With expectations high this year, the Saint Louis University women’s soccer team will be under pressure.

Last season, the Bills were picked to finish seventh in Conference USA but, surprisingly, they took home the regular-season title.

This season they’ve been picked to finish on top, and there is only one way to go: down.

Trying to keep this pressure at a minimum is senior sweeper Kelly Young.

Young is expected to be a stalwart in the backfield as the sweeper, the last line of defense before the keeper.

Even as the pressure mounts, Young doesn’t let it interfere with her goals.

“I want to win conference again, definitely win the post-season tournament and make our first NCAA tournament,” said Young.

When Young joined the Billikens four years ago as a freshman, she was joining a team that was just over a year old.

In her time, the women’s team has improved by leaps and bounds under coach Tim Champion.

“We have a lot more recruits coming to us,” Young said.

“Recruiting is better; the facilities are better.

“Instead of just a few good players, we have a whole team, and it makes the team more confident,” Young said.

Young is quick to give credit to those with whom she shares the field.

Even though she receives the awards and recognition, the team is what matters to Young.

“I have nine players in front of me that make me look good,” Young said.

“It’s a reflection of the team that I’m awarded.”

Young believes that the Bills have all the tools to repeat as C-USA regular season champions.

“We have a lot of freshmen, and our sophomores have more confidence,” Young said.

“Our bench is really deep; we don’t lose much when we substitute.”

Young is ready to return to the C-USA tournament and leave no doubt to the NCAA selection committee by capturing the championship that eluded the team last year.

The Bills are the host team this year, with the tournament being held on campus at Robert R. Hermann Stadium.

Young is psyched to be playing at home.

“It’s unbelievable. I think we play better on our home field in front of our crowd,” Young said.

Young is hopeful to put together back-to-back good years and improve upon what happened last season.

“Last year we had nothing to lose,” Young said.

After bringing home the regular-season championship, the Bills were denied any chance of an NCAA appearance by being upset in the first round of the conference tournament by Southern Mississippi.

“You can’t look ahead. You have to play one game at a time,” Young explained. “But you can’t let one game ruin your season.

“We deserved to be conference champs. I think we can defiantly repeat,” Young said.

The Bills have started off the season right by whooping Drury senseless, 6-0, and then taking out Creighton, 2-0.

“We played really well against Drury,” Young said.

“We didn’t play at our best against Creighton, but we still got the win. That’s good.

“It shows we can have an off day and still finish [with a victory],” Young added.

Even though Young will be finished on the field after this season, she would still like to be around to help the team while she completes the requirements for her education major.

“I still have to student teach next year, but I’d still like to be involved with the team,” Young said.

Even after she graduates, she’ll be around soccer in one form or another.

“I’d like to get my masters in education,” Young said. “Hopefully, I can get a job as a graduate assistant coach.”

When she completes her masters, Young is looking forward to elementary education.

“I’d like to teach somewhere between third and fifth grade,” Young said.