EASTON, Pa. - As the 2019 Lafayette Women's Soccer team begins its training for the fall season, head coach Mick Statham announced that seniors Caitlin Balmer and Abbie Bresnahan have been selected by their teammates to serve as  captains for the upcoming year. 

"These are two great choices," Statham said. "This is actually the first year that the players chose. In previous years I have always taken input, but had the final decision."

According to Statham, the duo checks all of the boxes when looking for student-athletes to serve in the role of captain: excellent soccer players, strong in the classroom and respected by their peers.

Balmer, a native of Sherborn, Mass., started every game as a junior on the backline for the Leopards and played 1520 out of 1530 minutes during the 2018 season. She recorded her first career goal in Lafayette's win over Delaware State and helped the team register shutouts over Villanova, Saint Peter's and Bucknell.

"Cait is very competitive and wants to do well," Statham said. "She has a unique ability to talk to her teammates in black-and-white and never offend anybody. That shows you the respect she must have from those players."

Bresnahan hails from Newburyport, Mass., and sees action at both midfield and forward for the Leopards. She has made 23 appearances, including six starts, despite missing time with injuries.

"Abbie had a couple of serious injuries but her commitment to the team has never wavered," Statham said. "The overwhelming feedback from the players is that she always puts the team before herself - the team is the star, not her."

Lafayette will open the regular season on Thursday, August 22 at St. Francis-Brooklyn. Balmer, Bresnahan and the other 22 members of the 2019 squad will debut on Mike Bourger '44 Field at Oaks Stadium at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 25 against Delaware in the home opener.