About The Team 

Established in 1986, the women’s soccer team added to its recent success with a historical 2011 season that culminated in the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship.

Since 2004, the Blazers have recorded 76 victories, earned seven straight conference tournament berths, and had players named all-conference a total of 32 times.

In 2008, the Blazers won both the inaugural New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) regular season and tournament titles. In 2011, Elms won five of its final six games to earn the third seed in the conference tournament and advanced to the championship game.

Elms posted a 3-0 victory over Regis College in the quarterfinal round before winning in the final round of penalty kicks against Mitchell College to break a 3-3 tie thanks to a brilliant shot by midfielder Sevonnah LaRochelle (Chicopee, Mass.). The Blazers then topped Lesley University, 1-0 behind a goal from midfielder Victoria Cebula (Granby, Mass.) to advance to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Elms’ 10-6-4 overall record in 2011 was the best under third-year head coach Kevin Meek who has totaled 28 wins in his three years at the helm.  Since taking the reins, Coach Meek has had 14 players garner all-conference honors including five during each of the last two seasons.   

Blazers’ forward Jennifer Killion (Cambridge, Mass.), defender Brianna Valente (Springfield, Mass.) and midfielder Gianna Gorneault (Springfield, Mass.) were each named First Team All-NECC, while forward Erica Griffo (Syracuse, N.Y.) and midfielder Christina Goodchild (East Longmeadow, Mass.) were named to the all-conference second team.

Killion and Gorneault provided a powerful 1-2 punch for the Blazers during the 2011 campaign. Gorneault registered a 13-goal, four assist total for the season, while Killion registered 12 goals and four assists. Gorneault scored nine of her goals against NECC competition while Killion registered six goals and an assist versus league opponents. Killion has notched 41 goals for her career and is four shy of setting the program's all-time record in the category. Gorneault was also recognized as a Third Team All-New England Region member by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Valente earned first team honors as the anchor of Elms' defense helping the squad post five regular season shutouts during conference play and seven for the season. She also helped the Blazers capture the NECC championship and the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III Championship with two shutouts during the league's postseason tournament.

Griffo was named Second Team All-NECC following a two-goal, one assist effort during the 2011 season, posting a goal in each of Elms' last two regular season contests against Bay Path College and Wheelock College. Goodchild added a goal and eight assists as the catalyst for Elms' offensive efforts. Seven of her eight helpers came against league competition and twice during the regular season, Goodchild delivered two assists in a game. She also connected for two assists in the Blazers' NECC postseason semifinal contest against Mitchell.

In addition to competing in the NECC, the Blazers belong to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).