only goal in a win at Massachusetts last week on an assist from freshman Ashley Miller, giving SLU a big road win.
The merger has displayed the talent that is behind the huge expectations for this season and what awaits as Shields builds on a program that has reached national prominence.
Forward Emily Gaebe, defender Lyndsey Heckel and goalkeeper Emily Puricelli remain the core while freshmen fill many of the holes created by graduation and injuries.
The use of numerous forwards bodes well for the future. It also has helped when senior Hannah Sawyer has been injured and in creating combinations with Gaebe in the starting lineup.
“We’re fortunate because we have a lot who can fill that role,†Shields said. “We haven’t had anyone run away with it yet. I don’t want to settle on someone when it’s not clear. Not that anyone has to run away with it. You’d like the ease of knowing the first 11, but I’m very open to giving them opportunities.â€
Freshman forward Audey Smith (Fort Zumwalt South) has started four games and scored twice. Kim has made three starts, and Lucie Schwartz (Visitation) has made one, scoring two goals. Other freshmen who have started include midfielder Addy Lang for six games, midfielder Ashley Miller (Zumwalt South) and forwards Emily Fox and Sarah Sarnowski.
Some earned immediate playing time out of preseason practice. Some received chances when more veteran players weren’t available due to injuries. And others took the open starting forward spot as a reward for a good game or strong practice performances.
“It’s what we hoped would happen,†Shields said. “We knew this (freshman) group well and had seen them play a lot. It’s a big, talented group, but you never know until they’re here and in it daily with you.â€
SLU has been one of the highest-scoring teams in the country the past few seasons and needed to replace 37% of the goals that were lost to attrition. The Billikens are averaging 2.2 goals, which is tied for 50th in the country.
The production has increased in recent weeks but frustration remains over scoreless ties with Kansas City and Creighton. SLU saw its scoring take off around midseason in 2023, and there is hope that the improvement will again continue down the stretch.
“This group is finding its scoring stride maybe earlier than last year,†Shields said. “It’s maybe the personnel and not as much ego at times. We’ll see. With a team like UMass, one of the best teams in the A-10, you just want to beat them and don’t care what the score is.â€
SLU scored twice in the first four minutes of its last game and led 4-0 at halftime. Shields didn’t waste time, inserting mostly bench players to start the second half so the younger players could get even more experience.
The Billikens have scored 14 goals in the past four games, a stretch that included a win at Xavier, which is ranked No. 21 this week.