Men's Soccer 7/16/2021 11:01:00 AM

Billikens Announce 2021 Recruiting Class

ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University head men's soccer coach Kevin Kalish has announced the addition of 13 new Billikens. They begin their eligibility at SLU in the upcoming 2021 fall season.

"We are extremely pleased to bring in such a diverse and talented 2021 recruiting class," Kalish said. "We believe each one of these young men embody the pillars of our program of Character, Teamwork & Fighting Spirit.

"We are beginning to see the dividends of bringing in quality people and players with each recruiting class. Each season, we target players who are excited for the academic and athletic challenges that an incredible university like SLU can offer. We believe Saint Louis is a special place and we want to bring in players who feel the same.

"With this class we were able to address some immediate positional needs, as well build competitive depth within the team. There are numerous players that we believe can come in and compete right away to help us reach our goals of winning the conference championship and securing a berth into the NCAA Tournament this fall.

"I want to thank assistant coaches Kris Bertsch, Kevin Stoll and Skip Grossman for their countless hours getting to better know these future Billikens as people while also making sure their individual and collective goals align with ours as a program and our values as a university. We are thrilled to add these Billikens to our family and are excited to once again challenge ourselves with one of the nation's toughest schedules."

The new Billikens are:

Seth Anderson | F | Quincy, Ill. | Quincy Notre Dame High School | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Max Dattoli | D | St. Louis, Mo. | St. Mary's High School | San Diego Surf and Saint Louis FC
Max Floriani | D/MF | Gurnee, Ill. | Warren Township High School | GLSA Libertyville
Kevin Komodi | MF/F | Budapest, Hungary | Letenyei Lajos Gimnazium | University of Missouri-Kansas City
Dylan Olson | F | Excelsior, Minn. | Minnetonka High School | Minneapolis United
A.J. Palazzolo | MF/D | St. Louis, Mo. | CBC | Indiana University
Isaiah Parker | F | Gurnee, Ill. | Warren Township High School | FC United Academy
Donny Ross | D | St. Louis, Mo. | Priory High School | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Yuval Sade | GK | Ono, Israel | Izchak Ben Zvi High School | Hapoel Ramt Gan | Maccabi Tel Aviv Academy
Nate Shapiro | GK | Simsbury, Conn. | Simsbury High School | Oakwood Soccer Club
Alex Shterenberg | MF/D | Boston, Mass. | Westwood High School | Michigan State University
Brogan Townsend | MF/D | St. Louis, Mo. | St. John Vianney | St. Louis Scott Gallagher
Iwan Webster | D | Liverpool, England | St. Margaret C of E Academy | Maryville University

Seth Anderson
Quincy, Ill.
Winger, Forward
Quincy Notre Dame High School
St. Louis Scott Gallagher

2021 National League Champion
2019 IHSA All State as a Junior
2019 Chicagoland All State
2019 IHSA 3rd Place in State
2019 Mississippi River Flood Relief
2018 Missouri State Cup Champion
2018 IHSA State Champion
Scored 79 goals and 32 assists in High School Career

Kalish on Anderson:

"Seth is a dynamic, aggressive two-footed player who is consistently busy creating attacking opportunities for his team. Not only can Seth run at defenders with the ball, but he's capable of picking out attackers in the box with his passes while making intelligent runs for himself. We look forward to working with Seth and believe he is going to have a big upside over his Billiken career."

Anderson on why he chose Saint Louis:

"I chose SLU because of the incredible team culture as well as the program's impressive soccer tradition. After connecting with the coaches, I knew right away this was the right fit for me as they value the person as well as the player. I am looking forward to playing with teammates who will treat me like family and will push me to be the best player I can be. Additionally, SLU not only offers me a great athletic environment but more importantly an academic environment for my future success. I can't wait to get started."

Other schools considered:
Marquette, SIUE, Bradley

Anderson's Highlight Video

Max Dattoli
St. Louis, Mo.
Defender
St. Mary's High School
San Diego Surf/Saint Louis FC

Saint Louis FC Academy (5 seasons)
Reached Developmental Academy Semifinals in 2018-2019 season with Saint Louis FC
San Diego Surf Academy (1 season)

Kalish on Dattoli:

"I was fortunate to work with Max throughout his youth career at Saint Louis FC and he has always had a huge ceiling of potential. He brings us versatility on the field with his athleticism, decision making and defending ability. We are looking forward to getting Max healthy and being able to continue his development on and off the field over the next four years. We are also very excited to add another player from St. Louis who knows our identity and what we value here as a community."

Dattoli on why he chose SLU:

"I knew this was a great fit for me from day one. I was able to come back home to play in front of my family and friends. After playing in the academy for coach Kalish and Coach Stoll, this was a perfect next step for my development. I know the playing style that is implemented, which will help transition me from high school to college. SLU also provides an unbelievable education to help me for my future. It means a lot to me to represent SLU being from St. Louis."

