The Saint Louis University (SLU) field hockey team improved its overall record to 3-1 after defeating Bellarmine on Sept. 12, 2025. The win served as the first road win against a Division I opponent in seven years and marked the first time the team has won three of its first four games in 31 years.
After a narrow loss in their first match against Ball State University, the Billikens have outscored their opponents 13-5 and converted on 25.5% of their shots. Saint Louis defeated Ohio, Lincoln Memorial and Bellarmine University in the same week. They have also averaged 3.25 goals per game, a staggering increase from last season’s 1.86 goals per game.
Following a disappointing 2024 campaign in which the team went 2-12, former head coach Zoe Adkins resigned in May. Adkins went 16-62 over her tenure as head coach in five seasons. Laura Hurff has become the interim head coach, and the team has seen immediate results. Hurff, a four-year starter and NCAA Champion at Syracuse, was named Conference Coach of the Year after leading Rhodes College to a 14-6 record last year.
“Stepping into this role at SLU is more than just a coaching opportunity – it’s a chance to help build something real, something lasting,” Hurff said in an August A-10 article. “I believe in building a culture where athletes are challenged to grow, trusted to lead, and reminded that who they are off the field matters just as much as what they do on it. Coaching, to me, is about creating something that lasts far beyond the scoreboard – it’s about impact, belief, and building people.”
Several key players have stood out this season. Forward Sierra Larson has scored 4 goals in four games, with an efficient 57.1% shooting percentage. Midfielder Olivia Smith has also notched 3 goals and an assist, while going 2-2 on penalty strokes. Abby Vidas, the solid midfielder and back, is also tied for the team points lead (7) and has 3 assists on the season. Ignacia Manriquez has also been lethal in limited touches, scoring 2 goals on 3 shots.
Senior midfielder Ashley Jones, a four-year veteran from New Jersey, said the team’s turnaround this fall has gone beyond the scoreboard.
“We’re just so bought into this new culture shift and intensity level that has been brought to our program,” Jones said. “Having a shift in mentality is really what we needed, and it has made a huge impact on not only the way we play but also our confidence going into games.”
The offense has deservedly grabbed headlines, but the defensive effort should not be overlooked. Goalkeeper Abby Schalow’s 7-save outing against Ohio proved decisive, and the back line has allowed only 5 goals all season. That is a far cry from last year, when opponents averaged more than 3 per game. This year’s group has shown it can bend without breaking – a trait SLU has not had in years.
Whether this surge proves sustainable once conference play begins remains to be seen, but the early weeks have already rewritten expectations. For now, Saint Louis has something it has not had in a long time: momentum, belief, and a record that backs it up. The Billikens’ next match is Friday, Sept. 19, at Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia.