Saint Louis University Women's Soccer

Alma Mater: Harvard University Graduating Year: 2006 In Katie Shields’ 12th season as head coach, the 2024 Saint Louis University women’s soccer team continued the program’s firm hold on the Atlantic 10 Conference and made another strong challenge on the national scene.   Shields begins the 2025 season, her 13th at the controls, with a 168-61-22 overall record. Her .713 winning percentage ranks ninth among active NCAA Division I women’s soccer coaches with a minimum of five seasons. From 2016-24, Shields’ .792 winning percentage (146-32-17) ranks second among all active Division I women’s soccer coaches (minimum five seasons) and is the top mark among active female Division I women’s soccer coaches. The 146 wins are the most of any nine-year period in SLU women’s soccer history and the most in the A-10 from 2016-24.   In addition, Saint Louis posted a 94-8-8 (.891) record vs. A-10 opponents (regular season and conference tournament) from 2016-24. During their three-year regular-season championship run of 2018-20, the Billikens were undefeated (27-0-1, .982) in regular-season league competition; adding conference tournament games, the three-year record was 35-0-1 (.986) against A-10 opponents. In its current three-year title streak of 2022-24, SLU went 26-0-4 (.933) in regular-season play and 35-0-4 (.949) including A-10 Championship matches.   Shields’ 2024 Saint Louis team finished atop the A-10 standings for a sixth time in seven years and captured a seventh straight A-10 Championship crown, extending its league record for consecutive women’s soccer tournament titles. After beginning their seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance by defeating Kansas at home – a game that drew 3,136 fans to Robert R. Hermann Stadium, the second-largest first-round attendance of the 2024 tournament – the Billikens erased a one-goal deficit three different times before being edged in overtime by No. 1 seed USC in an epic second-round battle in California.   SLU, which posted records of 15-2-6 overall and 7-0-3 in the A-10, garnered a No. 22 ranking in the final United Soccer Coaches and Top Drawer Soccer national polls as well as in the final NCAA Division I Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). Shields’ Billikens took on some of the nation’s top teams, including two – USC and Penn State – that achieved top-10 RPI final rankings, and four others (Xavier, Kansas, BYU and Massachusetts) that landed among the final RPI top 50.   Saint Louis finished among the national top 20 in numerous categories including goal differential (eighth, plus-38), corner kicks per game (eighth, 7.09), goals against average (11th, 0.61), shutout percentage (11th, .609), winning percentage (13th, .783) and goals per game (20th, 2.26).   Lyndsey Heckel and Emily Gaebe led the way in individual accolades, earning A-10 Defensive and Offensive Player of the Year honors, respectively, as well as spots on the All-Conference and United Soccer Coaches All-Region first teams. Emily Puricelli was a third-team All-Region selection, Sophia Stram and Julia Simon were named to the All-Conference second team, and Hope Kim was an A-10 All-Rookie performer. YEAR-BY-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS OF KATIE SHIELDS' SLU COACHING TENURE   Shields collected her 100th career victory April 15, 2021, when the Billikens defeated Dayton 3-0 in the A-10 Championship semifinals at Hermann Stadium. Her 150th win also occurred in an A-10 Championship semifinal at Hermann, a 5-0 victory over Duquesne on Nov. 1, 2023. Shields coached her 250th game at SLU during the 2024 season.   During Shields’ tenure, Saint Louis players have earned All-America honors seven times, All-Region plaudits 32 times and Atlantic 10 accolades (first team, second team, All-Rookie) 77 times. In addition, Billikens have been selected A-10 Defensive Player of the Year eight times (eight of the past nine seasons), Offensive Player of the Year four times (including each of the past three seasons), Midfielder of the Year three times, Rookie of the Year twice, and Goalkeeper of the Year once (award was initiated in 2023).   Shields’ Billikens have made Hermann Stadium one of the nation’s most difficult venues for visiting teams, going 79-9-11 (.854) on their home pitch from the final home game of the 2015 season through 2024. That includes a combined 29-1-2 (.938) ledger in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 campaigns.    Depth and balance are hallmarks of Saint Louis women’s soccer in Shields’ system. Twenty-one different Billikens combined to earn 55 A-10 weekly awards between 2017 and 2024. There were 33 different player combinations that accounted for the Bills’ 39 assisted goals in 2024, continuing a broad-based offensive attack that began in 2017.   