Southern IL University Edwardsville

Edwardsville, IL 62026

Illinois Midwest

Public Medium Developing team

I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Derek Burton

Derek Burton returns for his 14th season as head coach of the SIUE women’s soccer program, kicking off the season with an overall record of 101-99-32 as the Cougars’ head coach.

The 2020 season, played in Spring 2021, was one of Burton's best at the helm of the Cougar women's soccer program. SIUE began the season with five consecutive victories and finished the conference-only regular season at 6-2-2 to earn the No. 2 seed in the OVC Soccer Championship. A shutout semifinal victory helped the Cougars advance to their second OVC title match in as many seasons; however, Burton and his squad were determined to make sure history would not repeat itself, as a penalty goal in extra time gave the Cougars their third-ever OVC crown. This also secured the program's third appearance in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, in which Burton's team was the only team in the tournament to score against national semifinalist Virginia.

The 2019 season was a successful one for the Cougars, earning double-digit wins for the first time since 2016 and advancing to the program's third OVC Tournament Championship Game. As a team, SIUE led the OVC in a number of statistical categories, including goals scored (45) and average margin (0.95). Individually, MacKenzie Litzinger notched First Team All-OVC honors and was one of just two student-athletes from the OVC named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region team, while goalkeeper Jensen Schoch earned a spot on the All-OVC Second Team. In addition, two Cougars were selected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team - Emma Dutko and Lily Schnieders.

In 2018, for the second year in a row, the Cougars advanced to the quarterfinal of the OVC Tournament. After a scoreless game, Eastern Kentucky advanced to the semifinals off of penalty kicks. Andrea Frerker was recognized by the OVC for performance in the 2018 season. She received Second Team All-OVC honors after leading the team in points and goals. The Cougars also excelled in the classroom, receiving the prestigious OVC Team Academic Achievement Award for the first time in program history.

In 2017, Burton led the Cougars to the OVC Tournament quarterfinal.

SIUE became the second-ever Ohio Valley Conference team to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament when the Cougars’ ousted No. 2 national seed Notre Dame on penalty kicks to open the 2016 Women’s College Cup.

The Cougars finished the year with a 10-8-5 record, marking the third time in the last four seasons SIUE had finished with at least 10 wins in a season.

Entering the OVC Tournament as the No. 4 seed, the Cougars captured their second OVC Tournament title, advancing past Austin Peay in the quarterfinals before defeating top-seeded Murray State on its home field in the semifinal contest. SIUE shut out No. 2 seed Eastern Kentucky to claim its second OVC tournament title in three seasons.

The Cougars took on a new identity during the 2016 season, one of an offensive power. SIUE led the OVC in total points (100), goals (33), assists (34) and assists per game (1.48). The Cougars were second in the league in goals per game (1.43) and total shots (269).

Individually, Caroline Hoefert finished seventh in the OVC in scoring with 16 points coming on five goals and six assists. Her six assists were second-most in the league, while her five goals tied for 10th. Avery Anderson and Peyton Roehnelt also scored five goals and Emily Grahl tied Hoefert with six assists.

Hoefert was named the Most Outstanding Player in the OVC Tournament. Kassidy Rawdon (first team), Grahl (second team) and Roehnelt (all-newcomer team) earned All-OVC honors following the regular season.

Junior goalkeeper Juli Rossi excelled in the postseason. Rossi saved a penalty kick in two of the three OVC Tournament games, posting a shutout in the championship game. She then made eight saves in regulation against Notre Dame, and two more in the shootout preserving the shutout and propelling the Cougars to the second round. Rossi earned selection as TopDrawerSoccer.com’s National Player of the Week following the first round shutout of Notre Dame.

In four previous seasons in the OVC, Burton had developed SIUE into one of the conference’s most formidable defenses. SIUE ranked in the top three in goals allowed and goals against average in each of those four seasons and led the OVC in both categories three times. The Cougars also have led the conference in shutouts in three of four seasons between and 2012 and 2015.

SIUE missed the OVC tournament for the first time in 2015, finishing with a 5-11-3 overall record and a 2-7-1 OVC record.

Burton guided the team to an OVC regular season and tournament championship in 2014. The Cougars then made their first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament, playing Kentucky to a scoreless draw in the first round before bowing out on penalty kicks. The team posted a record of 13-6-2, tying the program-best for wins at the Division I level. SIUE’s 8-2 OVC record also was a program high.

Burton also oversaw the development of the program's first All-Region, Scholar All-American, and first team All-OVC performer, defender Sam Jones.

While the defense remained strong, 2013 marked an improved SIUE offense as well. The Cougars improved their scoring, from 0.74 goals a game in 2012 to 1.5 goals a game in 2013. SIUE finished second in the OVC in scoring with 4.57 points per game, and led the conference with 32 total assists.

