Fans at Robert R. Hermann stadium this past weekend may have noticed a little extra shine on the men’s soccer team.
Saturday Oct. 3, the Saint Louis University men’s soccer team sported jerseys adorned with golden numbers-honoring the past 50 years of SLU’s soccer program.
At halftime, SLU Director of Athletics Chris May presented several players from the past half-century with commemorative plaques, honoring the contributions the players had made to the most successful soccer program in National Collegiate Athletic Association history.
Looking back, the fall season of 1959 was certainly a distinguishable one for SLU soccer, as it was then that the men’s team won its first of a record 10 NCAA championships. Today, one player clearly remembers the joy of triumph.
“It was great,” Tom Trost, a 1959 SLU alumnus, said after reminiscing about the 5-2 victory over Bridgeport. Back then teams only had to win three games the entire tournament, and lodging consisted of sleeping on army cots in the locker room. A lot has changed since then.
Fifty years later, SLU is recognizing the 450 plus athletes that have come through this program with the assembly of a Half-Century team.
The fans, using an online ballot, selected 22 players and two coaches to represent the past 50 years. One of those selected was Denny Werner, a defensive player from 1970-1973 who now holds season tickets and never misses a game.
“The first thing was shock,” Werner said, regarding his reaction to being selected. “I was absolutely shocked and honored at the same time.”
A member of the ’70, ’72 and ’73 national championship teams, Werner sees the Half-Century team as a reminder to how successful SLU’s program has been.
“It will help the kids stay motivated, and nobody wants them to win more than the alumni,” Werner said.
One person who certainly wishes to see the players win is volunteer assistant coach Mike Sorber. Having been selected himself as an offensive player for the Half-Century team, Sorber is honored to be on a team that represents the “great tradition” that SLU soccer has.
“Everybody who comes here knows [SLU] is a soccer school and is aware of the tradition that comes with that,” Sorber said.
Head coach Dan Donigan understands the importance of SLU’s soccer tradition. “All the players that we bring in really understand what it means to put on that Saint Louis jersey, not everyone gets to do it,” he said.
A current member of that tradition is senior midfielder Kyle Hayes. Hayes’ father, John Hayes, was selected for the Half-Century team, and when asked what his reaction was to his father being selected, Hayes responded with pride.
“For him to be recognized and to be a part of those 22 players is just awesome,” Hayes said. “I wanted to score that night against Clemson more than anything for him.”
Hayes also expressed how this team could provide a source of motivation for current and future players in SLU’s program. “I want to do anything I can to get this team to the level we haven’t been to in a while,” said Hayes.
The Half-Century team along with SLU’s long-standing soccer tradition will help push athletes to new levels of success.
“It makes you want to be the best you can,” Hayes said.
That extra effort helped the Bills secure their fifth victory of the season as Sophomore Alex Johnston headed home a cross from fellow sophomore Stephen Bortolon 1:57 into overtime for the 1-0 overtime.
The win was the final non-conference game for the Bills (5-4-0), who open Atlantic 10 play on Friday night, Oct. 9, when the Richmond Spiders come to town.
The Half-Century Team and its entirety can be found on SLU’s athletics webpage, www.slubillikens.com.
