BILLIKENS BEGIN SEASON THIS WEEKEND – Saint Louis women's soccer opens the 2014 season this weekend with a pair of road contests. The Billikens meet UT Martin Friday, Aug. 22, in Martin, Tenn. Game time is 7 p.m. That's followed by a clash with Evansville Sunday, Aug. 24, in Evansville, Ind. First whistle is set for 1 p.m.

FOLLOWING THE ACTION – Free live statistics are available for both games this weekend. Also, a free video stream is available for the game at UT Martin. The links are located on the home page of Saint Louis' official athletics website, www.SLUBillikens.com, in the schedule section just below the lead stories, as well as on the women's soccer schedule page.

SLU WINS, DRAWS IN EXHIBITION PLAY – The Billikens posted a win and a tie in exhibition action last week. Cristina Rodriguez, Kirsten Clemens and Danielle Tolmais (Lauren Tondl assist) scored in a 3-1 victory over Southeast Missouri State Aug. 13 at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. Hanna Benben and Tristin Stuteville made three and four saves, respectively. In a 1-1 draw at Arkansas State Aug. 15, Lindsay Elking (Clemens assist) tallied for the Bills, while Benben and Mary Niehaus collected two saves apiece.

BILLIKENS PICKED FOURTH IN A-10 PRESEASON POLL – Saint Louis has been tabbed for a fourth-place finish in the 2014 Atlantic 10 Conference standings, according to a preseason poll of A-10 head coaches. The Billikens, who tied for second place in the 2013 regular-season standings with a 5-2-1 record, received 138 points. The second-place tie was a jump of 10 spots from SLU's 2012 finish and was the Bills' best showing since tying for second in 2006. Dayton, the defending regular-season champion, is a slight favorite over A-10 Championship winner La Salle to finish atop the standings. The Flyers received eight first-place votes and 189 points, while the Explorers garnered six first-place votes and 187 points. VCU (143 points) is picked to finish third. Massachusetts (130 points) is fifth in the preseason poll, followed by George Mason (128), George Washington (110), Richmond (87), Saint Joseph's (74), St. Bonaventure (71), Duquesne (69), Davidson (59), Rhode Island (43) and Fordham (42).

WRIGHT TABBED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE – Billiken senior defender Mary Wright was selected to the preseason All-Conference team by A-10 head coaches. Wright played every minute a year ago and helped anchor a backline that turned in five shutouts, all against A-10 opponents. She has started 39 consecutive games and 51 of the 54 contests in which she has played.

ABOUT THE BILLIKENS – Saint Louis returns 17 players, including nine starters, from last year's 6-10-3 team that tied for second place (5-2-1) in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The returning starters are senior defenders Maddy Bush (2G) and Mary Wright; senior forward Lindsay Elking (1A); junior goalkeeper Hanna Benben (1.54 GAA, four shutouts); junior defender Michelle Schwarz; sophomore forwards Cristina Rodriguez (2G, 1A, A-10 All-Rookie) and Kirsten Clemens (1G, 1A); sophomore midfielder Tori Marshall (1A); and sophomore defender Kacey Bright. Also returning are senior defenders Andrea Strebler and Julia Merlo; junior forward Livi Logan-Wood (5G, 1A, team-high 11 points); junior midfielders Jamie Borges (1G, 2A) and Katelyn Hammarlund; junior defender Colleen Cole; sophomore midfielder Shaney Sakamoto; and sophomore defender Alyssa Mastroianni.

TEN NEWCOMERS ON BOARD – The Billikens welcome a sophomore transfer and nine freshmen to the 2014 team. Midfielder Danielle Tolmais joins the squad after registering four assists at the University of Memphis a year ago. The freshman class consists of forwards Jordan Catalano, Madi Mann and Danielle Manning; midfielders Lauren Merlo, Molly Ream and Lauren Tondl; defender Allison Birke; and goalkeepers Mary Niehaus and Tristin Stuteville.

HEAD COACH KATIE SHIELDS – Katie Shields, the third head coach in Saint Louis women's soccer history, is in her second season guiding the Billikens and her third campaign on the Billiken staff. Shields was a SLU assistant coach in 2012. Prior to her arrival at Saint Louis, Shields spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northwestern. She served three years in the same capacities at her alma mater, Harvard, where she helped guide the Crimson to Ivy League titles and NCAA Championship berths in 2008 and 2009. Shields began her coaching career with a one-year stint as an assistant at Cal Irvine. In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, she served as assistant goalkeeping coach for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer in 2009; head coach of the Boston Bolts F.C. girls' youth clubs for two years; and camp director/senior staff member of Soccerplus Goalkeeper School from 2006-11. She also has assisted with the U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team. Shields is a 2006 graduate of Harvard with a bachelor's degree in government. She is joined on the sideline by assistant coaches Scott Gloden and Vince Gentile and senior graduate manager Jessie Jarrett.

SCOUTING UT MARTIN – The Skyhawks are picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference after winning a second consecutive OVC regular-season crown a year ago. They return nine starters from a team that was 11-9-1 overall and 8-2 in league play. Headlining the returning players is senior goalkeeper Mariah Klenke, who last year led the OVC in save percentage (.838), tied for first in shutouts (seven) and posted a 0.96 goals against average. Klenke was a first-team All-Conference selection. Also back are senior forward Alyssa Curtis (4G), a second-team All-OVC choice, and sophomore forward Ellie Myrick (3G, 3A), who was named to the 2013 OVC All-Newcomer squad. The Billikens lead the series 2-1, but the Skyhawks captured a 1-0 victory in St. Louis last season.

SCOUTING EVANSVILLE – The Purple Aces return nine starters from their 2013 team that finished 9-6-4 overall and 2-3-1 (fifth) in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville, which hosts Austin Peay Friday night before welcoming SLU, was tabbed for a fourth-place tie in the MVC preseason poll. Junior goalkeeper Simone Busby is back after earning second-team All-Conference plaudits last year. Busby led the MVC with a 0.91 GAA and added six shutouts and an .841 save percentage. Also returning are senior defender Taylor Brand (second-team All-MVC); junior forwards Kayla Smith (5G, 4A) and Abby Springer (4G, 1A), Evansville's top two scorers a year ago; senior defender Tatiana Pagan, a 2013 MVC honorable-mention performer; and sophomore midfielder Bronwyn Boswell, an MVC All-Freshman choice last season. The Purple Aces lead the series 5-3 with one tie, a 1-1 draw that occurred last year in St. Louis.