Burton oversaw the development of a pair of strong offensive performers during the 2013 season. Senior Tory Pitts transferred to SIUE for her final season and proceeded to lead the team in scoring with 20 points, coming on seven goals and six assists. Pitts’ six helpers ranked second in the OVC while her 20 points landed her fourth in the league in scoring. Freshman Kayla Delgado scored nine goals and added an assist for 19 points, placing her fifth in the OVC scoring. Both players were honored as members of the All-OVC second team.

Burton guided the Cougars through their first season in the Ohio Valley Conference in 2011, leading SIUE to a 4-5 record in OVC play. A 1-0 win at Eastern Illinois on the final day of the season secured a sixth-place finish for the Cougars which would have earned them a spot in the OVC Championships had the team been eligible.

Burton became the fifth head coach in women's soccer program history prior to the 2008 season. In his first season, Burton quickly displayed that his teams would be aggressive and disciplined. In the team's first game under Burton, the Cougars were 3-0 winners over Indiana State on the road.

He came to SIUE with established links to St. Louis and the OVC. While playing at Vianney High School, he helped the team to a state championship in 1991 and a No. 1 national ranking by USA Today.

A four-year starter at Arkansas-Little Rock, Burton turned to coaching and developed an impressive resume beginning with one season as an assistant at UALR and two seasons as an assistant at Morehead State. He was on staff for the first two years of the OVC women’s soccer program at Morehead State.

His first head coaching assignments followed. He led Mount Senario College during the 2000-01 season and Missouri Valley College 2001-2006. Burton coached four All-American players and 14 All-America Scholar-Athlete players in five seasons at Missouri Valley. He was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002. He averaged better than 10 victories in five seasons at Missouri Valley, posting a 54-28-7 record overall. He returned to NCAA Division I soccer in 2006 as an assistant at Iowa State University.

Burton earned a Bachelor's in health education at Arkansas-Little Rock in 1997 and a Master's in sports administration at Morehead State in 1999. Burton also holds a USSF 'B' Coaching License.

Derek and his wife Jacqueline have a daughter, Fiona (16), and a son, Keane (12). The family resides in Edwardsville.

Email coach

Alexis Smith

Promoted to associate head coach in July, 2023, Alexis Smith is entering her sixth season with the SIUE women’s soccer coaching staff. She has served as an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach since the spring of 2018.

During her time with the Cougars, Smith has helped the team accomplish back-to-back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championships, going to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. She also helped the Cougars win the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title in the 2021 season.

In the 2022 season, overseeing the goalkeepers and defensive line at SIUE, Smith worked with goalkeeper Taylor Spiller who played a career high and record of 1620:00 minutes starting and playing 18 games. She recorded a career high 76 saves and made a career high in a single season for shutouts at seven. The Cougars had two first team All-OVC selections. Forward, Lily Schnieders and defender, Matea Diekema, who also earned OVC Defender of the Year award. Diekema also earned second team All-South Region and third team Scholar All-America. Sidney Christopher earned second team All-OVC while Kasey Niedhardt earned All-Newcomer team.

In the 2021 season,Smith helped guide the Cougars to regular season OVC title and a OVC Tournament title. Working with the goalkeepers, she helped Cougars Jensen Schoch, Bella Henderson, and Taylor Spiller record eight shutouts on the season. They also recorded 54 total saves and a save percentage of .720. The Cougars also earned several post-season awards. Mackenzie Litzsinger earned OVC Forward of the Year and first team All-OVC. Andrea Frerker earned OVC Midfielder of the Year and first team All-OVC. Maria Haro and Lily Schnieders also earned first team honors. Grace Ferguson and Kaitlyn Nichols earned All-Newcomer team.

In the abbreviated 2020 season that was played in the spring of 2021, Smith helped guide redshirt freshman Taylor Spiller to her first ever campaign with the Cougars. Spiller led the Cougars to her first NCAA Tournament appearance after defeating SEMO in the OVC Championship Final. It was the Cougars third NCAA Tournament appearance having previously appeared in 2014 and 2016. Spiller had a career-high five shutouts, played and started 13 games with a save percentage of .758. The Cougars earned several post-season awards after the 2021 campaign. Mackenzie Litzsinger earned Forward of the Year and All-OVC first team. Lily Schnieders earned second team All-OVC honors and Matea Diekema earned All-Newcomer team.

The 2019 season saw the Cougars returning to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship final. They fell to Belmont after overtime and a set of penalty kicks. This was their first OVC final since the 2016 season. Bella Henderson and Jensen Schoch led their team with 104 saves, seven shutouts, and a save percentage of .800%. Schoch earned career highs in all categories with 77 saves, five shutouts, and a save percentage of .855. Schoch earned post-season second team All-OVC honors. Mackenzie Litzsinger earned first team All-OVC while Lily Schnieders and Emma Dutko earned All-Newcomer team honors.

