Women's Soccer Names Captains

As the Hartford women's soccer team begins gearing up for the 2011 season this fall, head coach John Natale has announced the captains for next year's squad. Rising senior Michele DeSanti and rising junior Christiana Langwill assume co-captaincy duties for next season based on the leadership they have displayed on and off the pitch during their time with the Hawks.

A second-team All-America East performer last season, DeSanti anchored a strong defensive unit that put together seven shutouts, including whitewashes in the team's final two games of the regular season. In total, Hartford allowed zero or one goals in 12 of its 19 contests. DeSanti also provided a big point on offense when she assisted on Nicole Weil's game-winning goal at Fairleigh Dickinson in September. The junior from Meriden, Conn,. started 14 games after recovering from an early-season injury, including all eight America East tilts and the Hawks' tournament contest against Maine.

"DeSanti leads by the way she plays." Natale remarked. "She gives 110 percent every game, and will do what it takes to win games. She leads by example on the field and therefore has earned the respect of her peers and the coaching staff."

Lang was another vital cog to the defense last season. She has captaincy experience already, holding the position during her only season at Cypress College in California. That year, she was a second-team All-Orange Empire Conference selection and a nominee for the Orange Empire Conference Women's Athlete Character Award. Last year, Lang started all 19 games for the Hawks, helping the team to a 1.26 goals-against average and the third seed in the America East Championship.