Principia College alum Nicole Gervais was named to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Saturday at the women’s championship basketball game. A four-year letter-winner in Principia soccer, Gervais made quite an impact on Principia and on the SLIAC.

Her first year of collegiate soccer, Gervais was named SLIAC Newcomer of the Year (1997) and SLIAC Co-player of the Year (1997). She then went on to win the SLIAC Player of the Year two more times – in 1998 and 2001. Gervais holds the SLIAC Individual Single-Game Record for most points scored; she scored 12 pts. in a game against Blackburn on 10/26/01.

In 2003, she was selected as one of the twenty all-time greatest players in Principia College soccer history. Gervais’s jersey was retired, and at the dedication a plaque was erected with the following inscription:

Gervais was a consummate attacking player, a goal scorer with playmaking tendencies who eventually set new standards in every scoring category (84 goals, 54 assists, 222 total points), during her tenure at Principia (1997-99, 2001). She was captain in 2000 (red-shirt season), a 4-time all-conference selection, 3-time conference player of the year (1997, 1998, and 2001), 2-time all-region team member (1999, Great Lakes and 2001, Central) and in 2001, the 3rd highest scorer in NCAA III (26 goals and 19 assists).   

Gervais worked as the assistant women’s soccer coach at Principia College for the past five years. Next fall, she will take the position of head women’s soccer coach at Whittier College in California.

Principia College head women’s soccer coach Lee Ellis says of Gervais, “She has had an indelible impact on Principia soccer, contributing to a record of 137-62-6, as a player and coach. We couldn’t be more proud of her latest accomplishment.”

All SLIAC Hall of Fame student-athlete inductees must have graduated from his or her institution, played at least two years at that institution, and played a SLIAC championship sport. Nominees are eligible five years after their last date of participation. Up to four individuals may be inducted into the SLIAC Hall of Fame, located online at www.sliac.org, each year. Each conference institution must have an inductee at least once every six years.

Principia is a private liberal arts college in southern Illinois, 45 minutes north of St. Louis, Missouri.

Story Courtesy of Jennifer Moeller and the Principia College Sports Information Department.  It appeared originally on Principia's website on February 28.