In 2018, the Cougars enter their sixth-ever OVC Tournament Championship. They’ve competed in every single post-season tournament since entering the Division I era (2008) and being post-season eligible (2012). Jensen Schoch led the cougars playing and starting a total of 16 matches recording a career record high of 1466:10 minutes. She recorded career highs of 76 saves, earned 3 shutouts, and had a save percentage of 0.760%. Andrea Frerker earned second team All-OVC.

Smith previously worked as an assistant coach and the goalkeepers coach at Bowling Green State University for the 2017 season. During that season, Smith helped coach the Falcons to their second-best season (13-7-1) in program history and a spot in the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game.

Smith is also enters her sixth season with St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club Illinois, where she currently serves as the head coach of the Girls 09 trapped team and goalkeeper coach of 2012-04 age groups. She was head coach of the 05 ECNL RL team for 3 seasons.

At BGSU, Smith’s responsibilities included recruiting, scheduling and game day management and coordinating camps. She also assisted in marketing and the academic efforts of the team, alongside her coaching duties.

Prior to being named an assistant coach at BGSU, she was a volunteer assistant with the Falcons while working as the Assistant Director of Coaching for the Bowling Green Soccer Club.

Smith also worked as the Girls Youth Director at the Perrysburg (Ohio) Soccer Club. She assisted in goalkeeper training and created a curriculum for the teams. She was also a head coach for the U9 and U11 teams.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from BGSU in 2016. Smith played two seasons (2014, 2015) for the Falcons, recording 10 matches played and registering 23 saves, including a career-high nine-save performance against Western Michigan. After graduation, she played one season with the Cleveland Ambassadors of the Women’s Professional Soccer League.

Smith earned the USSF B license in 2022 and holds a National Diploma from United Soccer Coaches, NSCAA Advanced National Goal Keeper Diploma and USSF C, D, E, and F licenses.

Email coach

Alyssa Krause

Alyssa Krause joined the SIUE women's soccer staff as an assistant coach in July 2023 after spending the previous season as an assistant coach at SIU Carbondale.

Krause previously was the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Xavier for two seasons. She spent 2018 through 2020 as an assistant at Purdue Fort Wayne, where she helped the program to the best 10-game start in program history and tied for the third lowest goals in program history.

During the 2016 and 2017 season, Krause was an assistant at Taylor University. She helped the Trojans earned a No. 16 national rankings in the NAIA Top 25.

Email coach

Cale Wassermann

Now in his fifth season as the head coach, Cale Wassermann was announced as the eighth SIUE men’s soccer head coach in the program’s storied history in January 2019.

In 2023, Wassermann will once again lead the Cougars into a new conference, as charter members of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Under Wassermann, the Cougars won five games in 2021, including three at home. SIUE returned to the Missouri Valley Tournament before falling in the first round at Evansville. In his final season under Wassermann, defender Max Broughton earned All-Region honors.

Before the 2021 season, Wassermann led the Cougars back to the Missouri Valley Conference, where SIUE had previously played as an affiliate member from 2010-2016.

Wassermann guided the Cougars to six wins, including four MVC wins in 2021. SIUE finished third in the league and returned to the MVC Tournament, before falling in the first round to Bradley. The Cougars also won four games at home during the season. Following the season, defender Max Broughton and midfielder Pau Palacin earned All-MVC honors following the season.

During the abbreviated 2020 season, played in the spring of 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Wassermann guided the Cougars to a 5-5 record, which included a pair of shutouts at Korte Stadium. The Cougars blanked Evansville (3-0) and Western Illinois (1-0) at home. Riddled with injuries, the Cougars earned a pair of wins in the Mid-American Conference, during the fourth and final year in the league.

Under Wassermann, SIUE sophomore Oskar Lenz finished tied for second in the MAC with four goals, while leading the league with five assists. The Cougars continued to excel in the classroom, with 10 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference team.

In his first season at the helm, Wassermann guided SIUE to an overall mark of 8-5-4. The Cougars were strong at home, amassing a record of 6-2-1, the second-highest home win total since the return to Division I. The Cougars' 2-1-2 mark in Mid-American Conference play was good for third and a home game in the MAC Tournament.

Under the guidance of Wassermann, Jorge Gonzlez became Mid American Conference player of the Year, after leading the league in scoring. Gonzalez also was tabbed as a First Team All-Region selecition. Gonzalez became the eighth SIUE alum to be taken in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, when he was selected by LA FC in the third round.

Wassermann came to SIUE after serving as recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Michigan State the previous four seasons. He assisted in all facets of the men’s soccer program, including summer camps and fundraising initiatives.

