Danso, Ellis, and Pinkley Represent 2015 SLIAC Hall of Fame Class

The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference will induct three members in the 2015 Hall of Fame Class this May at Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri during the annual conference banquet. This year’s SLIAC Hall of Fame class includes from Principia College Yaw Danso and Lee Ellis and from Fontbonne University Diana Pinkley.

Yaw Danso was a standout with the Principia College men’s soccer team from 2006-09, earning All-Conference honors all four years including being named the 2009 SLIAC Player of the Year. Danso finished his career with 28 goals and 26 assists for 82 total points, ranking him in the top five in Principia program history in all three categories. Danso captained the 2009 Panthers team that reached the highest national ranking in program history at #8 in the nation. He also helped the team to an undefeated SLIAC regular season in 2007. After graduation Danso continued his playing career with the Puerto Rico Islanders of the National American Soccer League, helping his team qualify for the CONCACAF league.

Lee Ellis will enter the SLIAC Hall of Fame as a coach after serving as Principia College women’s soccer he ad coach for 15 seasons from 1996 until 2010. As coach of the Panthers he led the team to four SLIAC regular season championships and three tournament titles, earning three national tournament bids. During his tenure Ellis was named the SLIAC Coach of the Year a conference record eight times while having 89 players earn All-Conference honors, with 45 players earning First Team All-Conference honors, and two All-Americans. In addition to his team’s success on the field the Panthers received the SLIAC Team Sportsmanship Award five times and the NSCAA Team Academic Award 14 straight years.

Diana Pinkley joins the SLIAC Hall of Fame after an outstanding softball collegiate career at Fontbonne University. Pinkley was a member of the inaugural Fontbonne softball team, playing from 1994-97, and was the starting pitcher for the program’s first ever game. Pinkley would go on to earn First Team All-Conference honors all four years. She still holds school records for innings pitched, starts, and wins as well as single season records for earned-run average and complete games. Her 0.85 earned-run average in the 1995 season ranked her fifth nationally and that same season guided the Griffins to a SLIAC Conference Championship. She wrapped up her career with 55 wins including 70 complete games and an earned-run average of 1.26. Pinkley was also a member of two women’s Class A ASA National Championships. She was inducted into the Fontbonne Hall of Fame in 2003.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on May 19^th during the SLIAC Conference banquet held at Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. The SLIAC would like to congratulate all of this year’s inductees on their athletic achievements and their selection as a member of the SLIAC Hall of Fame.