ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University head men's soccer coach Kevin Kalish announced the Billikens' 2026 recruiting class today.
The nine-player recruiting class includes six transfers and three freshmen. The class joins an experienced core of returning players that helped SLU advance to the NCAA Men's College Cup last season.
Five members of the class enrolled at SLU in January and participated in team activities throughout the spring. Representing St. Louis, the United States and the international game, the class reflects the continued growth and reach of the Billiken program while bringing together a strong blend of experience, versatility and ambition.
"The newcomers arrive from a variety of elite environments and playing backgrounds, but share a common dedication to the character, teamwork, and fighting spirit that defines SLU Soccer," Kalish said. "Our staff is excited about what this group brings to Saint Louis. They are accomplished players, but more importantly, they are quality people who embody the values of our program. We are confident they will make a lasting impact on our team, our culture and the future of Billiken soccer."
Luke Adams
Defender
McKinney, Texas
McKinney North/University of Tulsa
• Selected by Charlotte FC with the 52nd overall pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.
• 2025 AAC Defensive Player of the Year.
• 2025 First Team All-AAC selection.
• 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-East Region Second Team honoree.
Kalish on Adams:
"Luke is an elite center back in college soccer. His left-footed distribution, technical quality and athletic ability allow him to influence matches in every phase of play. At 6-foot-4, he combines a commanding presence on the field with the leadership, character and coachability that fit perfectly within our program. We're excited to see the impact he'll make as we continue competing for conference and national championships."
Adams on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"I chose Saint Louis because I felt it was the best place for me to continue growing both as a player and as a person while competing in a high-level environment. The combination of the program's tradition, culture and commitment to excellence made it an easy decision."
Ryan Belal
Forward
Baltimore, Md.
Calvert Hall/Wake Forest University
• Member of Wake Forest's 2024 ACC Tournament Championship team.
• Named to the 2024 All-ACC Academic Team.
• Appeared in 19 matches as a freshman, scoring four goals and adding a game-winning goal against Radford.
• Scored in both the ACC Tournament and NCAA Tournament during Wake Forest's 2024 postseason run.
Kalish on Belal:
"Ryan is a natural goal scorer with outstanding instincts in and around the penalty area. His movement, composure and ability to finish chances make him a constant threat in the final third. Just as importantly, he is driven to maximize his potential and is a selfless teammate who puts the success of the group first. We believe Ryan has the qualities to be a difference-maker in our attack."
Belal on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
I chose Saint Louis because of the people and the environment that have made the program so successful. The rich tradition and winning history of Billiken soccer were major factors in my decision, and I'm excited to be part of a program with such high standards.
Ryan Belal Highlights
Guilherme Gomes
Midfielder
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Mackenzie Tamboré/St. John's University
• 2025 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year.
• 2025 ECAC Rookie of the Year.
• 2025 All-BIG EAST Third Team selection.
• Ranked as the No. 18 freshman in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer in 2025.
Kalish on Gomes:
"Gui had an outstanding freshman season at St. John's, earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors and establishing himself as one of the top young players in the country. His versatility, aerial ability and instincts in the final third immediately stood out to our staff. Gui brings a unique blend of physicality, competitiveness and quality that will add a different dimension to our midfield."
Gomes on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"I chose Saint Louis because of the professionalism throughout the program and the strong culture shared by the players and staff. It is an environment that I believe will help me continue to develop both on and off the field."
Guilherme Gomes Highlights
Christian Herluf
Goalkeeper
Odder, Denmark
McKendree University/NC State University
• 2024 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II First Team All-American.
• 2024 GLVC Goalkeeper of the Year.
• 2024 United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Midwest Region selection.
• Member of NC State's 2025 NCAA National Championship runner-up squad.
Kalish on Herluf:
"Christian brings tremendous experience, leadership and personality to our team. He is the consummate professional whose daily habits, approach to training and competitive mindset set a standard for those around him. On the field, he is an excellent shot-stopper with outstanding distribution that allows him to impact the game both defensively and in possession. Christian's overall experience and presence will have a positive impact throughout our program."
Herluf on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"Saint Louis is one of the premier programs in college soccer, and it is a true honor to represent such a historic program, University and city."
Lucas McPartlin
Goalkeeper
Wildwood, Mo.
Eureka High School
St. Louis City SCÂ
• Named to the United States U-20 National Team for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship in July 2026.Â
• Earned a call-up to the United States U-19 Men's Youth National Team in 2026.
