As the 2021 regular season enters the history books, players and fans alike can confidently say that it has been one of the greatest in the history of SLUH Soccer. With a total of 21 wins, 89 goals and 14 shutouts, this year’s Jr. Bill team boasts an incredible stat line. They now head into Districts confident they can make a deep run in the State Tournament. 

The regular season ended last Friday in the Drury Plaza, where dozens of students showed up to watch SLUH’s seniors take on MICDS in their final regular season match as Jr. Bills. This year’s roster features 15 seniors, and all 15 of them earned playing time against MICDS. 

Midway through the first half, it was senior captain Tyler Van Bree who opened the scoring with a volley into the net off a header assist from sophomore Grant Locker. Senior Stephen Saladin also notched a pair of goals against MICDS. His second came off a beautiful assist from junior Sam Tieber, who lobbed the ball over the heads of the defense for Saladin to corral and then finish in the back of the net. SLUH went on to win the game 3-0, finishing their season in typical fashion: a dominant shutout. 

The win also sealed SLUH’s incredible regular season record at 21-1-1, an incredible win-loss ratio for a team that played all around spectacular this year. 

“It’s a special group. I love the culture of the group, to watch them play soccer is truly a privilege. If I could pick any team and play whatever style I wanted, it would look a lot like this,” said head coach Bob O’Connell. “It’s been so fun to be around.” 

The record may seem surprising for many, but senior captain Evan Yalavarthi and his teammates knew from the first few games that this team would defy expectations.

“At first we were a little worried about how the season would end up,” Yalavarthi reflected. “We thought it could go a lot like last year where we started out good and then fell off. The first game against Marquette was kind of a statement game, though. We came out and scored two goals quickly and we saw our capability of being able to score quick and attack. That progressed throughout the season.”

Indeed it did. This year, the Jr. Bills became synonymous with scoring. Eight of their 21 wins were by four goals or more. This year’s scoring title unsurprisingly goes to Saladin, who seemed to score in every game. He finished the season with 25 goals and had just seven games without a goal. Saladin’s impact was significant, but O’Connell was hesitant to name him MVP, instead praising the whole organization behind him.

“I really think this group is better than any one person and it makes us so dynamic and different,” he noted.

Saladin’s sophomore counterpart, Grant Locker, also put on quite a show this season with 19 goals. Overall, Locker’s presence demonstrates the immense role that underclassmen played on the team. Juniors Sam Tieber and Lucas Hammond created several opportunities through the middle of the field this season while sophomore defenders Chistian Thro and Gabe Hafner helped anchor the defense. 

Sophomore Chris Lewis, the starting goalie, is another example. A strong presence in net, Lewis’s many saves late in the season allowed the Jr. Bill offense to truly shine. Lewis and fellow senior goalkeepers Brian Critchfield and Brendan Stein led a defensive unit that also defied expectations this year.

“Our defense we thought was going to struggle at first, but over time they have really developed into strong defensive backs and now they barely let anything in,” noted Yalavarthi. “I loved how that developed, it really feels like we are at the culmination of our soccer abilities. We’re proud of where we are.”

The Jr. Bills aim to carry that pride with them to their first round district match against Hazelwood Central tomorrow. After their incredible regular season, it seems the Jr. Bills have a lot to prove. Yalavarthi feels up to the challenge, though. 

“This is what I’ve been hoping for. After the past two years, losing in the first game of districts was really tough and now that it's my senior year, it's my last chance. It seems like I have all the guys around me to win the State Championship that we’re hoping for,” he said. “It’s exciting and it feels like I’m getting reimbursed for the past two years.”

“We’ve had success in the past, but there’s something different about our team this year that gets us over the humps we’ve struggled to get over in the past,” agreed Van Bree. “I can’t put a finger on exactly what it is, but it takes everyone. Everyone plays their role and everyone has their part on this team.”