Other schools considered:
UC Davis, San Diego State University

Max Floriani
Gurnee, Ill.
Defender, Midfielder
Warren Township High School
GLSA Libertyville

2020-2021 United Soccer Coaches All-American
2020 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year
2020 IHSSCA Player of the Year
2019 Top Drawer All-Region and All-State
2019 IHSSCA All-State Team
2019 ChicagoLand Soccer All-State
Daily Herald and News-Sun All-Area
11 goals and 1 assist playing CDM (Junior Year)
Warren Township – Captain
Warren Township High School- Honor Roll

Kalish on Floriani:

"We believe Max is just starting to scratch the surface on his potential. He comes from a terrific, supportive family and has a growth mindset to always improve. On the field, Max is a rangy, athletic, ground covering player. He's capable of playing in the midfield and the back line, which will allow him to compete for our program in a number of positions. As a defender, Max is capable of tackling, winning aerial duels, and chasing down attackers as well as starting our attack when he's on the ball. In the midfield, he is able to play box-to-box and connect the game between the lines. With Max's athletic tools, versatility, and strong desire to compete, we are looking forward to seeing him develop each and every season as a Billiken."

Floriani on why he chose Saint Louis:

"I wanted to come to Saint Louis because I believe it was the perfect fit to help me succeed on and off the field. SLU provides me with a top education as well as compete for an elite soccer program. I was enticed to SLU by the winning tradition of the soccer program and the overall culture the coaches have implemented for the team. Their commitment to bettering players in all aspects of life is something I really admire. I also believe their dedication to improving each player individually will help me excel and ultimately achieve my goal of playing professionally in the future."

Other schools considered:
Loyola-Chicago

Floriani's Highlight Video

Kevin Komodi
Budapest, Hungary
Midfielder, Forward
Letenyei Lajos Gimnazium
University of Missouri-Kansas City

Started 27 of 31 at Missouri-Kansas City
3 Goals, 6 Assists at Missouri-Kansas City
2020 2nd Team All-WAC Selection
2019 All-WAC Freshman Team
2019 Led Missouri-Kansas City in assists, third in goals, second in points
2019 Academic All-WAC Selection

Kalish on Komodi:

"Kevin is an explosive attacking player who can cause a lot of problems for defenders with his pace and 1v1 ability. We experienced first-hand how dangerous Kevin can be when he's on the ball, whether attacking 1v1 or on set pieces to score or set up others to score. He comes from a rich soccer background as his father played professionally and continues to coach in his home country of Hungary. Kevin is going to add another unique weapon to our attack that we feel will help us right away."

Komodi on why he chose SLU:

"After playing SLU in the spring season, I thought based on their playing style that I could be a good fit within their program. I was also impressed by SLU's incredible facilities and could tell that soccer was very important to the university. I'm fortunate that it was able to work out and I look forward to finding success both in the classroom and on the field at SLU."

Other schools considered:
Oral Roberts

Dylan Olson
Excelsior, Minn.
Forward, Winger
Minnetonka High School
Minneapolis United

Three-time Minnesota All-State selection
Twice named Regional All-American
40 goals and 17 assists in high school career
Led team in goals his junior and senior seasons
Record for most goals in a Lake Conference game (six)

Kalish on Olson:

"Dylan is a silent assassin. He can be unassuming at times then is capable of scoring or creating goals in a moment. Dylan has a very powerful left foot but is also a very skilled finisher. He has an incredible burst of pace and is capable of beating multiple players with his speed and technical ability. Coach Tamba Johnson at Minneapolis United did an incredible job allowing Dylan to experiment and be himself when he takes the field. We look forward to seeing Dylan grow as a person and to watch him thrive on and off the field at SLU."

Olson on why he chose Saint Louis:

"I chose SLU because it combines both a world class education with one of the best collegiate soccer programs in the country. In both academics and soccer, SLU has the ability to compete with any program in the nation. The coaching staff are very supportive and have shown how much they care about their players achieving their goals in soccer and life. Lastly, I'm very excited to compete at the historic Hermann Stadium and in front of SLU's incredible fan base, which is the pinnacle of collegiate soccer."

Other schools considered:
Northwestern, Wisconsin

Olson"s Highlight Video

A.J. Palazzolo
St. Louis, Mo.
Midfielder, Defender
Christian Brothers College
Indiana University

72 games played with 44 starts in collegiate career
Seven goals, nine assists in collegiate career
Led Indiana to three NCAA College Cups
Former Captain at Indiana
Former High School National Player of the Year at Christian Brothers College
Missouri Boys Player of the Year
MCC Player of the Year
First-Team All-State
Member of the U17 USA National Team
Attended USA U17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla.
Former US Developmental Academy Youth All-American

Kalish on Palazzolo:

"We are excited to bring in AJ for his final season in college soccer. I had the pleasure of coaching AJ through his Academy years in Saint Louis with SLSG. AJ is a winner – pure and simple. He is the ultimate competitor that will bring experience and maturity into the team. I am also excited for AJ to be able to play in front of his family & friends and represent the city and community that he grew up in here in Saint Louis."

