“Every time we stepped on the field, we gave it our all-we don’t step off with any excuses.”
The Saint Louis University women’s soccer’s first true senior class has bittersweet feelings about their final year. But Trisha Underberg, Holly Houston, Katie Stewart, Amy Schmidt, Jill Patridge and Katie Grellinger didn’t feel any special pressure as seniors-well, not much.
Underberg said, “The highest expectations for me don’t come from the players or the coaches; they come from me.”
Houston added, “It was good to be a senior. There’s something to prove. From the time we were freshmen, coach Champion always said we’re going to win the conference championship. It was always a goal that could have happened, but never did. It’s always in the back of my mind; this is our last opportunity.”
Even though they are seniors, they don’t focus on it.
Houston summed up their feelings: “I don’t feel like it’s freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors. We’re just players. We are a team. It’s not about age. We do what we have to do to win.”
Champion had nothing but praise for the seniors.
“They provided maturity and leadership this year,” Champion said. “They’ve been through a lot and played good teams. They were focused the entire year.”
Champion added, “They were a big part of the team this year. They told the younger players what’s important and what’s not. They focused on the right things this year.”
Underberg has been the anchor of the program since its inception in 1996.
She holds the SLU records for career goals and points scored. She has played in 76 games in her career, tallying 27 goals and 23 assists for 77 points.
“Underberg was our first big recruit. She was dominant for four years. She turned it up a notch this year,” Champion added, “She’s a good attacker who became a good defensive player this year. She should have a good shot at conference Player of the Year.”
Stewart and Houston have been mainstays in the backfield since they arrived. Stewart has played in 76 games in her career, recording 18 goals and 16 assists for 52 points.
“Katie Stewart had a great season after her foot injury,” Champion said. “During the second half of this year, she was near where she was at (before the injury). She’s a highly-skilled, hard player in the back.”
Houston participated in 69 games in her career. She scored one goal and recorded five assists for seven points in her career. She teamed with Stewart in spearheading the suffocating defense of the Billikens.
“Holly Houston was the hardest-working player in the program. She came out of nowhere to make herself a good Division I defensive player because of her work rate and dedication,” Champion said.
Schmidt has played in 67 games in her career, scoring three goals and recording eight assists for 14 total points.
“Amy Schmidt had a solid four-year career,” Champion stated. “She was slowed by mono this year, but pushed through the sickness. She has tremendous ability in the air. She wins a lot of head balls. She’s calm on the ball.”
Partridge has appeared in 45 games, mainly coming off the bench. She has scored six goals and has recorded two assists for 14 points in her career.
“Jill Partridge was a solid role player for three years after transferring. She has a good attitude and is a hard worker,” Champion said. “She may have the hardest shot on the team.”
Grellinger was the starting goalie in SLU’s first season in 1996.
That year she was 10-3-2 with a 1.10 goals against average. She has played in 27 games for the Bills. She has a four-year record of 15-3-2 with a 0.82 goals against average.
Champion said, “Katie Grellinger did a great job as a backup. She’s a solid goalkeeper.” Champion added, “She was helpful in developing our freshman keepers this year.”
When the six players came to SLU in 1996, they didn’t know what to expect.
“We as a group didn’t know what was fully expected of us since there was no senior class to look to,” Houston said. “It was weird to feel like leaders as freshmen.”
Stewart added, “We had a good freshman season. I look at us now, and we are a lot better. We had to prove ourselves as freshman, prove that we would be good.”
And things have certainly changed since they first arrived on campus. The program now has a practice field and its own soccer stadium and support.
“I never thought I’d see a field here. That’s exciting,” Schmidt said. “It’s neat to play our last year here.”
Underberg said, “It’s neat to see the look of amazement on the other team’s faces when they step on the field with us this year, especially at home. I think they’re in awe of the field and the turnout from the fans we’ve had this year. Then when we actually start to play, that’s the key.”
“It’s fun right now,” Houston said. “The last two games, we beat two good teams. People compliment you and see you’re doing good things; it feels good.”
The seniors are relishing the present situation: a shot at taking the Conference USA championship and a NCAA Tournament berth.
Schmidt said her goal was “to win conference and get to the NCAA Tournament. I know we can do it. We’re playing better than any other team in conference now and we have a great attitude.”
Houston said, “We have limited games left. I hope we play the last few to the best of our ability and maintain the good level of morale we have now.”
Underberg concluded, “I want to win our conference tournament, and make it to the NCAA Tournament. But if that wouldn’t happen, just to know that every time we stepped on the field, we gave it our all-we don’t step off with any excuses. We play hard. If we lost, it’s because the other team deserves it.”
Stewart wants to be an elementary school teacher. Houston plans to go to law school, either in Boston or Chicago. She aims to go into culture consulting or international corporate law.
Schmidt will graduate with a degree in marketing.
Underberg plans to finish with a masters in social work, either here or at the University of Missouri. Partridge plans to get a job with a consulting firm or in healthcare or computers.
