In the annals of St. Louis soccer history, professional teams have come and gone. The presence of high-level college soccer, however, has been a constant.
Although the Bronze Boot rivalry between Saint Louis University and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville may not hold the same place in the national conversation that it once occupied, it is experiencing a return to prominence. SLU’s women’s team continues to dominate soccer in the Atlantic-10, and both the SLU and SIUE men’s programs make regular appearances in the various polls.
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That’s enough to make events like Sunday’s rivalry doubleheader at CITYPARK a spectacle worth appreciating. The matchups between the SLU and SIUE men’s and women’s sides—the Billiken women won their game, 6-1, while the Cougar men won theirs, 1-0—represented a celebration of all things St. Louis soccer.
“We have such a St. Louis roster, it makes this so special,” SLU women’s coach Katie Shields said. “Hannah Larson came out onto the field during our walkthrough and was just laying on the grass, taking it all in. I think for all of them, they come to the CITY games and—to get a chance to play in one of the best stadiums in the country—I just told them to give a performance worthy of this stadium.”
CITYPARK has treated Shields well in each of her team’s first two games in the facility. Both last year’s 5-1 win and this week’s decisive victory served as get-right games for the Bills. Aside from Emily Gaebe, SLU has struggled to score at times this season. While Gaebe scored twice on Sunday, the Billikens also received goals from Julia Simon, Hannah Larson, and Emily Fox to cap a dominant derby decision.
St. Louis talent has built the foundation of both women’s programs, and the reactions on the pitch proved how important this match was for the players on each side.
“The opportunity is incredible.” said Derek Burton, head coach of the SIUE women’s program. “The players really realize that they’re here for a reason. Our administrations—at both schools—want to provide an environment to showcase these athletes. That’s what is ultimately important.”
The men’s matchup was no different, with both clubs showcasing talent from across the region. That includes St. Louis CITY SC Academy products Tyler Sargent (SIUE) and Jackson Delkus (SLU). Kevin Kalish’s SLU side came into the match as the No. 19 team in the country, with 11 players from the region.
“Anytime you can play for a trophy, it just amplifies the importance of the event,” Kevin Kalish said ahead of the battle, knowing that his players were driven to avenge last season’s 2-0 loss at CITYPARK.
SIUE’s players weren’t ready to relinquish their grasp of the trophy, however, notching back-to-back wins in the series. The Cougars are now 2-2-2 against SLU since the rivalry resumed in 2018.
Cale Wasserman’s SIUE side used SLU’s intensity against them, and as the game marched toward the final whistle, the players—and an impressive Cougars’ student section—rejoiced at earning the same result in consecutive seasons. As his players lifted the trophy, Wasserman was glad to see his captains leading the celebration.
“I was really happy to see Wesley [Gibson] and Nacho [Abeal], our captains, lift that trophy,” Wasserman said. “Those are two guys that have experienced hard times. I’ve been tough on those guys—I’ve put pressure on those guys—and they were rewarded not just with their play, but to lift that trophy. How sweet it must have felt.”
Beyond the players and diehard supporters, is the Bronze Boot as meaningful to St. Louisans as it once was? Not quite. Although CITYPARK’s capacity of 22,423 could push the NCAA attendance record, the current turnout is still a ways away from reaching the rivalry’s former heights. Even so, the 6,128 in attendance on Saturday will wind up as one of the largest crowds in the NCAA this season—a great showcase for how St. Louis values its soccer.
“We’re very grateful to the organization [St. Louis CITY SC] for allowing us to bring the matchup to such a venue, but also for the fans and the players to have this occasion.” Wasserman said. “To be able to be in this stadium on a night like this, I just hope we put on a good show for everybody.”
