Eureka’s Abby Swope Sits Alone Atop SLIAC in Saves

EUREKA – No one in the history of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has made more saves than Abby Swope.

Swope, a senior from Canton, recently broke the conference's all-time saves record and now has 669 saves in her four seasons in maroon and gold.

"It's crazy," Swope said. "I didn't realize they were up that high until coach said something about it, but it does (feel good). I just go out and play and if it happens, it happens."

Swope doesn't like a lot of attention off the field, but she is accustomed to being in the spotlight on it. She has led the SLIAC in saves in each of the past three seasons, notching over 230 saves in each of her first two full seasons, which both rank in the top ten in SLIAC single-season history.

Last season, Swope was set to transition to playing the field, but after Kayla Enochs was injured in the first match of the season, she moved back to her familiar spot and hasn't left.

"I was hesitant about it at first because I did want to get out of goal, but once I'm back in there, I love it," she said. "It's an adrenaline rush. The energy from the team when I get a big save is unmatched.

She is also tied for the conference and Eureka's single-game record with 42 saves, which she recorded in 2019 when she also became the Red Devils career saves leader. Swope has 38 career double-digit save games in 42 career starts. 

"Abby has been the backbone of the Red Devils' defensive line since her freshman year," Eureka coach Shelby Chrisman-Forza said.  "Her calm presence in the net has helped elevate our team year after year since I've been here in 2019. She has continued to improve and help cut down the amount of goal scoring opportunities against great competition. I'm excited to see her get recognition for all the effort and hard work she has put in for the last four years." 

Swope has the most career saves of anyone currently playing in NCAA Division III and is 21 away from reaching the top 24 in career saves by an NCAA Division III player.

The Red Devils are in the midst of their most competitive season in many years, and Swope is excited to see how much the team has improved since she joined the squad in 2018.

"We have a lot of talent," she said. "The new girls have stepped up and done really well this year, and I've been putting in work off the field, too, in the weight room, which has helped. I'm definitely in better shape than I was during the COVID season."

Eureka (2-6, 1-4 SLIAC) will host Fontbonne (4-2-1, 3-0-1 SLIAC) for Homecoming on Friday at 5 p.m.