Trost, 50 Years of SLU Soccer Inducted Into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Dec. 1, 2008
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Announcement SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Saint Louis soccer great Al Trost will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Feb. 7, 2009, in ceremonies in Springfield, Mo. In addition, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine the soccer program's first 50 years, including the Billikens' record 10 national championship teams. "Anyone in the game knows that St. Louis has always been a hotbed in soccer, and Saint Louis University, in particular, has one of the paramount soccer programs in the country," SLU head coach Dan Donigan said. "We continue to pride ourselves on being competitive on a national level and not just producing great players, but good people for the future." Trost, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, compiled 61 career points (26G, 9A), was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American in 1970 and was a two-time winner of the Hermann Award, emblematic of the nation's top collegiate player. He helped the Billikens claim back-to-back NCAA championships in 1969 and 1970. During those two seasons, the Billikens posted a remarkable 27-0-1 record. In Trost's playing career, he helped the Billikens to a 37-1-2 record. Following his time at SLU, Trost emerged as one of the premier American players in the North American Soccer League (NASL). Trost's NASL career took him to the St. Louis Stars, then to the California Surf and Seattle Sounders. In his seven years in the league, he scored 38 goals and had 24 assists. Trost was the captain of the United States national team in the early 1970s and earned 14 caps for the United States in international play and played 10 times as an Olympian. Trost is currently the boys' and girls' soccer coach at Parkway South High School in St. Louis. He also was the head coach of the St. Louis Steamers professional indoor soccer team. Trost was inducted into the Saint Louis University Billiken Hall of Fame in 1994 and was honored with the SLU Alumni Achievement Award in 1986. In two weeks, Trost will be recognized at the NCAA Men's College Cup as part of the NCAA's 50th Anniversary Team.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame will also enshrine the `first 50 years of SLU soccer' in accord with the 50th anniversary of SLU's first national championship in 1959. All 10 national championship teams (1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972 and 1973) will be recognized in addition to the rest of the program that has firmly established itself as one of the nation's elite over the past 50 years. SLU's soccer program has more than 100 alumni who have gone on to play professionally. Ten Billikens have appeared on Olympic teams, and a Billiken has represented the United States in each of the last four World Cups. Bob Guelker (1959-66), Harry Keough (1967-82), Joe Clarke (1983-96), Bob Warming (1997-2000) and Dan Donigan (2001-present) have coached the Billikens. Donigan just led the Billikens to their record 45th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. In this decade alone, the Billikens have had five All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans and nine players drafted to play Major League Soccer. Six Billikens are active in MLS today. An afternoon reception sponsored by Hobart Sales & Service will kick-off the Enshrinement events on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Hall of Fame from noon to 2:00 p.m. The evening reception will get underway at 5:00 p.m. The ceremonies will start at 6:00 p.m. and will conclude at 9:00 p.m. Tickets for the Enshrinement are $150 each or $1,500 for a table of 10. Tickets are on sale now and available by calling (417) 889-3100; tickets are limited, so reserve your seat today. All proceeds will benefit the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. For additional information please contact Andrea Porter, director of marketing, at (417) 889-3100 or visit the Hall of Fame Web site at www.MoSportsHallOfFame.com. |
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