Aug. 23, 2010

THIS WEEK - Saint Louis women's soccer will play away from Robert R. Hermann Stadium for the first time this year as the Billikens travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., for the Duquesne University Classic. SLU (0-1-1) takes on Towson (0-1-0) in the tournament's opening game Friday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m. (CT). The Bills face Marist (0-0-0) Sunday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. (CT).

TICKET INFORMATION - Tickets for all women's soccer home games at Robert R. Hermann Stadium can be purchased at the gate, by phone at (314) 977-4SLU or online at www.slubillikens.com. Prices for single-game tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for youth. Groups of 20 or more receive discounted tickets for $4 apiece. Students with a valid SLU ID card receive free admission.

FOLLOWING THE ACTION - All Billiken home games this season will be video streamed live on the Internet via Billiken All-Access at www.slubillikens.com. Subscriptions are available for $79.95 annually or $9.95 a month. All home games, and selected road matches, will be available free of charge on GameTracker. Both contests in the Duquesne Classic will be available on GameTracker.

LAST WEEK - Sophomore Alli Reimer scored her first career goal in the 57th minute to tie the game, but 18th-ranked Memphis found the net in the 79th minute to secure a 2-1 victory over the Billikens in the season opener at Hermann Stadium Aug. 20. Senior Ashley Brazill assisted on Reimer's goal, while senior goalkeeper Amber Zdanovec made five saves. Two days later, Saint Louis and Murray State fought to a scoreless draw on the Hermann Stadium pitch. Sophomore goalkeeper Katie Walsh registered four saves and notched her first collegiate shutout.

A LOOK AT TOWSON - The Tigers have just three starters among 13 letterwinners who return from last year's 7-11-2 team that finished ninth (3-7-1) in the Colonial Athletic Association. Towson opened the 2010 campaign last Saturday with a 3-2 loss at Loyola (Md.), the Billikens' Sept. 19 opponent. Junior forward Kaysi Ward scored both Towson goals, while sophomore forward Cheyenne Skidmore and freshman forwards Katie Holtzapple and Emily Banes each recorded an assist. Skidmore, who tallied two goals and five assists a year ago, is the Tigers' top returning scorer. Junior Jocelyn Papciak (1.79 goals against average, two shutouts in 2009) returns in goal. Fourth-year head coach Greg Paynter is 20-34-4, all at Towson.

THE TOWSON SERIES - The Billikens and Tigers are meeting for the first time.

A LOOK AT MARIST - The Red Foxes open their season Friday against Duquesne before meeting the Billikens Sunday. Marist, which dropped a 3-0 exhibition decision at Hofstra last Saturday, has eight starters and 10 additional letterwinners back from its 2009 squad that finished 8-10-2 overall and 3-5-1 (seventh) in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. The Red Foxes feature four players who combined for 19 goals and 11 assists last season in sophomore forward/midfielders Jaclynn Sabia (6G, 2A) and Jackie Frey (6G, 2A), senior midfielder/forward Amy Tillotson (5G, 2A) and senior forward/midfielder Merrilynn Esteve (2G, 5A). Sabia and sophomore midfielder/forward Nicole Kuhar were named to the MAAC All-Rookie team. Fifth-year senior Jamie Balzarini (1.44 GAA, four shutouts) and sophomore Caitlin Landsman (1.26 GAA, one shutout) return between the posts. Head coach Elizabeth Roper is 34-53-8 in five seasons at Marist, 53-120-10 in 10 career campaigns.

THE MARIST SERIES - The Billikens and Red Foxes are meeting for the first time.

HU NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE - Sophomore back Allison Hu was selected to the Atlantic 10 Conference preseason All-Conference team by a vote of the league's head coaches. The Billikens were picked to place fourth in the A-10.

HEAD COACH Tim Champion - The only head coach in Saint Louis women's soccer history, Tim Champion is in his 18th season overall as a collegiate head coach and his 15th season at the Billiken helm. Champion owns a 167-89-31 record (.636) at SLU and an overall mark of 227-103-34 (.670). He has led his teams to three regular-season conference championships and two conference tournament titles. Champion became the first head coach to guide a SLU women's program to the NCAA Tournament when his 2005 Billikens made the first of two consecutive NCAA appearances. His .673 win percentage and 227 victories to begin the season rank 25th and 30th, respectively, among all coaches with at least 10 seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach. The win percentage is 28th in the nation and the victory total is 23rd among active coaches with at least five years as a Division I head coach. Joining Champion this season are assistant coaches Kelly Ferguson (fourth season) and Rob LaMear (sixth season).

HERMANN STADIUM - Billiken women's soccer is tough to beat on Robert R. Hermann Stadium's state-of-the-art natural grass. Since the facility re-opened in 1999, the Bills are 79-22-10 (.757) at home, including 45-7-6 (.828) in league play.

A LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK - Saint Louis plays just once next week, traveling to Dallas to take on SMU Friday, Sept. 3. First whistle is at 7 p.m.

Saint Louis Billikens Women's Soccer