It’s impossible to know the amount of actual research that goes into voting for preseason rankings in any college sport.
So when the United Soccer Coaches poll unveiled St. Louis University at No. 10 in the country last week, the occasion could have been viewed as a reward for a highly successful 2021 season or deeper knowledge of what coach Kevin Kalish has been cooking.
The Billikens lost every starter except two — midfielders John Klein and Christian Buendia — after reaching the national quarterfinals. They restocked with 14 newcomers comprised of transfers and freshmen.
How the mix will come together remains to be seen, but it’s clear the Billikens won’t sneak up on anyone this season after starting 2021 unranked.
“We could field an entire team with the new guys, which is interesting,” Klein said. “I’ve never been part of anything like that. But we know we’ll be two deep at every position. I think that’s the case even more so this year from being able to attract really good players to the program.
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“That’s the great part of winning. From top to bottom, this is the highest level of roster I think we’ve had at SLU. That’s saying a lot with the team we had last year.”
SLU will open the season with many of last year’s reserves in key roles while transfers and freshmen compete for jobs. The Billikens had a solid spring season with ties against national powers Tulsa and Indiana.
Last week came an influx of new players when the freshmen and most transfers began practice with the team. The question likely no longer is about the level of individual talent but how quickly it will become cohesive.
Buendia started all 21 games last season, and Klein started the 20 in which he played. The rest of the returning players accounted for 11 total starts.
“The transfers have natural leadership from where they have played, and the freshmen seem to be jelling,” Buendia said. “But it’s up to the core of the team to instill our culture and values in the new guys. It’s definitely a different team, so it will take some getting used to.”
It’s the kind of problem a coach doesn’t mind when it’s the result of having six players selected in the MLS draft after a one-loss season.
The experience at midfield is a good starting point, especially when Klein led the country in assists. Buendia has started every game of his two seasons and was first-team all-Atlantic 10 as a freshman.
Klein, who has been sidelined because of a minor injury, is the most veteran player and has been productive offensively since he stepped on campus. Entering his fifth year, he has been both a big goal scorer and a dangerous playmaker. He has 22 career goals and assists.
“I think I’ll have a similar role to last year,” he said. “I’ll just try to help the team anyway I can. I can’t try to force anything or put so much emphasis on play making or goal scoring. I just play my game and try to make things happen in the offensive third.”
There are several players who have been in the system and will likely step forward. Alex Shterenberg, Seth Anderson and Kevin Komodi played the most minutes off the bench in 2021.
Now Kalish is trying to determine who will contribute among the array of new players. That pool includes transfer midfielder Lane Warrington (Southern Methodist University), defender Alberto Suarez (Central Arkansas), defender Grady Easton (SMU), defender/midfielder Enzo Okpoye (Yale) and goalkeeper Carlos Tofern (Albany).
“On the field, we have to be the two guys everyone looks towards when it’s hard times,” Buendia said of himself and Klein. “Off the field is a big area where I can improve with leadership. John has more experience in that role. I think it’s more off the field we have to use our voices.”
SLU opens the season Aug. 25 at Louisville, a team the Billikens beat in overtime to start last season. There were many big wins, and SLU showed it wasn’t thoroughly depleted with a solid spring showing.
“That was a great indicator because most of those guys didn’t play in the regular season and we saw what they could bring,” Klein said. “It was an indication of the direction we’re trying to take this team.”
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