Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Women's Soccer to Welcome Six Newcomers in 2012
3/30/2012 8:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
March 30, 2012
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell head women's soccer coach Ben Landis has announced the addition of six promising newcomers who will join the Bison squad in the fall of 2012. The newest members of the program are Jessie Ashworth (Richmond, Va./Godwin), Lauren Dandie (Fullerton, Calif./Troy), Madison Loos (Centennial, Colo./Eaglecrest), Danielle Piccirilli (Davidsonville, Md./South River), Alex Rosen (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) and Devan Schulte (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo).
"When we look at putting together a recruiting class we try to fill our needs from back to front and inside to outside, and I think we have done that with this class," said Landis, who completed his sixth season as head coach of the Bison in the fall. "From goalkeeper to center back to center mid to forward, we feel like we have potential impact players at key positions. The best thing about this group as a whole is that they seem to have great intangibles. They all have a certain moxie that gives them an edge, and they are all excited to come to Bucknell and help us get back to the top of the Patriot League."
Ashworth is a goalkeeper from Richmond, Va. She was a four-year varsity starter and two-year captain at Godwin High School, and she helped lead her team to state finals in 2009. Ashworth was an All-Colonial District, Academic All-District, All-Metro Richmond and Honorable Mention All-Central Region selection. She also played club soccer for the Richmond Strikers Elite in the ECNL.
"Jessie is an extremely athletic and brave goalkeeper," said Landis. "She is as tough as she is skilled, and she is a great leader. She has a contagious work ethic and is going to impact us every day. We expect [senior] Sandita McDermott to be one of the best keepers in the Patriot League next year, but Jessie can not only push her, but whether or not she is the starter right away she can be a difference-maker for our whole team."
One of two Californians in the incoming class, Dandie has played primarily at center back in high school and club soccer. Dandie was a four-year starter and two-year captain for Troy High School and helped the team to its first CIF championship. She is a four-time first team all-league selection and a two-time All-CIF and All-Orange County selection. Dandie has been named both offensive and defensive team MVP as well as the Freeway League Defensive Player of the Year. The recipient of the City of Fullerton Mayor's Award, she was also a four-time scholar-athlete selection. In club soccer, Dandie played six years with Slammers FC and two with Beach FC. She was a part of teams that won two Surf Cup championships, two FWRL titles, two Coast Soccer League titles and a League Cup.
"We saw Lauren play as a center back, and we think she has an opportunity to help us there or at outside back or center mid," said Landis. "She is a very good distributor of the ball and has great vision. We have an immediate need at center back, so we may see her start out there, but she is versatile enough to play multiple positions."
Loos will be coming to Bucknell from Centennial, Colo., the same town that produced rising senior Kayla Yee, and Landis feels that Loos has a similar style game as Yee. She was a two-year captain at Eaglecrest High School, where she broke the program record for career assists as a junior and came within one of the goal-scoring record as well. She is a three-time all-city and all-conference selection as well as an academic all-state selection. Loos played club soccer for the Colorado Storm, which she helped lead to three league championships, and was a four-year Colorado ODP participant. She also worked out at the U.S. National Soccer Training Center in 2010-11.
"Madison came onto our recruiting radar a bit late, but we feel she is going to be a great fit at Bucknell," said Landis. "She is an attacking center mid with a blue-collar approach to the game and high soccer IQ. She is a real competitor, a technical player who understands the gamesmanship that is needed to succeed."
Piccirilli is a multi-dimensional player from South River High School in southern Maryland. She was a four-year letterwinner there and helped lead her squad to two county championships and a regional title. Piccirilli was a two-time all-county selection, and she was named to the all-state team in 2011, when she served as team captain. She also plays club soccer for the Freestate Fury, one of the top programs in the state.
"Danielle extremely versatile and can play back, midfield or forward," said Landis. "She is playing forward with her club team, and that is probably where we see her fitting in best. She is excellent as a back-to-goal target who can link up with the midfielders and then turn and go to goal. She is a strong athlete and a good finisher. We know she will compete hard and create scoring opportunities."
Rosen is a Manhattan Beach, Calif., native who has competed in both soccer and wrestling at Mira Costa High School. As a defender, she helped lead her soccer team to a Bay League championship. She is a Southern California ODP participant and has captained her club team to a Surf Club title and a second-place finish in the SCDSL, which is part of the Southern California Premier League.
"Alex is a big, strong, athletic competitor who will be noticed physically on the field," said Landis. "She will make an impact at center back. She has an excellent header, is a strong, physical tackler, and she plays the game as hard as possible. She is almost an `old-school' back, the kind of player who can really control the back line."
Schulte is a central midfielder who came back strong from a knee injury to captain Ramapo High School to the 2011 Bergen County finals and the state sectional finals. A four-year varsity letterwinner, Schulte was an all-league selection in 2009. In 2010 her team won the sectional title and made it to the state semifinals. She plays club soccer for the ECNL World Class FC and was part of championship teams at the 2009 Orange Classic and the 2010 Disney Showcase. Schulte also has a strong Bucknell connection, as her father, Bucknell Athletics Hall-of-Famer Scott Schulte '81, was an All-America water polo player for the Bison and later played with the U.S. National Team. Devan's mother, Dana, also graduated from Bucknell in 1981.
"Devan has come back from a tough knee injury, and she has that grit and determination that we are looking for," said Landis. "She can play as a holding or attacking center midfielder. She is good on the ball, can distribute well with both feet, and even though she is not the tallest player out there, she has excellent timing, so she is good in the air. She plays for a very strong club team in New Jersey, so she has seen top competition."
