Saint Louis Lands Four Recruits
Feb. 14, 2008
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis head women's soccer coach Tim Champion has announced that four players have committed to attend the University and play for the Billikens this fall. Each player will have four years of intercollegiate eligibility. The 2008 class is comprised of back Andrea Barklage (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Incarnate Word), forward/midfielder Jessica Lopez (Chandler, Ariz./Seton Catholic Prep), back Sarah Reinking (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran South) and forward Jasmina Suljic (St. Louis, Mo./Oakville). "We are pleased to welcome this group of players to Saint Louis University," Champion said. "It is a small recruiting class in numbers, but each player brings considerable talent and potential to our program." At Incarnate Word, Barklage was tabbed the 2007 Missouri Class 2A Defensive Player of the Year and was chosen to the All-State first team her first three seasons. She helped lead St. Louis Soccer Club (Miller) to the 2005 U.S. Youth Soccer national championship and earned a spot on the Region II Olympic Development Program (ODP) team. Barklage, whose brother Brandon is a member of the SLU men's soccer team, was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Youth All-American and an NSCAA All-Region honoree. "Andrea is a dominant center back with skill and vision, and she is excellent in the air," Champion said. "She should have a tremendous impact on our back line." Lopez, the Arizona Republic 2007 Small Schools Player of the Year, has collected 42 goals and a school-record 41 assists for a school-record 125 points during her prep career. She was selected to the All-State first team as a freshman and junior, earned All-State honorable mention plaudits as a sophomore and helped Seton Catholic Prep win three consecutive state titles. Lopez plays club soccer for Gilbert Arsenal Premier. "Jessica has great ability to beat defenders and dictate the tempo of the game," Champion said. "She is a goal-scorer who has skill and touch."
Reinking garnered All-Conference first-team accolades in each of her first three seasons at Lutheran South. She earned the team's Offensive Most Valuable Player and 110 Percent awards, and this spring she will serve as team captain for a second consecutive season. Reinking has been captain of her club team, St. Louis Soccer Club (Rasch), since sixth grade, and she helped the squad reach the 2004 and 2006 State Cup final. She was a member of the ODP state team in 2005 and 2006. Reinking also is Lutheran South's basketball team captain and starting point guard. The Lancers placed third in the state her sophomore season and reached the state quarterfinals last year. "Sarah is an excellent defensive player with a tremendous work ethic and the ability to see the field," Champion said. "She will give us a strong physical presence." Suljic collected All-Conference and All-Metro honors her first three seasons at Oakville, tallying 29 goals and 32 assists. She helped the team capture the conference championship her freshman and sophomore years, and she scored the game-winning goal on a penalty kick in a state quarterfinal game during her freshman season. Suljic is a member of the Missouri Premier club team that was the Midwest Regional League runner-up and a State Cup finalist last year. Missouri Premier has also won several tournament crowns during her tenure, including two Best of the Midwest championships and a pair of M.C. United Spring Classic titles. "Jasmina has great speed and ability on the ball," Champion said. "She is very capable of beating defenders and scoring goals." Saint Louis posted a 10-6-2 record (7-2-2 Atlantic 10) in 2007, giving the Billiken program at least 10 victories for the 10th time in its 12-year history. The Billikens have made two NCAA Tournament appearances, won three regular-season conference championships and captured two conference tournament crowns. |
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