The first official day of practice is not until Monday, August 16. But the men and women of University of Missouri-St. Louis’ soccer program are already doing voluntary training and conditioning – and have been all summer. There are good reasons for the enthusiasm that surrounds both programs.
The men’s program is looking to improve on last year’s solid season in which they finished with nine wins, seven loses, and two ties. Triton men’s soccer only lost one home game at Don Dallas Field.
Ten new players will join the team this year, including multiple players from junior colleges who have earned the title of Junior College All Americans.
“The junior college players are very accomplished players, so we’re looking to pick up right where we left off last year,” Coach Dan King said. This will be Coach King’s 10th season as head coach.
The team left off last year making it to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament but losing in the first round in double overtime. King said he hopes to return to the tournament again this year and advance further. If the Triton men do make it back to this season’s GLVC Tournament it will be the fifth time King has taken his team there.
The mood hovering around the women’s soccer team is just as optimistic as that around the men’s despite a tough previous season. Coach Bobby Lessentine stepped in as head coach during spring of 2009, too late to preside over the full recruiting cycle and the women Tritons felt the effects. They finished last season with a record of 4-11-1.
But on the cusp of his second season as head coach, Lessentine has been able to run recruiting his way and believes the positive effects of this will be apparent. “It’s going to be about a 50/50 mix of returning players and incoming players, and I’m really excited to see them come together,” Lessentine said. Among the incoming players are Kaylee Neutzling and Kelly Muesenfechter, two Junior College All Americans.
UM-St. Louis Athletic Director Lori Flanagan said that she believes Lessentine has “identified holes from last year that need filling” and that this year’s team has a “strong nucleus” thanks to the work he has put in over the off season.
The first opponent both teams will overcome this season will be the heat. The heat index has consistently been over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and there have been several excessive heat warnings issued for the St. Louis region in recent weeks. In response, both teams will avoid holding practices during midday and athletes have been doing cardiovascular workouts in swimming pools.
In the match up of Tritons versus the St. Louis summer heat, it looks like UM-St. Louis will be getting the win. “Soccer players are used to the heat,” Coach King said.