After serving as a Billiken assistant coach in 2012, Shields was named the third head coach in program history on Jan. 15, 2013.   Prior to her arrival at SLU, Shields spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northwestern. She served three years in the same capacities at her alma mater, Harvard, where she worked with head coach Ray Leone, who has led numerous NCAA Division I programs, and assistant coach Tracey Leone, who went on to serve six seasons as head coach at Northeastern. Shields helped guide Harvard to consecutive Ivy League titles and NCAA Tournament berths in 2008 and 2009. She coached two Ivy League Rookies of the Year, 16 All-Conference selections and six All-Region choices.   Shields began her coaching career with a one-year stint as an assistant at UC Irvine under head coach April Heinrichs, who recently served eight years as Technical Director for the U.S. Women's National Teams.   In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Shields is an assistant with the U.S. Youth National Teams staff at various training camps and international competitions. She also serves as the liaison for the state of Missouri’s U.S. Soccer Training Center. Additionally, Shields was assistant goalkeeping coach for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer under head coach Tony DiCicco in 2009; head coach of the Boston Bolts F.C. girls’ youth clubs for two years; and camp director/senior staff member of Soccerplus Goalkeeper School from 2006-11.   “During our search for a head coach, we engaged in exhaustive communication with National Team coaches, U.S. Soccer officials and NCAA College Cup coaches,” SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said at the time of Shields’ hiring. “They were unanimous in their support of Katie Shields as a leader who was ready to be a successful head coach.   “Katie is passionate about soccer and is committed to our department goals of educating student-athletes, competing at the highest level and building community,” May said. “We are confident she will develop a championship program by building trust, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and showing she cares about her student-athletes.”   “I am thrilled and honored to be the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Louis University,” Shields said upon her hiring. “I am grateful to the University’s administration for believing in me and my vision to lead the SLU women’s soccer program.   “Saint Louis University offers a unique combination of academic prestige, top-notch athletic facilities and a wealth of local soccer tradition, providing a world-class experience for our student-athletes.”    A goalkeeper, Shields enjoyed a distinguished playing career (2002-05) at Harvard. She garnered All-Ivy accolades all four seasons and was an All-Region honoree and team captain her senior campaign. Shields ranked fourth nationally in save percentage in 2005, set a school record for shutouts in a season and helped lead the 2004 Crimson to the NCAA Tournament.   Shields is a 2006 graduate of Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.

Former Billiken Cal McKee is in his third season as an assistant coach on the Saint Louis University women’s soccer staff.   McKee formerly served as the Girls Academy Director at St. Louis Development Academy. He has coached soccer, primarily girls, in the St. Louis area since 2016 and was head coach of the 2019 U16G USYS national champions.   McKee is a 2008 graduate of Chaminade College Prep, where he was a teammate of Saint Louis men’s soccer assistant coach Kevin Stoll and a member of the Red Devils’ 2006 state championship team. He played club soccer for St. Louis Scott Gallagher from U10 to U23 and was coached by, among others, Billiken men’s soccer head coach Kevin Kalish.   McKee played three seasons at Santa Clara University, including the 2010 campaign when the Broncos were West Coast Conference co-champions and played in the NCAA Tournament. He transferred to SLU, played for the Billikens in 2011 and graduated from the University in December 2012.   “We are thrilled to have a coach of Cal McKee’s caliber on our staff,” head coach Katie Shields said. “We had the privilege of getting to know Cal in his role with STLDA, and we have tremendous respect and appreciation for his impact on the women’s game in St. Louis.   “Cal has been one of the elite youth coaches in St. Louis who has played a significant role in developing some of the best St. Louis talent, including Billiken All-American Emily Gaebe,” Shields said. “He has tremendous tactical and technical sophistication that will continue to elevate our quality of play. As a former Billiken player, Cal has a thorough understanding of what it means to be a student-athlete at SLU. He embodies our departmental values of trust, caring and a commitment to excellence.”

