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SLU Men's Soccer to Play in NCAA Quarterfinals

ST. LOUIS - The Saint Louis University Billikens are in the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time since 2021. 

Saint Louis prevailed in a penalty-kick shootout in a third-round matchup of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship on Nov. 30 to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals (Round of 8) and will face the No. 14 overall seed Akron Zips on Saturday, Dec. 6.

2025 Men's Soccer Team

The 2025 Atlantic 10 Men's Soccer Champion Billikens. SLU Athletics photo.

SLU defeated No. 11 Bryant in a penalty-kick shootout following a 2-2 draw, setting up this weekend’s match with Akron. The advancing team from that matchup goes to the 2025 Men’s College Cup, Dec. 12 and 15, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. 

Getting to the Elite 8

Saint Louis defeated Dayton 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout on Nov. 16 to capture the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's Soccer Championship and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Billikens hosted Kentucky in a first-round matchup on Nov. 20 at Hermann Stadium. Saint Louis freshman Jack DiMaria scored a tying goal in the 86th minute, before also scoring in double overtime to vault the Billikens to a 2-1 victory over the Wildcats.

The Billikens pulled off a 1-0 victory over Indiana Nov. 23 to reach the third round. 

A History of Soccer Success

No collegiate men’s program rivals the success that has been achieved by the Saint Louis University Billikens. Billikens have competed in NCAA Division I soccer for more than 60 years. Of the first 15 NCAA men’s tournament championships held, SLU won 10.

In 1959, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sponsored the first Division I Men’s Soccer Championship tournament to determine the Division I men’s national champion. Before 1959, the national champion in men’s soccer was selected by a committee of the Intercollegiate Soccer Football Association (ISFA) based on the season records of the teams and the level of competition.

The Billikens count 10 national championships, six successive appearances in the NCAA championship match and 52 total NCAA tournament appearances as part of their NCAA Soccer Division I records. The Billikens also reached 600 victories faster than any college soccer team.

In 2025, the team won its fifth Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Championship and its first since 2023. With the team’s 2025 NCAA Tournament appearance, the Billikens have four tournament appearances in five years.

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