With Wassermann on staff, the Spartans reached the 2018 NCAA College Cup, falling to Akron in the national semifinals. Michigan State reached the quarterfinal in 2017 and was dispatched in the 2016 NCAA first round by SIUE. While at Michigan State, Wassermann coached two All-America selections, 13 All-Region picks and 17 All-Big Ten performers. The Spartans had the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2016, the Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and the 2018 Midfielder of the Year.

Prior to his stint at Michigan State, Wassermann served as the head coach at Division II Saginaw Valley State University, where he guided the program to its first three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He led the Cardinals to the National Championship game in 2012 when the team set the program single-season record with 18 wins. Wassermann was tabbed as the 2012 NSCAA National Coach of the Year. He also earned recognition as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012. He amassed a five-year record of 64-23-17.

The Cardinals had the 2012 National Player of the Year while Wassermann also coached three All-Americans, saw 25 of his players earn All-GLIAC honors and had 16 NSCAA All-Midwest selections in five seasons at Saginaw Valley State. In the classroom, four players earned NSCAA Scholar All-American honors.

Wassermann spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as an assistant coach at Lewis University of the Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Flyers made two NCAA Tournament appearances including advancing to the Final Four in 2009 and the Regional Championship match in 2008.

He also previously has served as the head coach for the Under-18 USA Youth team for Maccabi USA and as the associate head coach for Detroit City FC in the NPSL.

Wassermann began his coaching career as a volunteer at his alma mater, in 2006 and 2007 after playing four seasons at SVSU. He was a two-time team captain and twice earned first-team All-GLIAC honors. He received his bachelor’s in communication in 2007. In 2015, he earned a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Lewis. Wassermann holds a USSF ‘B’ License.

A native of Southfield, Michigan, Wassermann and his wife, Shelby, have a son, Judah and a daughter, Maya.

Email coach

Jordan Grant

SIUE men’s soccer coach Cale Wassermann added Jordan Grant to his coaching staff as Assistant Coach in March 2022.

Grant joins SIUE after three seasons as an assistant at Belmont. With the Bruins, he assisted in all facets of the soccer program, including travel, practice planning, film breakdown, game day preparation and coordination of recruiting visits.

Belmont won 25 games over three seasons with Grant on staff and appeared in the Southern Conference tournament final in each of Grants last two seasons with the program. The Bruins made a semifinals appearance in 2019.

Prior to joining Belmont, he spent two seasons at Cincinnati as the Director of Operations and volunteer assistant coach. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the team, he also directed camps and served as the academic liaison.

Grant also spent time as a graduate assistant coach and assistant at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, an NAIA institution in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He earned a master's degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene in 2017.

Grant began his coaching career while still an undergraduate at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Taylor in 2014.

Also, possessing extensive experience at the club level, Grant most recently served as the U16 and U14 ECNL Boys head coach with the Tennessee Soccer Club. He also has been a head coach with the Cincinnati United Premier, Northern Kentucky Soccer Academy and the Classics Eagles Soccer Club.

He played two seasons at Taylor after beginning his playing career at Northern Kentucky, where he was part of the 2010 Division II National Championship team.

He holds a United States Soccer Federation C License.

Grant and his wife Stephanie have two sons, Jayden and Casey.

Email coach

Jaxsen Wirth

Jaxsen Wirth joined the SIUE men's soccer staff as an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach in August 2023. A native of Houston, Texas, Wirth spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for Mars Hill. He previously had been promoted at Mars Hill from graduate assistant coach to assistant coach.

During his tenure at Mars Hill, the program held a 19-13-5 record that included back-to-back winning seasons as well as consecutive appearances in the conference tournament, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in nearly a decade for the Mountain Lions. In 2021, the Lion’s reached the South Atlantic Conference tournament final narrowly losing in conference championship game in overtime.

Wirth helped guide multiple student-athletes to various individual accolades, including goalkeeper Brennan Whalen to win multiple South Atlantic Conference defensive players of the week as well as preseason all-conference. Additionally, Peter Plougmand took his successful freshman campaign and jumped another level with Wirth’s guidance as he added 12 goals to his record and received numerous postseason awards, including first team All-Southeast Region.

As a player, Wirth played for some of the top clubs in the country before beginning his college career at Charleston (West Virginia) in the fall of 2018. During his three years for the Golden Eagles, the program finished in the top five each season nationally for goals against average. His team won the NCAA Division II national championship in 2019.

He graduated from Charleston (2021) with summa cum laude honors in only three years. He completed the Mars Hill master’s in Management Cohort (2022), graduating with distinguished honors.

Wirth went on to play semi-professionally in 2019, helping lead the High Plain Drifters to a UPSL National Quarterfinal.

He holds a US Soccer C License and is working the US Soccer License ladder.