ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University women's soccer coach Katie Shields has announced that rising sophomore defender Katie Houck has transferred to SLU and will compete for the Billikens beginning this fall.
 
Houck (Smithton, Ill./Freeburg H.S.) comes to Saint Louis after earning Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie honors at Dayton. She started all 14 games for the 2020-21 Flyers and logged 995 minutes, second most among Dayton freshmen. Houck also contributed two assists.
 
Houck played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher. She earned All-Conference honors and was named to the Best XI team in the national tournament.
 
"We are thrilled to add Katie and the entire Houck family to our program," Shields said. "She will have an immediate impact on our on-field success with her tenacious defending, passing ability and relentless competitiveness. Additionally, Katie will enhance our championship culture off the field with her discipline and elite mentality. She was one of the best rookies in the conference this past spring, and we look forward to continuing her development in Billiken Blue."
 
Houck joins a Saint Louis program that has captured A-10 regular-season and tournament titles and made an NCAA Championship appearance in each of the past three seasons. The 2020-21 Billikens vaulted into the top 10 of the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and finished the season with the United Soccer Coaches' No. 20 national ranking.