Courtney Nelson on NSCAA Scholar All-East Team, Named Team's Defensive MVP

12/17/2014 3:13:00 PM | Women's Soccer

By: TBD

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Senior defender Courtney Nelson added another postseason honor on Wednesday when she was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Scholar All-East Second Team. Nelson also made the NSCAA All-Region Team earlier this month, and she was a member of the Patriot League All-Academic Team and the All-Patriot League Second Team.

A neuroscience major with a 3.76 cumulative grade-point average, Nelson interned last summer at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Last semester she did research on alcohol addiction for her behavioral neuroscience course, and she is also investigating the history and cultural significance of two utopian communities that attempted with develop along the Susquehanna River in the 1890s. Nelson presented that research to the Chesapeake Bay Conservancy and to local river enthusiasts and historical societies.

Nelson played a starring role for the Bison over the last four years, both defensively and as an offensive facilitator. She recorded a goal and three assists this season -- with the goal coming in the Patriot League semifinals against Colgate -- and in 73 career games she recorded seven goals and 12 assists.

The Bison women's soccer team put a bow on its 2014 campaign with its annual postseason banquet last week, and Nelson captured the team's Defensive MVP honor. Fellow senior Brigit Falcón earned offensive MVP honors after tallying three goals and an assist this season. One of those goals was a long-distance overtime strike in a key Patriot League win over Lafayette late in the season.

Defensive midfielder Meghan Holtz earned the team's Rookie of the Year Award. Holtz played in 19 of the team's 21 matches, with 17 starts, and registered a goal and three assists.

Head coach Ben Landis announced senior goalkeeper Dana Calderone as the winner of the Coaches' Award. Calderone walked on to the team midway through her freshman season, and this year she was elected team captain by her teammates. She made seven saves with only one goal allowed in a pair of appearances this season, and he presided over a 1-1 draw at Saint Francis (Pa.) in her first collegiate start.

Senior midfielder Cassie Denger won the Gibbons-Crane Award, given to the player who, in the opinion of her teammates and coaches, "epitomizes the highest standard of character, commitment, determination, integrity, skill, and work ethic required to be a complete soccer player." Danger tallied five goals and nine assists in her 74-game career, playing primarily as an outside mid.

Senior Evelyn Nicinski and junior Devan Schulte shared the Friends of Bucknell Soccer Award, along with parents Katy Falcón and Tami Denger. Nicinski and Schulte were both starting midfielders who suffered season-ending knee injuries. Schulte, a team captain, was injured in the preseason and did not get to participate in a game after starting 14 at defensive center mid last year. Nicinski was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection and Bucknell's Offensive MVP in 2013. She started seven games this season and scored two goals, but a knee injury suffered in Bucknell's win over Stetson on Sept. 12 ended her campaign prematurely.

The Bison finished 10-9-2 this season, including a win at Army in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals.