LINDSAY EVERSMEYER
SOCCER
Born: February 24, 1980; Maryville, IL
Position: Forward
Played For: Kansas University (1988), Harris Stowe University (1999-2002), River Cities Futbol Club (2004-2006), St. Louis Steamers (2004)
Coached/Owned: River City SC (2005-2006), Fire & Ice Soccer Club (2012-2022), Southwestern Illinois College (2023-Present)
When talking about star athletes, the term “five-star” is often used. When talking about Lindsay Eversmeyer, the term “five-star” may not be enough. Her resume lists her as a star athlete, an innovator within her sport, a coach, a team marketing director, a team owner, a media analyst, a league commissioner, and an inspiration to young girls with soccer aspirations throughout the country.
This Maryville, Illinois native excelled early within the sport of soccer. Buoyed by her talent, determination, and love of the game, Lindsay’s evolving skills had her competing in select leagues against not just girls, but boys as well. At Alton High School, her star power and leadership took off. She set the school record for goals scored. She was selected as 1st Team All-Area (1994-1998), 1st Team All – Region (1994-1998) and 1st Team All-Conference (1994-1998). In 1997, the Alton Telegraph selected her the Player of the Year.
That success took her from the high school fields of Illinois to the Big 12 fields at the University of Kansas. In her first season’s third week, she was named the “Big 12 Player of the Week” and would go on to become a two-time All-Tournament Selection. Despite success on the field, the small-town girl felt homesick, and decided to go back to her roots and suit up for Harris-Stowe State.
In her three years at Harris-Stove, she would set six different records and be named the AMC’s (American Midwest Conference) Most Valuable Player in 2000, after being selected conference “Newcomer of the Year” in 1999. Lindsay would be selected the 2002-2003 “Female Athlete of the Year, the AMC All-Conference First Team (1999, 2000, 2001), the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Mid-West All Regional 1st Team (1999, 2000, 2001), the NAIA All-American Team Honorable Mention (1999, 2000, 2002), and finally the Harris-Stowe Team MVP (1999, 2000, 2001).
After her graduation, Lindsay played several seasons for the St. Louis Archers in the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League) before making a bigger splash in professional soccer. As the story goes, Lindsay was hanging out with her friends at a St. Louis Steamers MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) game when they ran into the team’s owner. The team was looking for ways to boost attendance and Lindsay, straight-faced said, “you should put a girl on the team,” to which the owner responded asking whether she knew of someone. Lindsay became that someone. She tried out for the team and made her debut in February 2005 against the Milwaukee Wave, marking the first time in history that a female played within men’s professional indoor soccer. The team then extended her a five-game contract for the season.
Although her tenure with the Steamers was short, her impact on the sport was enormous. Lindsay became a role model for young girls nationwide for what she continues to do on and off the field. After the Steamers, while playing in the WPSL, she also wanted to provide girls with opportunities to play soccer after college. In 2013, she founded, played, and coached the Fire & Ice Soccer Club in the WPSL. She even took them to a national Championship and won numerous “coach of the year” awards. She has coached at her alma-mater Harris-Stowe, the University of Missouri – St. Louis and is now at Southwestern Illinois College, while also serving as a match day analyst for St. Louis City Soccer and serving as the WPSL Central Region Associate Commissioner.