The SLU Billikens are 10-2-2 and own sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| SLU WOMEN’S SOCCER GAME NOTES & INFORMATION | |
| Game No. 15 | Massachusetts (7-3-4, 4-1-2 A-10) at Saint Louis University (10-2-2, 5-0-1 A-10) |
| Date // Time | Thursday, October 12, 2023 // 7 pm |
| Location | St. Louis, MO (Robert R. Hermann Stadium) |
| Watch | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | StatBroadcast |
Paige Dale
Staff Writer
ST. LOUIS, MO — Perhaps the biggest game of the 2023 Atlantic 10 Conference women’s soccer season will be played Thursday night at Hermann Stadium, when league leader Saint Louis University hosts fourth-place Massachusetts in a match set to begin at 7 p.m.
Most teams in the league only have four conference games left. Some only have three. And with Saint Louis holding just a one point edge over second place holders La Salle and Dayton, every contest is important.
But tonight’s matchup is super important because UMass is only two points behind SLU, and with a win could take over first place themselves.
This also marks the last time any of the teams in the top four will play each other. So it’ll be the last time anyone will have to knock the Billikens out of first place and claim the spot for themselves by winning just one game.
That might be especially difficult for the Minutewomen, considering that SLU is currently nine-game unbeaten streak, which includes a win over La Salle and a tie with Dayton. The Billikens have definitely been rolling lately and haven’t lost a game since the end of August.
UMass has been playing well lately also. The Minutewomen are on a five-game unbeaten streak and are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games.
Staying in fourth place or possibly moving up is also important for UMass because finishing fourth or better in the league standings means earning the right to host a quarterfinal game when the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament rolls around at the end of the month.
Players to Watch: SLU is led by a trio of top notch goal scorers. Senior Caroline Kelly and junior Emily Gaebe are tied for the Billiken team lead with six goals this season. Another junior, forward Hannah Sawyer, is right behind with five goals.
Gaebe leads the Atlantic 10 with 16 total points, while senior Hannah Larson is tied for the league lead with six assists this season.
For UMass, juniors Bella Recinos and Ashley Lamond are tied for the team-lead with five goals.
The Minutewomen are also exceptionally good on defense. They’ve only allowed nine goals in 14 games this season, with goalkeeper Bella Mendoza ranking among the league’s best with a 0.69 goals against average and an .864 save percentage.
Up Next: Saint Louis will be on the road this weekend, with a matchup at Rhode Island on Sunday. The Rams 4-6-4 this year, and are tied for seventh place in the league standings with a 2-1-3 league record.
2023 SLU Billikens Women’s Upcoming Soccer Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 12 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Massachusetts | Hermann Stadium |
| October 15 (Sunday) | Noon | Away | Rhode Island | Kingston, R.I. |
| October 19 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Duquesne | Hermann Stadium |
| October 22 (Sunday) | 11:30 am | Away | Saint Joseph’s | Philadelphia, Pa. |