Former Billiken standout defender Brionna Halverson joined the Saint Louis University women's soccer staff as an assistant coach in July 2024.   “It brings me a tremendous amount of joy and gratitude to announce Brionna Halverson as our new assistant coach,” head coach Katie Shields said upon Halverson's hiring. “During her years as a student-athlete in our program, Bri was a driving force who elevated our environment to a championship culture and pushed our program onto the national stage. She lives our program’s culture and values and will be an incredible mentor for the women in our program. Bri’s positive personality is infectious, and her ability to connect and inspire others is exceptional.    “Since graduating from our program, Bri has gained valuable experience as a youth coach,” Shields said. “She has built outstanding relationships in the community that will help her in our recruiting efforts and further our pursuit of championships. I look forward to seeing her impact continue to grow in our program and in the St. Louis soccer community. Bri is one of the brightest young coaches in the country.” Halverson concluded a six-year Saint Louis playing career second on the Billikens’ all-time lists in games played (101) and games started (100). In her final season (2022), she was named A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, earned first-team All-Conference and A-10 Championship All-Tournament honors for a third consecutive year, and was a key component in SLU’s school-record 15 shutouts and the Bills' 0.45 goals against average that ranked third in the nation.   Halverson, who garnered second-team All-Conference plaudits in 2019, is one of only 10 players in program history with at least four All-Conference honors. She was a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region performer (first team 2020, third team 2021) and was selected to the Billikens’ 25th Anniversary Team. Saint Louis posted a 98-23-7 (.793) record, captured five A-10 tournament titles and four A-10 regular-season crowns, and played in five NCAA Tournaments during Halverson’s career.   Halverson earned a bachelor’s degree in public health and a post-baccalaureate certificate in organizational leadership from SLU.

Former Billiken goalkeeper Mary Niehaus joined the Saint Louis University women's soccer staff as Director of Operations in July 2024.   Niehaus earned numerous accolades during a SLU career that spanned six years (2014-19). She was a three-time selection (2016, 2017, 2019) to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference first team and a three-time All-Region choice, making the first team in 2017, the second team in 2019 and the third team in 2016. Niehaus was named to the 2019 A-10 Championship All-Tournament team; she helped lead the Billikens to A-10 regular-season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament berth that season.   The St. Charles, Mo., native and Nerinx Hall High School graduate owns the school record for career goals against average (0.56) and ranks third in wins (45), shutouts (30) and goalkeeper minutes (5,493). Her 0.33 GAA in 2019 set a school single-season record and ranked sixth in the nation. Niehaus also claimed 2019 national rankings of fourth in save percentage (.896) and tied for ninth in shutouts (11), and she landed among the nation’s top 20 netminders in GAA (11th, 0.52), save percentage (18th, .861) and shutouts (19th, 10) in 2017.   Niehaus earned a Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience and a Master of Arts degree in biology at SLU. She was selected to the 2016 and 2017 A-10 All-Academic teams and was a 2017 College Sports Information Directors of America (now College Sports Communicators) Academic All-District honoree.   Niehaus was Saint Louis University’s 2019-20 Most Inspirational Senior Student-Athlete. She won the women’s soccer team’s Mentality Award in 2017 and Integrity Award in 2018.   “I am incredibly grateful and excited to welcome former SLU women’s soccer great Mary Niehaus as our new Director of Operations,” head coach Katie Shields said upon Niehaus' hiring. “Mary is one of the all-time great servant leaders of our program, and she played an instrumental role in building the foundation of our current team’s championship culture. She is incredibly intelligent and hardworking and brings an analytical eye to the daily operations of our program that will help us continue to create a high-performance environment in which our women can succeed.”