College Captains from CASL

CASL is always excited to hear news that our former players earn leadership roles on their respective college teams. More often than not, players are voted on by their teammates and/or coaches to earn the spot of Captain. It's not an easy job as you have to earn the respect on and off the field from your peers. As a leader, you have to understand how to motivate a group of people toward a common goal, how to keep them motivated during a game, act on their behalf when a call is made, and be their advocate behind closed doors. You have to be an example on and off the field and inside the classroom. In some instances, a Captain may take the reigns of the team at a younger age, not just as a Senior, which means he/she has to lead people who are older than he/she is. Regardless, being named a Captain at the college level is truly an honor. I once had a professional who was reviewing my resume tell me never to downplay this role I had in college. 

People have shared with us that some former CASL ladies players are now Captains of their teams. We know that there are host of other CASL players in leadership roles, so please, share them with us. Or, tell us about involvement that you or your child has in college - perhaps he/she is collaborating in research with a professor or maybe he/she is dedicated to community service and travelling to another country for service. We want to know about it all: soccer and non-soccer stories. 

CASL Captains in College

Caitlin Shelton

I'm a little biased here as a former Furman Women's Soccer Paladin myself, but Caitlin Shelton ('91 CASL Elite Ladies) is captain of the Furman University Women's Soccer Team. Caitlin is a Senior this year at Furman, which is in Greenville, SC. The Paladins were recently tabbed as the preseason favorite in the Southern Conference in voting by the league's 11 head coaches. Caitlin along with four of her teammates were also named to the preseason All-SoCon team. It might just be coincidence, but Caitlin and I were the same number (#3) and played in same position... interesting! 

Katelyn Reeves

Katelyn Reeves ('92 CASL Elite) was recently named as co-captain by her Clemson University Tigers soccer teammates. Katelyn, who earned a starting role midway through her freshman year clearly earned the respect of her teammates and coaches as she started all 17 games as a sophomore in 2012. In a recent press release, Katelyn said, "It means the world to me to be voted by my teammates. To know that they look up to me as a leader just really means a lot. My most important role as captain will be to help keep the team together through the ups and downs of the season, and to be a leader, both vocally and by example, on and off the field." 

Haley Patsey

Lexi Miller

Haley Patsey ('93 CASL Elite Ladies) is the youngest of our Captain highlights. She is a sophomore at East Carolina University and was recently named as the ECU Pirates women's soccer team. She will join former CASL '91 Elite Girls player, Lexi Miller, who is the other team captain. Lexi is a rising Redshirt Junior at ECU who is coming off an injury from her sophomore season. ECU competes in Conference USA. They will open their 20th season as they travel to take on SoCon teams Davidson and Elon.

Meagan Proper

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro has two former CASL standouts as Captains of the Spartans squad. Katie Durst and Ashley Stokes are two of the four captains for this years UNCG team. Last season, Durst helped anchor a back line that only allowed four goals in its last 10 games. She will be entering her final season with the Spartans. Stokes is entering her Junior year at UNCG. In her freshman season, she was selected to the Southern Conference All-Freshmen team. Last season, she appeared in 15 games making 12 starts for a squad that eventually brought home the SoCon regular season title. 

Meagan Proper ('90 CASL Elite) will return as Captain for the Wolfpack and lead the team in her final season. Last season, Meagan was the only player to start all 19 games. Meagan fought her way back from an injury plagued freshman year where she eventually earned a medical red shirt. Meagan, as with many of the other Captains highlighted here, is a role model on and off the field. Meagan was named to the ACC All-Academic team in Spring 2012.















Nicole Jewell ('91 CASL Elite Ladies) is

Nicole Jewell

entering her final season with the Northwestern Wildcats. She is coming off a Junior season where she played in all 19 games (starting 18) logging 1,225 minutes of game play. Northwestern's Coach Moynihan described Nicole and the other Captains by saying "all of them have good experience on the field and I think they are all players that the others look up to and respect. They walk the walk, they come prepared, they work hard and they've got the grit and determination that we're looking for....they are excellent role models across the board."

Scooter Oliver

The girls are not the only CASL players who are taking on leadership roles with their college teams. Scooter Oliver ('92 CASL Academy) is a team captain for the Campbell University Camels. Scooter was two year captain with his Academy team, and the skills he learned in that role have clearly carried over to the next level. Scooter is coming off a summer season with the U23 Carolina RailHawks team. You can catch Scooter and the Camels this week as they travel to NC State to take on the Wolfpack on Friday, August 30th. 

AJ Iames

AJ Iames ('93 CASL Elite Boys) is coming off a red-shirt sophomore season. Even with an injury, AJ has earned the respect of his teammates and will be leading the UNC Asheville Bulldogs as one of the captains this season. AJ will be a leader on the back line this year for the Bulldogs as they battle for the Big South Conference title.

Bo Burns

Bo Burns ('91 CASL Elite, '90 CASL Elite, U-16 Academy) will be taking the reigns of the Hampden-Sydney Men's Soccer team this season. Bo has been a starter for the last three seasons with the Tigers. He will anchor the back line and where he will be directing a young team - over half the team are incoming freshman. The Tigers will be hoping to make a return tot he ODAC Championship game this season as they did in 2010. 

JP Rafferty

Another addition the CASL Captains in College list is JP Rafferty ('91 CASL Elite; Academy) who is a Captain for the South Carolina Gamecocks.  JP is a Senior who has also excelled in the classroom. He has been consistently named to the SEC Fall Academic honor roll. JP, coming off a season where he started in 14 games and saw action in 16, will be turned to as a leader this year.