When former Saint Louis University and current Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte got the call that he was going to Paris for the Olympics with the U.S. men's soccer team, it was a dream come true.
"It was obviously a dream-come-true moment, just to know that you were selected to represent your country and something that I've dreamed of since I was a little kid," Schulte said. "To get that phone call was something truly special. I was fortunate enough to have my mom and dad there with me when I got it, so to share that moment with them and just to see how happy they were that I accomplished one of my dreams, still a little bit more to go to accomplish the full thing, but just to be able to say I'm on Team USA is something awesome."
The St. Charles, Missouri, native had a stellar career at Saint Louis and graduated with a degree in marketing. In three seasons with the Billikens, Schulte made 51 appearances, earning 35 wins and a 0.84 goals against average. During his freshman year, he earned an Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie team selection. Sophomore year, Schulte was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-conference. In 2021, he was again named first-team all-conference, United Soccer Coaches second-team all-region and most outstanding player of the Atlantic 10 championship.
His time at Saint Louis prepared him on and off the field for a professional soccer career.
"It honestly made me grow up as a human being, you know, an 18-year-old scrawny boy going into SLU, and it just taught me the grind that the professional life would be," Schulte said. "Balancing school, lifts, practice, all that stuff, while also staying sharp and mentally preparing for games, taught me a lot off the field."
Schulte attributes his time at Saint Louis as being pivotal to his development as an athlete, leader and person. The exposure he gained from playing three years at Saint Louis helped Schulte take his game to the next level, where he was drafted 12th overall by Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew in 2022.
"Being able to play those games (at Saint Louis), getting that exposure and just going through those learning moments, as well as developing my body, living on my own, and just honestly, the friendships and representing not only just yourself, but a whole school and alumni, it does definitely teach you a lot," Schulte said. "When you get to the next level, it's more of an easy transition for sure."
Since graduating from Saint Louis, Schulte has won an MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew and leads the league in goals against per 90 minutes this season. (Photo: Columbus Crew)
It's been a quick rise to the top for Schulte, who has been one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS the past two seasons. Before he was promoted to the first team, Schulte won the inaugural 2022 MLS Next Pro Cup and MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the Year while playing for MLS Next Pro side Columbus Crew 2. In his first year with the Columbus Crew first team, he played the third-most minutes of any player on the team and started 31 of 34 games, including every playoff game and the 2023 MLS Cup Final, which the Crew won 2-1 against Los Angeles FC.
Schulte has continued that strong form in 2024. Through 19 matches this season, Schulte leads the league in goals against per 90 minutes at 0.89. No other player is below 1.08. He is also third in clean sheets, only behind former France national team captain and 2018 World Cup Champion Hugo Lloris and Charlotte FC's Kristijan Kahlina. That form over the last six months helped solidify his place on the Olympic squad.
"Any chance you get to represent your country is something that you'll never take for granted," Schulte said. "And just to be able to say that I'm doing that in the Olympics, with this group of guys that we've gotten to become very close with, it's something that I'll definitely remember forever."
In Paris, Schulte has about 40 people supporting him at his first Olympics, including his parents, other family and friends. He's started the first two matches of Team USA's Olympic campaign, including matches against France (3-0 loss) and New Zealand (4-1 win) and will look to finish the group stage starting in a matchup against Guinea at 1 p.m. Eastern time Tuesday.
Lining up for the U.S. national anthem in Paris with the rest of his teammates will be a moment Schulte will remember forever.
"You never take these games for granted because you never know when your last one is going to be," Schulte said. "To put on that crest, listen to the national anthem, I get chills thinking about it. Every time I step on that field and hear the national anthem, and you hear the guys singing right along next to you, there's butterflies in your stomach. It's just indescribable."
