Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer Recruiting Class Announced
2/13/2011 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 13, 2011
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head women's soccer coach Ben Landis has announced the addition of eight first-year players for 2011. The members of the Class of 2015 joining the Bison next season are Glencoe, Ill., native Michaela Berman; Hannah Bonotto of Carmichael, Calif.; Cassie Denger of Nazareth, Pa.; Courtney Doud of Coto de Caza, Calif.; Brigit Falcón of Fairport, N.Y.; Victoria Matthews of West Windsor, N.J.; Courtney Nelson of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Evelyn Nicinski of New City, N.Y.
This promising class joins a Bison team that will be looking to make up for the loss of seven tremendous seniors from a squad that finished 5-2 in Patriot League play in 2010. Landis' next Bucknell recruiting class features student-athletes from coast to coast, with a long list of awards and club success among them.
"I am very excited about this class of eight outstanding student-athletes, who are each filled with great character, ability, talent, and desire," said Landis. "When we began recruiting for this class, we knew we would be losing a tremendous senior class of our own to graduation this May, and so we had big shoes to fill. We have secured a group of young women from all across the country, at every field position, and I have big expectations for each of them and their class as a whole in all endeavors of their lives at Bucknell: academic success in the classroom, leadership on campus and in our community, charismatic additions to our great team chemistry, and certainly on-field competitive success. I expect them to contribute immediately and throughout their four years at Bucknell. I'm excited to begin working with them and all of our returning team members, as our goals as always will be to return to the Patriot League Tournament in quest of lifting a tournament trophy."
Berman comes to Bucknell from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., and she will be reunited with New Trier grad Jane Voris. Berman played club soccer for Eclipse Select, the No. 2-ranked girls club team in the nation. She was an ODP state team member for six years, and was part of a six-time Illinois State Cup championship team. Her side was a three-time regional semifinalist and the 2009 Disney Showcase champs. The team was ranked No. 1 in the nation at one point.
"Michaela is a smart and athletic player who can excel as a back and midfielder in thanks to her great organization skills, quick and skillful feet, and great distribution," said Landis. "She comes from one of the best and most intense club teams in the country, playing for the Eclipse Select in Illinois, and I think she'll make a very positive and smooth transition to our team."
Bonotto was a three-year varsity letterwinner at St. Francis High School in Sacramento, Calif. Her team was the Sac-Joaquin Section champions in both 2009 and 2010. Bonotto played club soccer for the CA Rush '93, and she was a five-time team captain.
"Hannah is a natural leader with a great understanding of how to play the center back position, and the game as a whole," said Landis. "She is extremely poised, mature and capable of making an immediate and lasting impact on our back line and on our team, and I'm expecting her to do so with class."
A prolific scorer at Nazareth Area High School in Eastern Pennsylvania, Denger is the reigning Express Times Player of the Year and a two-time all-area selection. She led her team to the 2008 and 2010 District XI titles as well as the last three conference titles. With her senior year still to come this spring, Denger has already pocketed 40 career goals. She had 22 assists during her freshman season, and she scored the game-winning goal in the 2010 district championship game. Later, her team became the first in school history to win a game at the state tournament. Denger was the recipient of the 2010 EPYSA Union League Citizenship Award.
"Cassie is electric," said Landis. "She possesses both quickness and speed. She is accustomed to handling the pressure of being her team's top scorer and has come through in the clutch time and time again. She simply loves to compete, battle and give her best effort all the time. I think she will continue to develop rapidly in our team environment."
Doud will graduate this spring from Santa Margarita High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. She was voted her team's Best Offensive Player two years running, as she helped her team to the Trinity League title and a berth in the CIF semifinals for the first time in six years. In club soccer, Doud was a team captain and five-year starter for the Eclipse White Soccer Club. She was also the team scoring leader for three years with the SoCal Blues Soccer Club. She led her team to the 2010 Coast League title, and the club was ranked No. 4 nationally in 2009-10. Doud was also selected to be a part of the USA Athletes International soccer team.
"Courtney is a dangerous striker in that she can go by defenders or through them, but her desire to get into attacking areas where she can create and score goals is undeniable," said Landis. "She does very well to face up and run at defenders, either by turning herself or linking with teammates, and she'll be counted on to score and assist others at this level."
Falcón was a two-year varsity co-captain and four-year starter at Fairport High School. This past season, she was named First Team All-Greater Rochester by the Democrat & Chronicle, and she was a First Team All-Monroe County and Sixth Team All-State selection after producing 15 goals and 14 assists. The winner of her team's "Spark Plug" Leadership Award, Falcón led her team to the 2010 Section V Class AAA finals by scoring four goals in the sectional tournament. As a sophomore, her team won sectional and regional championships and was a state finalist. She finished her career with 25 goals and 27 assists. Falcón played club soccer with the Empire United Soccer Academy and was also a two-year captain of the New York West ODP team. The Empire United team won numerous tournaments, including the 2008 New York West State Cup title, and she was the team's leading scorer.
"Brigit is a strong, confident player who plays with great and equal ability as a target, back-to-goal forward as she does when faced up," said Landis. "She can absolutely strike a great ball, which makes her a goal-scoring threat, and she is equally adept at finding a teammate in the run of play. I especially like her tenacity and abilities when under pressure."
Matthews played varsity soccer and lacrosse at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in New Jersey. She captained the soccer team and led her side to its first Colonial Valley Conference title in 10 years. Her team's Offensive MVP, Matthews was an NJGSCA All-State selection and member of the regional Top 20 team. A First Team All-CVC selection by The Trentonian, she was also an NJGSCA Senior Soccer Eleven pick. She was the No. 3 scorer in her league in both 2009 and 2010, and as a junior broke the school record with four goals in a game. Matthews played on the New Jersey State ODP team for four years and helped her team win the 2010 Region 1 title.
"Vix is a dynamic, versatile and savvy attacking personality," said Landis. "We were impressed with her skill set right away and have since been blown away by her abilities to adapt, succeed and excel no matter her position, the system of play, or situation. I honestly believe she is just starting to scratch the surface of her abilities, and I love her eagerness to attack 1 v 1."
Nelson will graduate this spring from the Horizon Community Learning Center in Phoenix. In 2009, she was a starter on her school's varsity co-ed team, and a year later she was the captain and leading scorer on the school's first girls' soccer team. She was an all-region selection, and then this past year she helped her team to the state playoffs for the first time. Nelson played club soccer for the Arsenal 94 Premier Girls, the fourth-ranked team in the state of Arizona. She also earned a spot on the Arizona ODP team in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
"Courtney combines great quickness, athleticism, toughness and relentlessness, said Landis. "We will count on her to be a defensive rock and also attack out of the back. She is brave and extremely bright, on and off the field, with equally great dribbling and tackling abilities. I expect Courtney to positively and profoundly impact our campus, team and league."
A three-year starter at Clarkstown North High School, Nicinski was a first team all-section pick in 2009. She was also an all-county and two-time all-league selection. Nicinski was her team's leading scorer in both 2008 and 2009. Since 2009, she has been a member of the U-19 Polish National Team.
"Evelyn is the two-way central midfielder that we really wanted, for she possesses the defensive grit that will be needed as well as the play-making abilities that links all of her teammates through her great vision," said Landis. "Her experience on the international stage with the Polish National U-19 team gives her a special background and opportunity to impact our program and league extraordinarily."
Bucknell made its fifth straight Patriot League Tournament appearance in 2010. The team will have to account for the loss of two-time Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and Scholar All-American Christa Matlack, as well as former All-Patriot Leaguers Amanda Citron, Kelliann Doherty, Caitlin Holtz and Kelsey Johnson.
