NEW ARTICLE: 2021 UD Women's Soccer Preview: The Next Step is Now

[Chris R]

LINK: http://www.udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35145

We need to separate ourselves from everybody else aside from SLU this year. Next year we go after the crown.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.

[soccerflyer]

The conference is trending better this year. And don't sleep on VCU. They're ranked ahead of us for the second year in a row. I'm talking about regional polls, not the A10's internal poll which according to past evidence, usually skews a certain way.

[Chris R]

It will be a battle for the 2nd through 5th spots. Every team has some weaknesses that can be exposed. I see the teams pretty competitive with one another but would like to see one or two separate. It may largely come down to pod/home field advantage in the critical matches and some fortunate bounces.

Lets not run SLU under the bus just yet for the 1-0 loss at home to XU. They were outplayed and XU was not great in the spring, but were very good in 2019. Season openers are sketchy for everybody.

Dayton needs Itala on the field to put their best foot forward. Without her its going to cost UD one or two Ws somewhere. Hopefully she's back soon. Kent State will be a much better test this weekend, but its the kind of opponent UD must no longer lose to as well.

	Xavier XAVIER MUSKETEERS Dayton's biggest rival dating back to the early 1900s. Founded in 1831, Xavier University is a Jesuit, Catholic university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its three colleges offer 78 undergraduate majors, 43 minors and 11 graduate programs to 6,646 total students, including 3,961 undergraduates. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities nationwide. Xavier's nickname is the Musketeers and are fellow A10 Conference members.

	Saint Louis SAINT LOUIS Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 12,700 students. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Located in St. Louis, MO, and just five minutes from the Gateway Arch, SLU offers 85 undergraduate programs and over 50 graduate study tracks. Over 99% of the SLU faculty hold the highest degree in their respective fields. Fellow member of the A10 Conference. Nickname is the Billikens, but also commonly known as "Sloo", the phonetic pronunciation of the school's initials. Athletic claims to fame include multiple national titles in men's soccer and men's basketball star Larry Hughes.