ST. LOUIS – A league-high nine Billikens collected Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors, the league announced today on the eve of the A-10 semifinals at Hermann Stadium.
 
Simon Becher was named first-team All-Conference and the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Kipp Keller also is a first-teamer and was named the A-10's Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Joining Becher and Keller on the first team were John Klein, A.J. Palazzolo and Patrick Schulte. It is the first time in A-10 history that a team has had five first-teamers on the league's All-Conference team.
 
Mujeeb Murana was voted second-team All-Conference. Earning spots on the All-Rookie team were Seth Anderson and Isaiah Parker. Becher was named to the league's All-Academic squad.
 
SLU head coach Kevin Kalish, who directed the Billikens to an undefeated regular-season record and the A-10 regular-season title, was named the A-10 Coach of the Year.
 
Becher leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks sixth in the NCAA in scoring with 30 points (11G, 8A). He has registered a point in all but one game this year, and had scored a goal in nine straight games, the longest streak by a SLU player in 20 years.
 
Klein is the NCAA leader in assists with 15. He has added four goals to account for his 23 points (4G, 15A), which ranks fourth in the A-10.
 
Schulte has played every minute in goal and leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks eighth nationally with eight shutouts. His 0.65 goals against average is seventh nationally.
 
Keller, Palazzolo and Murana are key cogs in the Billikens' top-rated defense. SLU leads the A-10 and is eighth in the country with eight shutouts. The Bills have yielded just 0.65 goals per game, ranking first in the league and seventh in the NCAA.
 
In addition to their defensive prowess, the trio have also contributed offensively. Keller scored a big goal in the Billikens' come-from-behind win at UMass. Palazzolo has two game-winners on the year – against Creighton in the regular season and against Dayton in the A-10 quarterfinals. Murana has tallied three times, including in the 1-1 draw at nationally-ranked SMU.
 
Anderson and Parker have both appeared in every game for the Billikens. Parker is tied for third on the team with 11 points (3G, 5A). Anderson has two goals on the year, including the score that helped SLU earn a 1-1 draw over SIUE to retain the Bronze Boot trophy.
 
The top-seeded Billikens face No. 4 seed Fordham in an A-10 semifinal matchup on Friday. Game time at Hermann Stadium is set for noon.