« Women’s Soccer 2017

Rachel Bloznalis

School
Boston
Position
Defender
Major
Public Health

Classroom

Rachel Bloznalis excels in the classroom as she was named a NSCAA Scholar All-American and was named to the Academic All-Patriot League Team last year. As a senior, she was one of 10 Patriot League student-athletes to post a 4.0 GPA in the 2016 fall semester, finishing the spring with a 3.93 GPA. A three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member, she is currently pursuing her master’s in public health and is on track to finish classes in May and will follow with a practicum next summer.

Character

Bloznalis played first the two games of her sophomore season before suffering a season-ending injury due to chronic exertional compartment syndrome. She came back to make the 2015 All-Patriot League First Team, helping the defense allow just two goals and a 3.4 shots against average against Patriot League opponents. She went on to be named a captain in her senior season and will serve the same role as a graduate student.

Community

Bloznalis has been involved with the Bloom Family Leadership Academy, a sports leadership development program where coaches select student-athletes with whom to be involved. Bloznlais has been involved with numerous organizations in Boston and spent four weeks in the summer of 2016 with Coaches Across Continents in Cameroon as a volunteer coach.

Competition

Bloznalis has grown into one of the top defenders in New England. A 2017 MAC Hermann Trophy Watch List nominee, she is the first BU student-athlete to be named to the list since 2007. She posted an accomplished season last year, being named to the 2016 NSCAA All-Region First Team, was the Patriot League Defender of the Year, and earned her second straight selection to the All-Patriot League First Team. A two-time Patriot League Preseason Defender of the Year and a two-time Patriot League Defender of the Week, she has been a starter for the past three seasons. In leading one of the league’s top defenses, she guided the back line to shutout five Patriot League opponents last season and limited conference opponents to a league-best 0.56 goals-against average.