Principia College
- Located in Elsah, IL
- Founded in 1912
- Mascot: Panther
- Faith-based - rooted in Christian Science
- Over 30 Majors and Minors offered
- 96% career placement rate
- Ranked #1 for Best Value of Liberal Arts Colleges List in US News and World Report 2023
- Average percent of students who apply for and receive financial aid: 95%
OUR CAMPUS
The campus is situated on top of limestone bluffs overlooking the "mighty" Mississippi River. The campus is filled with handsome buildings inside and out. Our campus sits on 2,600 acres and is surrounded by farms and natural landscapes. We are also only 20 minutes from Alton, IL and 45 minutes away from St. Louis, MO, making city life accessible.
ACADEMICS
Principia College offers a one-of-a-kind Liberal Arts education that is both valuable and affordable. With an average class size of 11 and stellar academic support services, student-athletes can excel on and off the pitch!
Principia also boasts a phenomenal study-broad program that has taken students to over 26 different countries since 2012. A Principia abroad often tops the list of best experiences students have here, along with playing soccer, of course!
Principia College Men's Soccer
The Principia men's soccer program officially started in the fall of 1965. In the past 55 years, the program has been home to many successful players and outstanding individuals. We have a strong alumni network and fan base that supports the program. Current and past players alike say that the soccer program is the source of some of their most important friendships, life lessons, and memories. We are a brotherhood that fights for each other and plays sharp soccer.
Brotherhood
As a team, we work hard to create an environment of respect and trust. Our players know what it means to be supportive, have each others' backs, and fight for one another. The team bond is a key component in how we overcome adversity, push each other, and play with chemistry. Principia soccer players feel the brotherhood that is a part of the program and it supports them in all aspects of their lives.
Fight
Our team knows how to work; we don't give up and we push each other to be the best. We play with passion and we take pride in our work. We are tenacious.
Sharp
When people watch us play, we want to look sharp. Our touches are clean, passes are intentional, and our finishing is clinical. To achieve this, we strive to improve at each training session. We work hard on our technical and tactical abilities, and it shows in the way we play.
Leadership
Principia College soccer players take ownership of their experience to create a successful team. We are looking for players who want to develop as leaders, who want to take on responsibility and influence others for good. The best leaders put the team first and consistently show up for their teammates. We believe that the relationship and communication skills you learn here will help you be a leader in your career, family, and communities.
2021 TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS
Academics is another arena in which we excel. Each semester the goal for players is to get a 3.0 or above. This past year, our team average was a 3.4 GPA. The team earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award.
Community and Service
The men's soccer team is active in our community. Each year the team completes over 400 hours of community service.
Organizations we recently supported:
- Alton Boys and Girls Club
- Oasis Women's Shelter
- Pere Marquette IL Youth Center
- Godfrey Bucket Brigade
- Alton Fighting Irish
- Pere Marquette State Park
- Town of Grafton
- Local area churches
International Talent
Twenty percent of Principia's student body comes from abroad. Our campus and athletic programs greatly benefit from the diverse abilities, perspectives, and experiences that our international players bring to the school.
Five international students joined the team in the Fall of 2020. Three players from El Salvador, one from Germany and another from Nigeria. In the recent past we have also had players with passports from Australia, Canada, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Holland and Uganda.
Take Your Game to the Next Level
Whether you want to continue to play after college, or just be a top-level college player, our program has the facilities, knowledge, and resources to help you level up.
COACHING STAFF
Bill Whittaker - Assoicate Head Coach
OUR COMPETITION
Principia men's soccer plays in the NCAA DIII. We are one of eight teams that make up the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). During the first part of the season, we play a non-conference schedule and travel regionally to cities like Chicago (IL), Terre Haute (IN) and Memphis (TN). We then play our SLIAC schedule. The top four teams of the regular season go to our SLIAC Conference Tournament. The winner of the SLIAC tournament earns an automatic bid for the NCAA Championship.
The other schools that make up our Conference are Blackburn College (IL), Eureka University (IL), Fontbonne University (MO), Greenville University (IL), Spalding University (KY), Webster University (MO) and Westminster College (MO)
Top Notch Facilities
We are grateful to have some of the best Bermuda grass surfaces in the Midwest. In addition to our professional grade game field, we also have a full size Bermuda grass training pitch and 7 v 7 practice field. The lights on our game field make for epic matchups and memorable games.
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Principia College has some of the nicest training facilities of any small college! That includes an Olympic Weight Room, a secondary strength training room, an indoor 200-meter track, a full size swimming pool and a separate fitness center.
Ryan Duffy is the Principia Athletics Department full time Strength and Conditioning coach. Ryan programs for and trains the athletic teams at Principia College both in season and off.
Crafton Athletic Complex
One of the most coveted training facilities in the region, this training center is an ideal location for off-season futsal games, workouts, and relaxing in the hot tub.
TOCA STUDIO
Through a partnership with TOCA Football we created a soccer specific training studio. That star of the studio is the TOCA machine which is similar to a baseball pitching machine but serves size one soccer balls at various angles, heights and speeds. The machine is controlled by an app on your phone where you can choose from a wide variety of drills to sharpen your touch, passing and finishing.
In addition to using the TOCA machine, this studio is used for other skill training like wall juggling, goalkeeper training, 1v1 and 2v2 competitions and soccer volleyball. The studio also has a Bluetooth enabled sound system so you can rock out to your music while you train.
Credits:
Dan Kistler (most soccer shots) Carly Hendrickson (campus shots)