Palazzolo on why he chose SLU:

"I am excited to come back to play my final college season in front of our city, friends and family. I have the upmost respect for SLU. It has always felt home for me. I am excited to play this season and hope to help the program to the NCAA Tournament."

Palazzolo's Highlight Video

Isaiah Parker
Gurnee, Ill.
Winger, Forward
Warren Township High School
FC United Academy

Competed for FC United Academy for five years
Helped FC United U17 & U19 teams to Development Academy & MLS Next Playoffs
Led FC United in scoring in the 2019-20 DA season with 12 goals
Ranked ninth in goals in the U19 2019-20 DA season
Honor Roll at Warren Township High School
Placed fourth at IHSA Wrestling State Finals

Kalish on Parker:

"Isaiah is an exciting winger who thrives in taking on defenders with his pace and 1v1 ability. Although he has many attacking tools at his disposal, Isaiah has a growth mentality to improve which is why he will only get better with time. He is very coachable which has helped him thrive nationally in both soccer and wrestling. From the moment we watched Isaiah compete, we knew we were watching a player with a lot of talent. As we got to know him away from the field, we realized he was maybe even more special off it. Isaiah is not only accountable, but he is humble, studious in the classroom, and primed to be successful in whatever he does. We are very happy Isaiah is a Billiken and expect him to have a tremendous career at SLU."

Parker on why he chose SLU:

"I chose SLU because I felt that it was the best place to help me reach both my academic and athletic goals. I love the culture of the soccer team and the coaching staff are very dedicated to developing each individual player. This will help me reach my goals of winning NCAA championships and playing soccer professionally. SLU also has a phenomenal business school that will help set me up for success beyond soccer."

Other schools considered:
Notre Dame, UCLA, Loyola-Chicago

Parker's Highlight Video

Donny Ross
St. Louis, Mo.
Defender
Priory High School
St. Louis Scott Gallagher

Advanced to the USYSA Nationals Championship in 2017 & 2018
Named Best XI at Nationals in 2018
Captain of St. Louis Scott Gallagher 02 Elite 2016-2021
High School State Champion 2017
Region 2 Defensive Player of the Year
All-State First Team (Class 4)
All-Midwest Regional Team 2020 (United Soccer Coaches)

Kalish on Ross:

"Donny is shut down defender that has the ability to play all across the backline due to his versatility and athleticism. He continues to get better every time we watch him play and we believe he's going to have a great upside to his career. He is a natural leader that comes from a wonderful family who have helped shaped his character and who he has become today. We are excited for Donny's continued progress as a player and him adding to our special culture."
Ross on why he chose SLU:

"I chose Saint Louis University for many reasons. One, it is the most accomplished college soccer program in the nation and there is no city in the country that supports local soccer like St. Louis. Greater than that, the people who have watched me play since I was six years old will continue to be able to support me. SLU has proven to develop players to become top notch professional players, which I aspire to be one day. SLU also provides an incredible education that I am looking forward to being a part of. Lastly, I am excited by the vision Coach Kalish and the staff have for this program's future and can't wait to get started."

Yuval Sade
Ono, Israel
Goalkeeper
Izchak Ben Zvi High School
Hapoel Ramt Gan

Played for Maccabi Tel Aviv Academy

Kalish on Sade:

"From our very first conversations with Yuval we knew we were dealing with someone who modeled the pillars of our program. He's a mature and experienced player and is an excellent student in the classroom. Yuval has played at a very high level in Israel which will help him adjust quickly to the demands of collegiate soccer. He is very passionate in his play and is committed to winning while being a great teammate. We are excited to add another great person like Yuval to our team and believe his experiences and leadership will help our program tremendously."

Sade on why he chose Saint Louis:

"I chose SLU because of the connection I had with the coaching stuff. I felt that their ambition to win championships while developing better people and better athletes really suits my goals and perspectives. Also, the soccer tradition is absolutely amazing and I can't wait to play in front of the passionate SLU Soccer fans at Hermann Stadium."

