After finishing its fall season with 12 wins, the men’s soccer team will look to tally five more this spring.
The team released its spring schedule April 1, and the Billikens opened their exhibition season Saturday, April 5, with a 2-1 victory over the University of Tulsa at Robert R. Hermann Stadium. The team is set to play four more exhibition games during the month of April, including a match against the University of Missouri Kansas City April 19.
While these April matches allow the Billikens to evaluate teams that they may face again during the regular season, the spring season also provides coaches with the chance to experiment as they compile the next season’s starting line-up. Head Coach Dan Donigan views the exhibition season as a time for both the team and the individual players to improve.
“We take full advantage of each opportunity to prepare for the fall,” Donigan said.
NCAA soccer concluded its regular season before the end of the fall semester. Division I teams commonly play an abbreviated spring season of five to six exhibition matches. While the outcome of a match is less important in April than in October, players and coaches agree that the spring plays a vital role in the team’s regular season success.
“It really is a time to improve,” said junior Eric Sweetin, a center midfielder from Overland Park, Kansas.
The team’s workout routine intensifies during the spring months, and the competition provided by exhibition matches allows players to remain motivated as they prepare for the regular season.
Sophomore center-back Rob Viviano said the players usually prefer the more intense competition of the regular season. He expects the Bills to return to the NCAA tournament next fall.
“The spring allows guys who didn’t get a lot of playing time in the fall to get out there a little more,” Viviano said. “It’s better for the club.”
In spite of the opportunity for on-field improvement and the chance to focus on academics, Viviano and Sweetin said their favorite part of the spring semester is the anticipation of the regular season. The coming fall is set to include a match against top-ranked Indiana University.
So why should Saint Louis University students come out and support their school’s nationally recognized soccer program this April?
“With the opening of [Chaifetz] Arena, these are exciting times to be on the Saint Louis University campus,” Donigan said.
The Billikens’ spring schedule will also include matches against Jefferson County Community College and Washington University April 23, and Bradley University April 26. All matches will be played on SLU’s campus at Hermann Stadium.