• Competed professionally with St. Louis CITY2 in MLS NEXT Pro, making eight starts in 2026.
• Developed within the St. Louis CITY SC Academy pathway.
Kalish on McPartlin:
"Lucas possesses all the traits we look for in a goalkeeper. At 6-foot-4, his size, athleticism and natural instincts provide a tremendous foundation for success. He has been developed and mentored by goalkeeper coaches Tim Kelly, Mark Pais and Alex Langer, and his experiences with the U.S. Youth National Team and St. Louis CITY2 have accelerated his growth and maturity. What excites us most, however, is his competitive spirit, engaging personality and commitment to continuous improvement. Lucas has an exciting future ahead of him, and we are thrilled to keep a local talent of his caliber in St. Louis."
McPartlin on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"Playing in front of my hometown has always been a dream of mine. After getting to know the players, staff and culture of the program, choosing Saint Louis was an easy decision."
João Pereira
Defender
Lisbon, Portugal
Sporting CP
• Competed for Sporting CP's U-23 squad.
• Earned seven appearances for Portugal's U-18 National Team.
• Developed within one of Europe's premier professional academy systems.
Kalish on Pereira:
"João is an experienced center back who has developed in high-level environments in Portugal. At 6-foot-5, his aerial presence immediately stands out, as he possesses the physical tools to control both penalty areas. What impressed our staff most, however, was his intelligence and composure in possession. He is a controlling center back who reads the game exceptionally well and manages the position with maturity while consistently making good decisions on the ball. João brings a unique blend of size, quality and experience that we believe will make a significant impact in our success."
Pereira on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"To be the best, I need to be among the best, and I believe Saint Louis is exactly that."
João Pereira Highlights
Henry Sanders
Midfielder
St. Louis, Mo.
SLUH
• 2025 United Soccer Coaches High School All-American.
• 2025 United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region selection.
• 2025 All-Metro Player of the Year.
• Captained St. Louis Development Academy's U19 side to the MLS NEXT Cup Final.
Kalish on Sanders:
"Henry has shown tremendous growth over the last two years. We first identified him through our ID Camp, where he immediately stood out with his talent and potential. Since then, he has developed into a quality leader, helping Saint Louis University High School win back-to-back state championships while also leading St. Louis Development Academy to a national final. Henry has a proven winning pedigree and understands what it takes to be successful in team environments. His leadership, competitive spirit and commitment to improvement make him a natural fit for our program, and we are excited to watch his continued development at Saint Louis."
Sanders on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"Saint Louis has always felt like a natural home and an excellent fit for me as both a student and an athlete. Having grown up surrounded by Billiken family and friends, I am proud to become a fourth-generation Saint Louis University student. Stepping onto the field at Hermann Stadium for the first time will be a dream come true."
Alander Soares
Midfielder
Caxias do Sul, Brazil
Gannon University/Lindenwood University
• Named the 2024 PSAC Freshman of the Year at Gannon.
• Earned 2024 All-PSAC First Team honors.
• Selected to the 2025 All-OVC Newcomer Team at Lindenwood.
• Named to the 2025 OVC All-Tournament Team.
• Has earned conference recognition at both the Division I and Division II levels.
Kalish on Soares:
"Alander is a unique talent who possesses the rare ability to unlock defenses and create chances in 1v1 situations. His explosiveness and technical quality allow him to create separation and impact games in the attacking third. Beyond his talent, Alander embodies the character, work ethic and team-first mentality we value in our program. We are excited about the impact he can make this fall."
Soares on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"I chose Saint Louis because of the program's rich tradition, competitive environment and the opportunity to grow as both a student and an athlete. The coaching staff, team culture and reputation for excellence make Saint Louis the ideal place for me to continue developing on and off the field."
Alander Soares HighlightsÂ
George Wyatt
Defender
Bury, England
Eastern Florida State/DePaul University
• 2023 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America First Team selection.
• Developed within the academies of Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers.
• Brings collegiate experience from both Eastern Florida State and DePaul.
Kalish on Wyatt:
"George brings a wealth of experience and leadership to our back line. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to perform against top-level competition and possesses the qualities required to be a successful center back in the college game. Beyond his physical and technical abilities, what stands out most is his maturity, professionalism and commitment to the team. Those qualities will have a significant impact on our defensive unit both on and off the field."
Wyatt on why he chose Saint Louis:Â
"I chose Saint Louis because of the program's rich history and because I felt it was the best place for me to continue developing as a player and person while preparing for the next level on and off the field."
George Wyatt Highlights
