Senior Andy Pusateri has an interesting task this year: He is
one of four seniors leading a Saint Louis University men’s soccer
team with 23 young freshmen and sophomores through a tough
season.
“The age of the team is a question that has come up a lot, but
isn’t a big issue. They’re used to playing in big games,” Pusateri
said.
As a left back on an all-senior defense, Pusateri’s game-day job
is to keep everybody in back organized and focused, but he and the
rest of the seniors also have a much bigger task: the freshmen.
“It’s a bigger load; we try to develop their talent, to have
them play to their potential,”Pusateri said.
Pusateri is excited this season, especially after playing four
tough games and coming away with four big victories. Thus far, the
Billiken’s 3-2 win at No. 14 Virginia has been Pusateri’s favorite
this year. After freshman Alex Matteson’s red card forced the
Billikens to play most of the second half down a man, Virginia was
able to erase SLU’s 2-0 first half advantage, tying the game and
sending it to overtime.
“It felt like we had to play for the tie,” Pusateri said, but
David Peplinski tallied a goal to secure the win for St. Louis. “It
was great to get that goal.”
The Billikens (4-0-0) closed out the road trip with a 1-0 win at
No. 14 Furman and the team is looking forward to heading back to
the familiar turf of Robert R. Hermann Stadium.
“We’re excited to be back to our home atmosphere. Other teams
even comment on our field and the fan support that we get here,”
Pusateri said.
SLU will be taking on Florida International (3-1-0) Saturday at
7 p.m. The teams will be meeting for the first time since 1992.
As for the upcoming game, the Billikens are keeping their focus
on their own play. The focus is on the SLU team, not the opponent.
Pusateri and the team plan on improving all the way through the
Conference USA tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
“We want to play our best for 90 minutes,” Pusateri said. “We
try to get better every week.”
Pusateri was also a leader on last year’s team, which went to
the second round of the NCAA tournament. He was named to the
Conference USA All-Tournament team last season, after helping the
Billikens to the tournament crown. He also matched his career high
of six points, tying his efforts of freshman year.
Looking to his future, the hometown senior who went to high
school at Parkway South, feels his future in soccer is dependent
upon his play this season and he would love to play for a
professional team after graduation.
“It would be amazing to play MLS or anywhere overseas,” Pusateri
said.
