SLU WOMEN'S SOCCER GAME NOTES & INFORMATION
Game 15	Saint Louis (10-2-2, 5-0-1 A-10) vs. Massachusetts (7-3-4, 4-1-2 A-10)
Date // Time	Thursday, October 12, 2023 // 7 p.m. CDT
Location	St. Louis, Mo. (Robert R. Hermann Stadium)
Watch	ESPN+
Live Stats	StatBroadcast
Game Notes	Saint Louis | Massachusetts

•Saint Louis and Massachusetts meet Thursday, Oct. 12, in an important Atlantic 10 Conference battle that could have a significant impact on positioning for the A-10 Championship. Game time at Hermann Stadium is 7 p.m.
•Links for streaming, live stats and game notes for both teams are included in the table above.
•With four games remaining, the first-place Billikens control their destiny in a quest for a fifth A-10 regular-season title in six years and home field advantage throughout the conference tournament. SLU has just a one-point lead on La Salle and Dayton but has an advantage on both, having defeated La Salle and having a game in hand over Dayton. UMass is only two points back.
•UMass has three games left and is trying to hold on to a top-four spot in the standings that would give the Minutewomen the hosting privilege for at least a tournament quarterfinal game.
•A nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) has lifted SLU's records to 10-2-2 overall – giving the Bills a double-digit win total for an eighth consecutive year – and 5-0-1 in league play.
•Two of UMass' last three games have ended in a tie (Duquesne, St. Bonaventure). The Minutewomen's only A-10 loss was a 1-0 setback vs. Dayton.
•A five-game series winning streak has swelled SLU's advantage over UMass to 10-1-3 all-time, including a 5-0-2 ledger in St. Louis. Last year in Amherst, Lyndsey Heckel, Sophia Stram and Caroline Kelly tallied second-half goals in a 3-0 Billiken victory.
•The Billikens slipped two places to No. 28 in this week's NCAA Division I Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
•Saint Louis rose five spots to No. 14 in the Top Drawer Soccer Top 25 and remained at No. 23 in the College Soccer News Top 30. The Billikens are first among "others receiving votes" in the United Soccer Coaches poll.
•Lyndsey Heckel was an honorable mention selection on Top Drawer Soccer's National Team of the Week for Oct. 2-8. Heckel enjoyed a strong all-around game vs. Richmond, helping lead an effort that limited the Spiders to three shots and one corner kick while also contributing two assists.
•Emily Gaebe and Caroline Kelly are tied for the A-10 lead with six goals apiece, and Hannah Sawyer is close behind with five, equaling her career high. Gaebe's 16 points top the conference. Hannah Larson's six assists are tied for the league lead.
•Emily Puricelli has raised her save percentage to .865 (20th nationally) and lowered her goals against average to 0.74.
•A year ago, Saint Louis allowed just four goals in 13 games (10 regular season, three postseason) vs. A-10 opponents, an average of .31. The Billikens are ahead of that pace this season, allowing just one goal in their first six conference games (.17).
•In the national rankings, the Billikens are sixth in goal differential (+29), ninth in goals per game (2.79), 13th in save percentage (.870), 14th in points per game (7.86), 20th in total shots per game (17.50), 23rd in shots on goal per game (8.21), 24th in winning percentage (.786), 25th in assists per game (2.29), 26th in corner kicks per game (6.57), 41st in goals against average (0.71) and 46th in shutout percentage (.500). All but the save percentage (second) and goals against average (third) lead the A-10.
•Since 2016, Saint Louis is 45-1-2 (35-0-2 regular season, 10-1-0 A-10 tournament) vs. A-10 opponents at Hermann Stadium.
•UMass has allowed only nine goals this season. Senior goalkeeper Bella Mendoza carries a 0.69 goals against average and an .864 save percentage.
•Junior midfielder Bella Recinos and junior forward Ashley Lamond have a team-high five goals apiece. Recinos also leads the Minutewomen with five assists.
•The Billikens play at Rhode Island Sunday, Oct. 15, at noon Central.