Townsend and Bloma Take Home Top SLIAC Women's Soccer Awards

Paige Townsend and Elena Bloma take home the top individual honors on the 2017 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Soccer All-Conference team. Townsend was named the Offensive Player of the Year while Bloma takes home the Defensive Player of the Year award. Also receiving awards are Kate Arthur, the 2017 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year and Jeff Wardlaw, the 2017 SLIAC Coach of the Year. In addition, Principia College received the SLIAC Sportsmanship Team Award.

Townsend, a senior, led all conference players with 11 goals during SLIAC play, adding five assists and finishing second with 27 total points. She had goals in six of her nine conference games, including a pair of hat tricks. Townsend had a season-high four goals this fall, matching the program record for goals in a game. Townsend can now add another program record to her name, becoming the first Blue Jay to take home the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Bloma, a senior, wins her second straight SLIAC Defensive Player of the Year award. Bloma was the anchor of a Gorlok defense that shutout seven of their nine conference opponents, allowing just two goals. The Gorlok defense also let up just 40 total shots in their nine conference games. Bloma even chipped in with a goal and an assist during the conference season.

The 2017 SLIAC Newcomer of the Year is Greenville University's, Kate Arthur. Arthur, a freshman, helped form one of the league's top offenses. She finished conference play with 11 goals, 10 assists, and 32 total points; leading conference players in all three categories. Arthur had four games with multiple goals and scored points in six of her nine conference games. She is the fifth player in program history to take home the award, and the third straight Panther to win; joining her teammates Dani Pearce and Breanna Thomas.

Arthurs' coach Jeff Wardlaw is the 2017 SLIAC Coach of the Year. Wardlaw led the Panthers to a 13-6 overall record, going 7-2 in conference play. A year after missing the tournament he guided the Panthers back to the postseason. The Panthers finished in the top three in conference teams in both goals scored and shutouts this fall. This marks the first time he has been named the SLIAC Coach of the Year, and he becomes just the second Panther head coach to earn the honor; joining Bob Johnson (1998). 

This year's SLIAC Team Sportsmanship Award goes to Principia College. This award is given to the team whose players, coaches, and fans best exemplify the principles of good sportsmanship. This marks the seventh time in program history Principia has taken home the award. 

The SLIAC also recognizes one individual from each team on the All-Sportsmanship team. Those honored are: Jessica Esper, from Blackburn College; Jamie Hedges, from Eureka College; Anna Whitaker, from Fontbonne University; Natty Hepburn, from Greenville University; Grace Alongi, from Iowa Wesleyan University; Erin Detter, from MacMurray College; Vanessa Ramirez-Jasso, from Principia College; McKenna Pfeiffer, from Spalding University; Carolyn Ries, from Webster University; and Heidi Gundy, from Westminster College.

All-Sportsmanship Team