Kathleen Schager is the ultimate team player.

She works tirelessly in the central midfield, moves the Billikens from the defensive end to the attack with her well-timed, accurate passes and is the physical presence that the Billikens need.

“She makes players around her better,” said head coach Tim Champion. “She holds the ball well and takes punishment for others.”

Unfortunately, the recognition Schager receives doesn’t reflect her importance to the team.

“She is the cornerstone of the central midfield,” Champion said. “She does all the hard work, but doesn’t get the glory.”

Schager doesn’t seem to mind. Her main concern is the team and the team’s success.

“I feel my role is to keep everyone in the right frame of mind. I try to keep everyone’s spirits up. I try to keep us going,” said Schager.

Schager has been expected to lead since she came to SLU.

“She started as a freshman and immediately took on a leadership role,” Champion said.

Schager has enjoyed the role, but goes about it differently than most.

“I don’t consider myself the most vocal (person.) I lead by example,” Schager said.

Schager’s ball-handling ability helps her be patient and lets her teammates get open and be in position to succeed.

“Her skill level and her ability on the ball allow things to develop in front of her. She can hold onto the ball and see things happen in front of her,” Champion said.

These attributes have made Schager a four-year starter for the Billikens.

Schager started in 19 games as a freshman. She scored one goal and added five assists.

She scored two goals and added an assist as a sophomore when she was one of only three players to start every game for SLU.

Schager had a breakout season last year. She scored six goals and notched seven assists. She finished second in scoring, with 19 points.

“She’s really become a complete player,” Champion said. “Her strength has always been her work rate. She added a field sense. She knows what to do with the ball, and her distribution is much better.”

Schager credits the team for her success.

“I just try to get better each year,” Schager said. “My confidence has gotten better. I’ve gotten better because of my teammates.”

Schager has picked up where she left off last year. Nothing less would be expected.

“I expect her to be a calming force in the midfield,” Champion said. “She’ll help the freshmen along and be the leader she’s been in the past.”

Schager hasn’t disappointed. She has recorded two goals so far this year. Both goals have been crucial for the Billikens. She scored the first goal in the Billikens 3-2 comeback win against Kansas. She then scored the game-winning goal against Tulane in the Billikens 3-2 victory last Friday.

Schager’s leadership and experience will continue to be invaluable as the Billikens begin Conference USA play. Her play spoke for itself in SLU’s overtime victory against Southern Miss last Sunday.

“She had a real good game,” Champion said. “She always gets better as the season goes on. She gets comfortable and becomes the leader we need. She really turned it up last weekend against Tulane and Southern Miss.”

Schager has one goal for the Billikens this year: building on the success of last season.

“We want to repeat as conference champions. And we just don’t just want to make the NCAA Tournament; we want to win after we get in,” Schager said.

With Schager leading the way with her quiet leadership and physical play, no goal is beyond the Billikens this season.