Patrick

Schulte

Schulte was born and raised in St. Charles — part of the St. Louis metro — and his entire development as a player happened within the region's youth soccer ecosystem. He started at St. Louis Scott Gallagher, switching from winger to goalkeeper around age 11 or 12, then moved to the Saint Louis FC academy as a teenager. He was still a high school senior at Francis Howell when he signed an academy contract with Saint Louis FC's first team and made an appearance in the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Des Moines Menace — saving three of four penalties in a shootout to help the club advance. Rather than leave for a high-profile college program, he stayed home and played for SLU's Billikens — three years, 51 appearances, 22 shutouts, and three A-10 honors, including Defensive Player of the Year.

He entered the 2022 MLS SuperDraft after his junior year and went 12th overall to Columbus Crew on a Generation Adidas contract. In his first full season with the first team (2023), he claimed the starting job from veteran Eloy Room and never let go — 31 regular season starts, then six more in the playoffs, capped by an MLS Cup at 22 years old. He is the youngest goalkeeper in league history to start and win the final.

His trajectory has made him one of the more prominent examples of the St. Louis pipeline producing elite senior talent. He grew up thirty minutes from downtown, trained within the city's club system, went to college in the city, and is now a regular presence in the USMNT goalkeeper conversation.