Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell 2014 Women's Soccer Captains Announced
3/28/2014 1:05:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell women's soccer team is in the midst of its spring training session, and head coach Ben Landis has announced the election of four team captains for the 2014 season. Rising seniors Dana Calderone and Courtney Nelson along with rising juniors Lauren Dandie and Devan Schulte will serve as captains.
“I'm thrilled to announce these four women as our team captains for 2014,” said Landis. “We have seen great strides throughout our entire team and have leaders throughout as well, but these four titled leaders have been selected to lead the 2014 squad to new heights, and I have the utmost confidence in them to do so. They are tremendous people, true student-athletes, and will represent the program incredibly well. They have my full support and the full support of a squad that will be 26-strong and ready to go to work in August.”
Calderone joined the Bison squad as a walk-on midway through her freshman year, and she has played a valuable role as a backup goalkeeper ever since. She has come off the bench in two career matches, one coming in a win at Cal State Bakersfield in 2012 and the other in a home match against Penn State last season.
“Dana epitomizes what the team has asked of each other on a daily basis in terms of her fullest effort, respect, and attitude no matter what we do when representing this program,” said Landis. “A former walk-on who joined us halfway through her freshman fall, she has grown immensely as a goalkeeper, as a team member, and now as a captain who is always an encouraging voice and backs it up with her work ethic.”
One of the fastest and most versatile players in the program, Nelson has been an everyday starter in each of her first three seasons while playing a variety of positions. Nelson, who will be entering her second year as a team captain, has played both outside back and outside midfield for the Bison. She has recorded six goals and nine assists in her career, including five goals and five assists as a sophomore in 2012 when she was primarily an attacking player. Last season the Bison had some injuries in the back four, and Nelson returned to right back, where she earned Third Team All-Patriot League honors after an outstanding season.
“Courtney leads by example in the truest sense, and I'm really pleased to see that she's been selected to be a captain again,” said Landis. “She is an exceptional soccer player who is completely committed to her development and this team while always striving for excellence. Now, in her final year, I'm excited to see her competitive greatness reach an all-time high.”
Like Nelson, Dandie has been a starter since day one in the program. A rock-solid center back, Dandie started all 19 games as a freshman and 15 as a sophomore last fall, missing three due to injury. She led the team in minutes played in 2012, and over the last two seasons she has been part of 14 team shutouts.
“Lauren immediately made a positive mark on this program as a player, and we've counted on her tremendously in such an important leadership position like center back from day one,” praised Landis. “Now, as a captain, we expect to see her leadership qualities of composure, character and confidence flourish even more brightly, for she is a fierce competitor.”
Schulte earned a starting spot as a sophomore last season as a defensive center midfielder. She played in 17 matches with 14 starts and was one of the team leaders in minutes played.
“Devan represents not just our team and program with such grace and class, but the University as a whole in the many aspects of her life as a college student,” said Landis. “Her calming understanding and overall mature perspective allows her to have great relationships with coaches and teammates alike, which means she is responsible, trustworthy, and reliable.”
Bucknell finished 7-9-2 overall and 4-4-1 in Patriot League play last season. The Bison qualified for the Patriot League Tournament and lost a heartbreaker in penalty kicks at Colgate in the quarterfinals.
