THIS WEEK – After playing two games on each of its first three weekends, Saint Louis women's soccer (3-3) has just one opponent on this week's schedule. The Billikens host Murray State (1-4) Sunday, Sept. 14, at 1 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION – Tickets for all women's soccer home games at Robert R. Hermann Stadium can be purchased at the gate, by phone at (314) 977-4SLU or online at www.slubillikens.com. Prices for single-game tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Groups of 20 or more receive discounted tickets for $4 apiece. Students with a valid SLU ID card receive free admission.
FOLLOWING THE ACTION – Live statistics and live video, both free, are available for Sunday's game. 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. Fans may also follow live stats on their mobile devices at slustats.com. Additionally, game updates can be found on Billiken women's soccer's official Twitter page, @SLUWSoccer.
BILLIKEN LEADERS – Ten different Saint Louis players have recorded at least one point, and six of those players have collected at least one goal. Kirsten Clemens leads the way with nine points (4G, 1A), followed by Tori Marshall (3G) and Lindsay Elking (2G, 2A) with six points apiece. Goalkeeper Hanna Benben carries a 1.50 goals against average and has made 26 saves. The Billikens have out-shot their opponents 108-74 overall and 54-36 in shots on goal.
BILLIKENS SPLIT ON FIRST HOME WEEKEND – Saint Louis downed Western Illinois 3-1 Sept. 5 and fell 1-0 to Northwestern Sept. 7 in games played at Hermann Stadium. Livi Logan-Wood (Lindsay Elking assist), Kirsten Clemens (Danielle Tolmais assist) and Tori Marshall (Molly Ream, Cristina Rodriguez assists) scored for the Billikens vs. Western Illinois, and Hanna Benben made four saves. Despite not scoring an equalizer after trailing Northwestern at halftime, SLU out-shot the Wildcats 15-13 overall and 8-4 in shots on goal. Benben picked up three saves.
SLU IN THE A-10 STATISTICS – In the most recent Atlantic 10 Conference statistics report, the Billikens lead the league in shots per game (18.00) and corner kicks per game (7.17); are tied for first in assists per game (1.83); and rank third in goals per game (2.00) and points per game (5.83). Kirsten Clemens is tied for second in game-winning goals (two), tied for fourth in goals per game (0.67), sixth in points per game (1.50) and tied for seventh in shots per game (3.33). Tori Marshall is tied for seventh in goals per game (0.50), while Danielle Tolmais is tied for seventh in shots per game (3.33).
POSITIVE TRENDS – Saint Louis has scored 12 goals, the most for the Billikens in the first six games of a season since 2003 (14) … SLU has four multi-goal games this year, just one short of tying last year's total of five … with three wins, the Billikens already have equaled the number of non-conference victories they registered in the past two seasons combined.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE – The Racers, whose 1-4 mark includes a 5-1 loss to Atlantic 10 Conference preseason favorite Dayton, plays at Middle Tennessee State Friday night before coming to St. Louis. Senior midfielder/forward Julie Mooney and freshman forward Harriet Withers have tallied three and two goals, respectively. Freshman Shelby Haworth (2.50 GAA) and sophomore Savannah Haberman (3.00 GAA) have shared goalkeeping duties. The only previous meeting between SLU and Murray State, played in St. Louis Aug. 22, 2010, ended in a 0-0 draw.
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.
BILLIKENS PICKED FOURTH IN A-10 PRESEASON POLL; WRIGHT HONORED – Saint Louis was tabbed for a fourth-place finish in the 2014 Atlantic 10 Conference standings in the A-10 head coaches' preseason poll. Senior defender Mary Wright was selected to the preseason All-Conference team.
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.
UP NEXT – The Billikens play twice on the road next week. Illinois-Chicago is the opponent Friday, Sept. 19, at 7:30 p.m., followed by Western Michigan Sunday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. (CT).
