“Having spent four years with most of these guys,” said coach Dan Donigan, “I know that all of them will be successful in life, and not just on the soccer field. They are good people, and they will be missed.”
Here’s a look at the eight and their lives at SLU.
David Beck-The outside midfielder transferred to SLU after playing his first two seasons at Butler University. After his second season, however, Beck’s coach was fired, and the St. Louis native sought his release from the Butler program.
Since he was familiar with then coach Bob Warming and Donigan from his high school playing days, Beck inquired about SLU’s interest. There was an immediate response-Beck would become a Billiken.
He not only changed schools, but also majors. At Butler, Beck studied Theater. At SLU, it’s Communication. Coming home gave Beck’s family a better opportunity to see him play. His parents often racked up miles when making the four-hour trip to Indianapolis.
Joe Hammes-He has been a physical presence in the defensive midfield since his freshman year. As team captain and first-team C-USA last year, Hammes had high expectations for this season.
But things didn’t go as planned. This past July, Hammes was playing with his Milwaukee club team in the U.S. Amateur National Championships in Orlando, Fla.
With 20 minutes left in the national semi-final, Hammes got kneed in the thigh. He played the remainder of the game but felt soreness the rest of the day.
“It felt like a Charley horse,” said Hammes.
If only he was so lucky. At 4:00 a.m. his parents rushed him to the emergency room, thinking he had a blood clot. Doctors diagnosed him with acute compartment syndrome, one of two orthopedic medical emergencies. The muscle was hit so hard that it bled internally. Surgery would need to be performed immediately.
After five surgeries and 27 days in the hospital, Hammes finally returned home. The long road of rehab began. He has since tried to improve his range of motion and to re-strengthen the quad.
Hammes was cleared to practice two weeks ago but was not given the go-ahead to play. Donigan will evaluate his progress. Whether he will take a red-shirt year remains to be seen.
Mike Hill-He almost never attended SLU; he played his freshman season at Clemson University. He asked for and was granted his release in the middle of August before his sophomore year. He contacted Donigan and Warming, and he came down to St. Louis from his Chicago area home with no time to spare. “We finalized everything the day before pre-season practice started,” Donigan said.
Hill is glad he transferred. “All the seniors are best of friends,” said Hill. “If you look at us, we’re team players, and that’s what makes us such a special group. We would do anything for each other. Outside of soccer, we hang out all the time. And that’s what makes us mesh on the field.”
Bobby O’Connell-He scored his first career goal in his first career start on Senior Night against Marquette. The crowd went wild as O’Connell sprinted down the sidelines toward a mob of waiting teammates and coaches. O’Connell’s represents the heart of SLU’s character.
“The guy I miss most is Bobby O’Connell,” said Bob Warming-SLU’s former coach who now runs Creighton’s soccer program. “He’s the type of guy who works hard every day. He has the same approach to life, that’s why he’s such an influence on the rest of the team.”
O’Connell is just glad to be here. “Growing up, I always wanted to come to SLU,” said the native St. Louisan. “With the guys coming in with me, I knew I wouldn’t have a scholarship. I knew I may not even play, but I wanted to work hard and be a part of the rich soccer tradition here at Saint Louis University.”
John Politis-After Christmas in 1998, Donigan and Warming made a late recruiting trip to the Sun Bowl in Tampa Fla. It was a tournament where they hoped to find a top-notch recruit, especially a goalkeeper.
They saw no one worth recruiting in the first four days. On the fifth and final day, Donigan ran into an old friend who recommended that they check out Politis. The only problem was that Politis was back home in New York.
SLU’s coaches took the chance without ever seeing Politis play. All Politis has done since is start 35 games in his career. His 0.62 goals against average is the best all-time at SLU.
Despite missing home early in his career, the pre-season All-America has enjoyed his time in St. Louis.
“From the beginning, I owe everything to coach Donigan for taking a chance on me,” said Politis. “It was a pretty big leap because they hadn’t seen me play.”
Tim Sartori-Sartori has been a key figure in the Billiken defense since his freshman season, but it hasn’t been easy. He ripped his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the 1998 NCAA tournament first-round game against Creighton. Following an off-season of rehab, he returned to start 21 games in his sophomore season.
In April of his sophomore year, it was d?j? vu. Sort of. This time he ripped his left ACL. Recovery time: usually six to nine months. Sartori dedicated his whole summer to rehab and amazingly returned in less than four months. He was in the starting lineup opening night. The perseverance in overcoming the possible career threatening injury speaks volumes about Sartori’s inner will.
“I wanted to graduate with the guys I came in with,” said Sartori. “There was no way I wanted to red-shirt. All the hard work was worth it.”
Dipsy Selolwane-Many already know about Selolwane’s compelling story. He’s a native of Botswana, located just north of South Africa.
Even though it has one of the best economies in Africa, nearly half of the people live below the poverty line, and over 20 percent of the population is inflicted with HIV or AIDS.
Selolwane has often lifted the team on his shoulders in his lone season at SLU. He has a C-USA best 43 points (20 goals, three assists) and leads the nation in goals per game with 1.25. He has scored eight game winners and is a finalist for the Missouri Athletic Club National Player of the Year award.
Marty Tappel-He has been a big-time player in his four years at SLU. After playing in the midfield for the first two years, Tappel has anchored the Billiken defense in his junior and senior seasons.
Despite his short stature, Tappel can strike a long ball better than anyone on the team. Donigan first noticed him in high school at the Adidas ESP camp in New Jersey, an invite only camp for the top 150 players in the country.
Donigan met Tappel’s mom in the hospitality tent at the Major League Soccer All-Star game and sparked up a nice conversation with her.
“She wasn’t promoting him at all,” Donigan said. “She just said she had a son at the camp, and that was it.”
Later down the road, Donigan started to pursue the quick Tappel from Kentucky and it’s been a good fit for both sides.
So now the eight seniors are starting their post-season run.
