Consistency, reliability and leadership. No one personifies these qualities more than senior back Melissa Gossman.
“Goss is reliably consistent,” said junior goalie Meghann Burke. “When tracking forwards, she’s deceptively fast. She carries a presence that most college defenders don’t have.”
Gossman has been a stalwart in the Billikens backfield, starting the past three years.
As a freshman walk-on, Gossman appeared in 15 games, starting eight matches. She recorded her first career point at Saint Louis University by assisting on Trish Underberg’s game-winning goal against Drury.
“As I freshman, everything was new,” said Gossman. “I spent a lot of time getting used to the level of play and the new system.”
“She’s worked her way up since her freshman year to be one of our better players,” said coach Tim Champion. “Being a three year starter is good for this level of play. This year she had the opportunity to compete against some of the best players in the nation and she is doing well.”
She appeared in 20 matches, starting 15 games during her sophomore season. Gossman was part of a defensive squad that gave up a school-low 14 goals on the season and was ranked ninth nationally. The Billikens won the C-USA regular-season title.
“I felt more like I was part of the team,” Gossman said. “I had a more defined role. I realized that every game would be different with different expectations.’
During her junior season, she started all 21 matches. She recorded one goal and a pair of assists.
“I definitely felt that I had established my role on the team my junior year,” Gossman said. “I knew that we were good. But we were at the point where we were winning big games and being successful.”
This season, Gossman has been given a new challenge-stopping the opposing team’s best scorer.
“She’s had some steady games this year,” Champion said. “She’s accepted her leadership role.”
Two weeks ago, against West Virginia, she was given the responsibility of stopping Katie Barnes, the Big East Offensive Player of the Year.
“Barnes is a good player,” Gossman said. “We knew going in that they had two good forwards and a good midfielder. We heard all the hype about her being on the national team.
“I like knowing that she’s such a big player and that we have to keep an eye on her,” Gossman said. “I look at her the same as any other player. I just work hard and try to stop her from getting a chance to score.”
As a senior, Gossman has embraced the leadership that has been placed upon her.
“I want to take more of a leadership role. I feel like we know our potential. I just try to set an example through my actions and words,” Gossman said. “I try to show how it should be done. I try to get the team motivated. I want to make sure that the freshman feel comfortable and like they’re part of the team.”
“We want to reach our goals, not just set them. I want to do everything that I can to help us get to where we want to be at the end of the year,” Gossman said. “We’re looking to go deep in the NCAA Tournament. We have a tougher schedule and will have good games. We all have the same goal-winning C-USA. Hopefully, we can go through the tournament and go far in the NCAA’s.”
