HOME SWEET HOME – Following four road games to open the season, Saint Louis women's soccer (2-2) begins its eight-game home schedule this weekend. The Billikens welcome Western Illinois (1-3) to Robert R. Hermann Stadium Friday, Sept. 5, for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Big Ten Conference opponent Northwestern (3-1) comes to town Sunday, Sept. 7, for a match that begins 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 both games this weekend. 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 five of those players have collected at least one goal. Kirsten Clemens leads the way with seven points (3G, 1A), followed by Lindsay Elking with five points (2G, 1A) and Tori Marshall with four points (2G). Goalkeeper Hanna Benben carries a 1.76 goals against average and has made 19 saves. The Billikens have out-shot their opponents 70-48 overall and 37-26 in shots on goal.
BILLIKENS SPLIT IN IOWA – Saint Louis defeated Drake 2-1 Aug. 29 and were edged 2-1 by Iowa State Aug. 31. The Billikens overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit in the Drake game, pulling even on a Kirsten Clemens goal (Michelle Schwarz assist) in the 59th minute and winning it on Tori Marshall's marker (Lauren Tondl assist) in the 69th minute. Hanna Benben made four saves. Marshall (Lindsay Elking assist) scored again at Iowa State, this time in the 77th minute to cut the Cyclones' lead in half, but the hosts held on. Benben registered four saves.
SLU IN THE A-10 STATISTICS – In the most recent Atlantic 10 Conference statistics report, the Billikens lead the league in corner kicks per game (7.00); are second in shots per game (17.50) and tied for second in assists per game (1.75); and rank third in goals per game (2.25) and points per game (6.25). Individually, Kirsten Clemens is third in points per game (1.75), tied for third in goals per game (0.75) and tied for sixth in shots per game (3.00), while Lindsay Elking is tied for eighth in shots per game (2.75), 10th in points per game (1.25) and tied for 10th in goals per game (0.50). Tori Marshall is tied for 10th in goals per game (0.50).
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS – The Leathernecks' only victory was a 2-0 home win over Northern Illinois; each of their three losses has come on the road. Freshman defender Nicole Beer and senior forward Sarah Hall have a goal apiece. Senior goalkeeper Victoria Kappel has a 2.85 GAA. Saint Louis leads the series 3-0, including a 2-0 mark at Hermann Stadium. The teams last met in 2003, a 2-0 SLU victory in Macomb, Ill.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN – The Wildcats are off to a strong start thanks largely to sophomore forward Addie Steiner, who has six of Northwestern's 10 goals. Freshman forward Michelle Manning and junior midfielder/defender Nandi Mehta have notched two assists apiece. Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Clem owns a 0.53 GAA and one shutout. The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 10-2 while earning big advantages in total shots (57-20) and shots on goal (29-9). In two meetings vs. Northwestern, SLU has a win (3-0 at home, 2009) and a tie (0-0 in Evanston, Ill., 2008).
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 complete a three-game home stand Sunday, Sept. 14, against Murray State. First whistle is slated for 1 p.m.
