(Courtesy Saint Louis Athletics)
Saint Louis head women’s soccer coach Katie Shields has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to attend the University and play for the Billikens. All seven players will have four years of eligibility beginning next fall.
The new Billikens are:
Emma Farley • F/MF • St. Peters, Mo. (Francis Howell Central H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
Alli Klug • MF • Webster Groves, Mo. (Nerinx Hall H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
Evie Lavelle • F/MF • Fairview Park, Ohio (Magnificat H.S. | Internationals SC)
Julia Peterson • D/MF • West Chicago, Ill. (St. Charles East H.S. | Sockers FC Chicago ECNL)
Courtney Reimer • MF • St. Charles, Mo. (Duchesne H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
Alyssa Seitzer • F • Leawood, Kan. (St. Teresa’s Academy | Sporting Blue Valley ECNL)
Olivia Silverman • GK • Cincinnati, Ohio (Seven Hills School | Ohio Elite ECNL)
“We are excited about the group of student-athletes in the 2016 recruiting class,” Shields said. “Assistant coach Vince Gentile was instrumental in the recruiting process of bringing these great players to Saint Louis University.
“With the addition of these players, the 2016 Billikens will be the most athletic, talented and competitive team we have had during my time at Saint Louis University,” Shields said. “More importantly, we are adding a tremendous group of people who will be excellent additions to our team culture. I’m looking forward to seeing the commitment and dedication these players have to our vision of winning an A-10 championship.”
Emma Farley • F/MF • St. Peters, Mo. (Francis Howell Central H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
One of only two individuals at Francis Howell Central to receive the St. Charles County Amateur Hall of Fame Student-Athlete Award … as a junior, was the Spartans’ Offensive Player of the Year, All-State, All-Region, second-team All-Metro, first-team All-Conference and a two-time All-Tournament selection … helped the team go 22-2, finish second in the Class 4 state tournament and capture the conference title with a 10-0 record … member of the St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL club team … played two years of PDP and two years of spring select … earned the Silver Shield of Excellence Academic Achievement Award as a junior.
Shields on Farley: “Emma is a tireless worker with good pace and a determined mindset on the field. We look forward to seeing her ability to run at defenders and her dangerous presence in the attack.”
Alli Klug • MF • Webster Groves, Mo. (Nerinx Hall H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
Serving as Nerinx Hall’s captain this season … was a second-team All-State and second-team All-Conference honoree as a junior … second-team All-Conference as a sophomore … played on a St. Louis Scott Gallagher team that finished second in 2015 and seventh in 2014 in the ECNL North American Cup League playoffs … National Honor Society member and first honors student.
Shields on Klug: “Alli is a tremendously athletic player who has the ability to make an impact wherever she plays on the field. She is a warrior on the field, with the technical ability to complete passes and break down an opponent in possession. Her athleticism and non-stop engine make her a valuable addition to our program.”
Evie Lavelle • F/MF • Fairview Park, Ohio (Magnificat H.S. | Internationals SC)
Registered 35 goals and 42 assists during her career … as a senior, made the Division 1 All-Ohio second team and the All-Greater Cleveland first team, and was named Magnificat’s Most Valuable Player … All-District honorable mention her junior season … helped the team win three consecutive district championships … Magnificat won regional titles in 2013 and 2014 and reached the state semifinals both years … in club soccer, was the leading scorer (seven goals, three assists) for the 2014-15 Internationals SC … National Honor Society member, four-year high honors student and a 2015 All-Ohio Academic selection.
Shields on Lavelle: “Evie has a tremendous presence on the field. Her vision and technical ability with the ball make her an immediate attacking threat. Evie is a versatile attacking player who will play up top and in the midfield.”
Julia Peterson • D/MF • West Chicago, Ill. (St. Charles East H.S. | Sockers FC Chicago ECNL)
Two-time Chicagoland Soccer MVP of the Match in 2015 … was a member of St. Charles East teams that finished second in the Class 3A state tournament (2014/19-5-5 record) and captured a regional championship (2015/21-2-1 record) … was a key component of the Fighting Saints’ defense that posted a 0.65 goals against average and 23 shutouts over a two-year span … tallied three goals and nine assists … played club soccer for Sockers FC Chicago ECNL … Academic All-Conference honoree in 2014 and 2015.
Shields on Peterson: “Julia is a talented outside back who will fill a great positional need for us. We look forward to utilizing her athleticism as well as her ability to get into the final third and be dangerous in the attack.”
Courtney Reimer • MF • St. Charles, Mo. (Duchesne H.S. | St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL)
Earned first-team All-State and first-team All-Conference accolades as a sophomore and junior … also was selected to the All-Metro and All-Region first teams as a sophomore, and the All-Metro second team as a junior … was conference Newcomer of the Year and third-team All-State as a freshman … helped lead Duchesne to three state titles … four-year President’s List student … plays club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher ECNL.
Shields on Reimer: “Courtney possesses the rare combination of technical sophistication and tactical understanding of the game. She is an outstanding ball-winner in the midfield, and she can dictate the rhythm of the game with her ability in possession. Her mentality and competitive desire to win will help push our program to a championship level.”
Alyssa Seitzer • F • Leawood, Kan. (St. Teresa’s Academy | Sporting Blue Valley ECNL)
Four-year starter for St. Teresa’s … helped lead the Stars to a 58-6-1 record in her first three seasons, the 2015 Missouri Class 4 state title, and Class 3 state runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014 … St. Teresa’s also earned an Elite Soccer Report No. 1 national ranking … plays club soccer for Sporting Blue Valley ECNL 97/98 … National Honor Society member, first honors every semester, and recipient of the Presidential Service Award and the Windmoor Academic Scholarship.
Shields on Seitzer: “Alyssa is a dynamic wide-attacking player who has the ability to be a playmaker on the flank or score goals on her own. She has a relentless work rate and athleticism that puts opponents under extreme pressure for 90 minutes.”
Olivia Silverman • GK • Cincinnati, Ohio (Seven Hills School | Ohio Elite ECNL)
Chalked up 27 career shutouts and a 0.78 goals against average … as a senior, was All-America, All-State, All-City and All-Conference, and served as team captain for a second consecutive season … All-Conference and All-City as a junior … All-Conference as a sophomore and freshman … was a member of the U14, U15 and U17 U.S. National Teams, as well as a four-year ODP Regional Team member … played for the Ohio Elite U17 team when she was 14 … has made the honor roll and merit roll.
Shields on Silverman: “Olivia is a top-level goalkeeper. She has tremendous technical ability, experience playing at a high level and outstanding leadership qualities in the goal. I am excited to work with Olivia and watch her develop as a goalkeeper and leader in our program.”
