Nationally-ranked Billikens will begin the 2023 season with a home game against Butler. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Saint Louis Men’s Soccer // Match Information
Match No. 1Butler (0-0) at #24 Saint Louis University (0-0)
Date // TimeThursday, August 24 // 8:30 p.m.
LocationST. LOUIS, MO // Hermann Stadium
StreamESPN+
Live StatsStatBroadcast
Series HistorySLU leads 5-1

Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

ST. LOUIS, MO — The 2023 Saint Louis University men’s soccer season will officially begin Thursday night, when the Billikens host Butler at Hermann Stadium.

Game time was originally set for 7:30 p.m., but was moved back an hour due to the excessive heat warning in the area.

Saint Louis comes into its opener as the No. 24 ranked team in the country, according to the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll, which was released last week. The Billikens were also picked as the preseason favorite to win their third straight Atlantic 10 Conference championship.

Last year, SLU went 12-5-3 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This year, the Billikens hope to accomplish even more, as they bring back six starters and a number of other contributors, while also adding one of the top incoming freshman classes in the country, along with a couple of top notch transfers.

Butler had a fine year as well in 2022. The Bulldogs went 10-6-3 and were picked to finish second in the Big East Conference’s preseason poll.

Saint Louis and Butler have played six times previously, with the Billikens having won five of those matches — five in a row, in fact — including the most recent contest in 2020.

Players to Watch: SLU will be led by preseason all-Atlantic 10 selections Christian Buendia and Diego Konincks. Buendia is a redshirt junior, who has scored seven goals and notched six assists in his Billiken career, while Konincks, a grad student transfer, was a three-time, first-team all-Big South defensive player at Campbell before coming to Saint Louis this season.

Butler’s top player is Big East preseason Player of the Year selection, Palmer Ault. Last year, he led the Bulldogs with 26 points (10 goals, 6 assists).

Up Next: Saint Louis will hit the road for its next contest. The Billikens will be headed to Nashville, for a match against Lipscomb on Tuesday, August 29.

SLU’s next home game will be its annual Bronze Boot game against SIU-Edwardsville. The two longtime rivals will play on Saturday, September 2, at CITYPARK, the home of St. Louis’ professional soccer team, St. Louis City SC.

Butler will remain in town to play SIUE on Sunday, August 27.

    2023 Saint Louis Billikens Men’s Soccer Schedule

    DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
    August 24, 20238:30 pmHomeButlerHermann Stadium
    August 29, 20236 pmAwayLipscombNashville, Tenn.
    September 2, 20237:30 pmNeutralSIUECITYPARK
    September 8, 20237 pmAwaySMUDallas, Texas
    September 15, 20236 pmAwayVCURichmond, Va.
    September 19, 20237 pmHomeOral RobertsHermann Stadium
    September 23, 20237:30 pmHomeFordhamHermann Stadium
    September 27, 20237 pmHomeMissouri StateHermann Stadium
    September 30, 20237 pmHomeRhode IslandHermann Stadium
    October 4, 20232 pmAwayGeorge WashingtonWashington, D.C
    October 7, 20237 pmHomeLa SalleHermann Stadium
    October 10, 20237 pmHomeCentral ArkansasHermann Stadium
    October 14, 20233 pmAwayLoyola ChicagoChicago, Ill.
    October 21, 20237 pmHomeDaytonHermann Stadium
    October 24, 20237 pmHomeBlackburnHermann Stadium
    October 28, 20236 pmAwaySaint Joseph’sPhiladelphia, Pa.