Rachel Bloznalis

Classroom

Rachel Bloznalis currently holds a 3.37 GPA as a health science major in Boston Univeristy’s Sargent College and was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in all three of her years at BU. Additionally, she was selected as a participant in the Bloom Family Leadership Academy, a program that is offered to Boston University student-athletes who want to learn how to become exceptional leaders in their community.

Character

Selected as one of two captains by her coaches and peers for the upcoming season, Bloznalis represents the exceptional character desired in a student-athlete. She manages to balance soccer, academics, community service and a part-time job throughout the year while remaining one of the most positive, upbeat, friendly and approachable student-athletes in all of BU Athletics. There is not a time that Bloznalis will not say hello when passing you in the hallway or making the extra effort to run across the street and open a door when you’re carrying too much in your hands. She is always calm and collected, both on and off the pitch, and is not only an exemplary student-athlete but all-around human being. Her enthusiasm for not only her sport but for bettering her community and the world is a standard to which many can only aspire.

Community

Excelling in the classroom and on the pitch isn’t enough for Bloznalis, as she also shines in the community, devoting herself to charitable works since coming to campus in 2013. Primarily focusing on children, she has spent numerous hours volunteering at the Franciscan Chlidren’s Hospital, participated weekly in BOKS (Build out Kids Success) program at the Jackson Mann and Boston Green Academy schools and volunteered every spring for the Special Olympics program held at BU. Beyond her volunteerism in the Boston area, Bloznalis looked globally and signed on with Coaches Across Continents as a volunteer coach. She spent four weeks in Cameroon between her sophomore and junior years using soccer as a vehicle to offer a social impact. Bloznalis taught social change relevant to the area including conflict resolution and women’s rights while providing curriculum to local coaches who would then become leaders and teachers in their own community. She was responsible for raising the funds to participate in this trip (over $2,500) and left immediately following her sophomore academic year to participate in this intensive, but rewarding, program.

Competition

Bloznalis returns as one of the best, if not the best, defenders in the Patriot League this season and missed out on PL Defender of the Year honors last season only because of the incredible senior playing beside her in 2015. Her ability to shut down her matchups is truly a sight to behold and was critical last year as the Terrier back line limited opponents to just 4.7 shots on goal per game including just 3.4 per game by conference opponents. Through the entire Patriot League Tournament, Bloznalis and the back line only allowed four total shots to get to the goalie. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Patriot League First Team and is the only defender returning this season that earned first-team honors. Missing out on her sophomore season due to injury, Bloznalis came back last season in incredible shape and made an immediate impact, starting 19 games. Her impeccable work on set pieces earned her two goals and four assists last season. Stepping up in the important times, Bloznalis scored one of her goals and three of her assists throughout conference play.