Other schools considered:
Santa Clara, Creighton, Columbia, Florida International

Sade's Highlight Video

Nate Shapiro
Simsbury, Conn.
Goalkeeper
Simsbury High School
Oakwood Soccer Club

Member of Oakwood Soccer Club for three seasons
2020 Fall Northeast MLS Next League Champions
Captain of Oakwood Soccer Club
U.S. Soccer Grassroots License
Helped Oakwood to #16 national ranking
Started a charity event for kids battling cancer

Kalish on Shapiro:

"Nate possesses all the character traits we value at Saint Louis and what it means to be a Billiken. While he consistently is looking to improve individually, he's a selfless teammate willing to help others improve as well. He's invested in the game and is a true student of our sport. Simply put, Nate will make our program better on and off the field. We couldn't be happier to add a person and player like Nate to our championship culture."

Shapiro on why he chose Saint Louis:

"The main reason I chose SLU is because of the family culture and the brotherhood between the players and staff. After the first time talking to the coaching staff, I knew Saint Louis was going to be home. Everyone has a winning mentality and wants to invest in me as a person, student, and player. This is a very special university and I can't wait to start working to bring home additional championships to SLU."

Other schools considered:
Pittsburgh, Penn State, Xavier

Shapiro's Highlight Video

Alex Shterenberg
Boston, Mass.
Midfielder, Defender
Westwood High School
Michigan State University

Started 19 of 30 matches at Michigan State
Two goals and two assists at Michigan State
Played for New England Revolution, two-year captain
Helped New England Revolution to a USDA Academy Playoff Quarterfinals
Massachusetts ODP State Team Member
USA Region I ODP Team Member

Kalish on Shterenberg:

"We are really excited to add a player and person like Alex to the Billiken family. Alex plays with passion, competes and consistently gives the best version of himself while helping others be at their best too. Alex has also played in a lot of important collegiate matches in his college career including being on a team that competed in the NCAA College Cup. Those experiences will be invaluable to Alex transitioning to SLU and helping our team achieve our program's goals."

Shterenberg on why he chose Saint Louis:

"I chose Saint Louis because of the program's rich history and desire to achieve success at the highest level. I am beyond excited to be part of a group of quality players who have the same aspirations as me and to be in an environment that pushes me to reach my highest potential. I am eager to work with coaches that support me and will help me achieve my goals both as a player and person."

Other Schools Considered:
Duke, Kentucky, Maryland, Portland, Boston College, San Diego State

Shterenberg's Highlight Video

Brogan Townsend
St. Louis, Mo.
Midfielder, Defender
St. John Vianney
St. Louis Scott Gallagher

Captain for St. Louis Scott Gallagher Academy & St. Louis FC Academy - 8 seasons
Captain of St. John Vianney High School
1st Team All State; Region Defensive Player of the Year
First Team All-Metro Catholic Conference
First Team Missouri High School Soccer Coaches Association (Class 4)
United States Regional Trainee

Kalish on Townsend:

"We are very excited to keep a player like Brogan in Saint Louis. We've known him for a very long time and we are glad he chose to stay home and compete for his hometown program. He is a tremendous leader and all-around soccer player with a high soccer IQ. We believe Brogan will play a key part to our success and will add immediate strength to our midfield. We can't wait for Brogan to compete on a weekly basis in front of his friends and family while enjoying success both on the field and in the classroom."

Townsend on why he chose Saint Louis:

"SLU is home for me and was always the right fit. Being from Saint Louis, SLU gives me the unique opportunity to compete and play in my hometown with support from family and friends. I am thankful for the opportunity to play for coaches who have been instrumental in my youth development and who want to continue to invest in me as a player and person. I'm excited to be joining a program who is dedicated to development while winning championships."

Other schools considered:
Wake Forest, Stanford, Notre Dame, Cornell

Townsend's Highlight Video

Iwan Webster
Liverpool, England
Centerback
S. Margaret C of E Academy
Maryville University

Started 65 of 67 games at Maryville
Two goals and an assist for five points in Maryville career
Named GLVC Defensive Player of the Year
First Team All-GLVC team
D2CCA All-Midwest team
D2CCA Third-Team All-American team
GLVC Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year
Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District team
Named to USC Scholar All-American team
Invited to MLS College Invitational Combine in December 2020

Kalish on Webster:

"Iwan was one of the elite few collegiate players that was invited to the MLS Combine last year. He is a smart, mature and talented player that will add a lot of experience to our backline. His age and leadership ability both on and off the field is something we were very much attracted to. Iwan's range of passing, reading of the game, and overall organizational skills will allow him to transition well into our style of play. As a left footed center back, Iwan will give us many quality options in our center back position and he will fit right into our team culture."

Webster on why he chose SLU:

"The culture of the team and the direction the program is special. The coaching staff have a vision and a plan to execute it. SLU also has an excellent academic program that will help me achieve my goals off the field. This program and university will serve me incredibly well as a person and in life."

Other schools considered:
UNC Charlotte, SIUE, NIU, Akron

Webster's Highlight Video

Print Friendly Version