CARLINVILLE, IL – The Blackburn College Women's Soccer team saw major growth in the 2023 season with more wins and big improvement in nearly every statistical category.
The 2023 squad finished the year with three more wins than the year prior and most wins since the 2019 season. Their .375 win percentage was the best since the 2011 season as well.
Leading the Beavers was senior Libby Adams who finished the year with 11 goals and four assists for a total of 26 points. Senior Sophia King added four goals and two assists while senior Izzy Erickson tallied three goals and three assists. Freshman Kylie Duncan chipped in with two goals with freshman Izzy Harrington posting one. Harrington also dished out two assists as senior Molly Koskey and sophomore Janelle Naumann both notched an assist as well.
The team's improvements came largely from a much better offensive attack. Taking nearly three times as many shots, 170, and more than double the number of shots on goal, 80, Blackburn's 21 goals more than triples their 2022 production, and their 13 assists quadruples their 2022 assist output. BC also took 25 corners kicks this season, compared to seven in 2022.
In goal, freshman Sofia Faro tallied 89 saves with two shutouts while posting a .748 save percentage. Adams also saw time in goal, posting 29 saves in four appearances.
After dropping the season opener, the Beavers went 3-0-2 in the next five matches, getting victories over Alverno University, 4-2, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, 2-1, and Mount Mary University, 5-0. They tied Faith Baptist Bible College 1-1 and Defiance College 1-1. During St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action, BC earned a 1-1 tie with Principia College and a 2-2 tie with new member Lyon University before collecting a 4-0 victory on Senior Day over Eureka College.
The team's success was evident as the Beavers had three student-athletes earn all-conference honors. King was named Second Team All-Conference while Adams was named Third Team All-Conference. Koskey earned All-Sportsmanship Team honors. Koskey was also named to the SLIAC All-Academic team as were junior Alexis Drury, and sophomores Kara Mantia and Kayla Mantia.
At the end of the season, the team also gave out team awards. Adams was named the team's Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year while Jada Lurry earned Defensive Player of the Year honors. Freshman Riley Hunt was named Newcomer of the Year and Most Improved Player. Koskey earned three team awards as well. The first award was the 1837 Award, given to the student-athlete impacting the team the most off the field as a citizen, in the classroom, in the work program, and as a teammate. She also received the Blackburn Award which is given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the core values of the Blackburn Women's Soccer Program (great communicator, respectful, responsible, resilient, and a strong work ethic), and the Fortitude Award, which is given the student-athlete who displays the most mental toughness during the season.
The team is expected to return 11 players with nine who earned multiple starts during this past season and will look to continue their growth into the 2024 season.