Alli Klug

Classroom

Alli Klug is on track to graduate in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, concentration in physical therapy. She also carries a minor in psychology. Following graduation, Klug will remain enrolled at Saint Louis University for two more years while pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy. Her career aspiration is to work in orthopedic physical therapy and eventually to work with athletes. Klug has appeared on the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll the past two years, and she began the fall 2019 semester with a 3.663 cumulative grade-point average that included a semester of straight A’s. She made the Doisy College of Health Sciences Dean’s List last spring.

Character

Klug epitomizes a student-athlete. Through on-field contributions, leadership and an ability to guide herself and teammates through adversity, she transformed SLU women’s soccer into a top program and made herself one of the nation’s best defenders. Everyone around the team has been impressed by how one individual’s growth and development improved an entire organization. She has made an indelible mark on SLU’s culture.

“Among the qualities that make Alli an admired team leader are her ruthless competitiveness, commitment to excellence and ability to relate to and inspire others. She joined a program in a significant rebuilding phase, one without recent competitive success or a championship culture. To lay a foundation, we developed a “leadership group” to which Alli was selected as a sophomore. The group led us in developing principles that guide us daily toward what it means to be a SLU women’s soccer student-athlete. A successful and admired team leader handles her responsibilities impeccably while always thinking beyond herself to do what she can to guide a team to success. Alli does this with incredible discipline and consistency. She has an innate ability to be part of the group while also observing as a leader. She is the one I look to most when making hard decisions for the program. She delivers direct feedback to authority and demands excellence of herself and others. She addresses difficult situations with grace and maturity beyond her years. She will always do what is best to fulfill our mission.”  – Head Coach Katie Shields

Community

Klug has been an integral part of Saint Louis women’s soccer’s extensive community-service outreach. She is in her fifth year of working with St. Louis’ Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA) and plans to continue her association with the organization following graduation. Klug spends several Saturday mornings each year playing soccer and interacting with individuals served by SPENSA. Over the past two years, Klug has worked with Girls on the Run programs at St. Louis-area grade schools, helping to inspire girls on their journey to become and remain physically active. She also has taken part each year in SLU’s Relay for Life event that raises money for the fight against cancer.

Competition

Klug, a center back, is one of the most-decorated players in Saint Louis women’s soccer history. She is the program’s only two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American (second-team in 2018, third-team in 2017), the only Billiken named to the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List (2018, 2019), one of only two SLU players selected to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team twice (2017, 2018) and one of just three Billikens to be named conference Defensive Player of the Year twice (2017, 2018). Klug made the All-Conference First Team in each of the past two seasons, and she was named to the 2018 Atlantic 10 Championship All-Tournament Team. She helped lead the 2018 Billikens to A-10 regular-season and tournament titles, an NCAA Championship berth and a school-record 18 wins, playing every minute in all but one game. In 2017, she led a Saint Louis defense that set a school record for fewest goals allowed (10) and tied the school mark for shutouts (13), and she made her offensive contribution count by scoring all five of her goals (including two game-winners) vs. conference opponents. Klug was a 2017 National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year, and she has received SLU’s Mentality Award and Execution Award.