It all started so quickly for the Saint Louis University women’s
soccer team. Less than three minutes into the inaugural game of the
season, against Arkansas State, the pieces fell right into
place.

Courtney Hulcer fed fellow freshman, Anna Schuch, to score the
first goal of her collegiate career on her first collegiate shot at
the 2:49 mark.

That single goal is all the Bills would need, although they
would end up adding a heck of a lot more offensive firepower en
route to a convincing 6-0 win over Arkansas State.

“We feel very comfortable together, the upperclassmen have been
constantly giving us direction. The college game is definitely
quicker and more physical; but we [the underclassmen] have
adjusted,” commented Hulcer.

As a team filled with young talent, the SLU newcomers seemed to
fill their roles like veterans.

Along with Schuch’s goal, Freshman Dee Guempel and Hulcer each
added two assists.

The shutout came as part of a duel effort from keepers Lyndsay
Gensler and Sophomore Amanda Martin, a transfer student from
Arizona.

Newcomers were not the only story of the night. It was business
as usual for All-Conference USA players, juniors Jamie Perry and
Christe Cigno, with Perry scoring twice and Cigno netting one on a
header; along with senior defensive backs Anny Lucier and Carrie
Carlson helping hold the Indians to just three shots.

Other goals were scored by sophomores Kelly Furguson and Trisha
Neidenbach.

This weekend will kick off the SLU hosted ‘Toys for Tots’
tournament, where the Bills will face Indiana and the Air Force
Academy.

Friday’s game versus Indiana, which has dropped their first two
games in spite of out-shooting their opponents, should prove to be
an important early test. Indiana is a perennially solid squad and
should put up quite a fight.

With Kara Kornfeld as a transfer from the Hoosiers, there will
certainly be a lot at stake against her former team and rivals.

The team clicked on many cylinders last weekend, but Hulcer says
they are definitely not looking past next weekend.

Arkansas State gave us time to ease into each other. Indiana
will be the real chance to prove ourselves.”

With such quickly maturing freshman and solid upperclassmen,
Saturday night may have been a night of firsts, but there will be
many more to come.

The team will bring their quest for the C-USA and NCAA
Tournaments to the home field tomorrow night against Indiana.