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Raphino, Seelenfreund, Calhoon, Gagne, Allen Announced As 2023 Women's Soccer Captains
4/11/2023 10:53:00 AM | Women's Soccer
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown women's soccer head coach Kia McNeill has announced Brittany Raphino, Ava Seelenfreund, Evelyn Calhoon, Clare Gagne, and Sheyenne Allen as the team's captains for the 2023 season.
"I couldn't be more excited to work with this group of leaders as we head into the fall season," McNeill said. "I know having five captains is a bit unconventional, especially in the Ivy League, but we have always been a program that has prided ourselves on being uncommon and not doing things the same way as everyone else.
"The situation with COVID put us in a unique position where we have some .5 seniors, and a true senior class. As a staff when we looked at it, we felt like we really needed all five of these players to help steer our team forward and the team's votes reflected that as well. When you are coming off of three consecutive Ivy League Championships, things get harder to stay on top and we are constantly looking at ways we can reinvent and refine ourselves to continue to be the best team in the Ivy League.
"Brittany, Ava, Evie, Clare, and Sheyenne are all key players and people within our program and they all lead in different, yet meaningful ways. With a large incoming class, which will be announced in the near future, we are going to lean heavily on these five leaders to help optimize our culture, potential, and performance in the fall. We have formed a wonderful leadership group and I look forward to the collaboration and growth we create together this year."
Allen is the lone captain returning from the 2022 leadership group for her second year helping to lead the program. Last fall, she started in 16 games, scored one goal and posted career-high marks with six assists and eight points.
Raphino is a fresh off a stint with the U.S. U-23 Women's Youth National Team and will be returning to Brown as a two-time All-American, a First Team selection following the 2022 season, and the back-to-back reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year. Her 24 points led the team in 2022 as she became just the second player in program history to record back-to-back 20-point seasons.
Seelenfreund returns to the Bears following a career year that saw her score 10 goals, which tied for the team lead with Raphino, and a career-high 21 points. Her five game-winning goals led the team. Seelenfreund is a two-time All-Region selection and has been named to the All-Ivy First Team in each of the previous two seasons.
Calhoon played in 17 games last season and earned a starting role in 14. She scored once and assisted on two other goals, both of which proved to be game-winners. Calhoon was a CSC Academic All-District selection in 2022 and an All-Ivy Second Team honoree following the 2021 season.
Rounding out the leadership group, Gagne played in 10 games in goal for the Bears last season, making seven starts. She posted a 5-1-1 record in those games and recorded three clean sheets.
Brown will be looking for their fourth straight Ivy Title in 2023. If accomplished, the Bears will be the first Ivy League team to win four in a row since Brown's own historic run of nine straight titles from 1982-90.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on Twitter, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
"I couldn't be more excited to work with this group of leaders as we head into the fall season," McNeill said. "I know having five captains is a bit unconventional, especially in the Ivy League, but we have always been a program that has prided ourselves on being uncommon and not doing things the same way as everyone else.
"The situation with COVID put us in a unique position where we have some .5 seniors, and a true senior class. As a staff when we looked at it, we felt like we really needed all five of these players to help steer our team forward and the team's votes reflected that as well. When you are coming off of three consecutive Ivy League Championships, things get harder to stay on top and we are constantly looking at ways we can reinvent and refine ourselves to continue to be the best team in the Ivy League.
"Brittany, Ava, Evie, Clare, and Sheyenne are all key players and people within our program and they all lead in different, yet meaningful ways. With a large incoming class, which will be announced in the near future, we are going to lean heavily on these five leaders to help optimize our culture, potential, and performance in the fall. We have formed a wonderful leadership group and I look forward to the collaboration and growth we create together this year."
Allen is the lone captain returning from the 2022 leadership group for her second year helping to lead the program. Last fall, she started in 16 games, scored one goal and posted career-high marks with six assists and eight points.
Raphino is a fresh off a stint with the U.S. U-23 Women's Youth National Team and will be returning to Brown as a two-time All-American, a First Team selection following the 2022 season, and the back-to-back reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year. Her 24 points led the team in 2022 as she became just the second player in program history to record back-to-back 20-point seasons.
Seelenfreund returns to the Bears following a career year that saw her score 10 goals, which tied for the team lead with Raphino, and a career-high 21 points. Her five game-winning goals led the team. Seelenfreund is a two-time All-Region selection and has been named to the All-Ivy First Team in each of the previous two seasons.
Calhoon played in 17 games last season and earned a starting role in 14. She scored once and assisted on two other goals, both of which proved to be game-winners. Calhoon was a CSC Academic All-District selection in 2022 and an All-Ivy Second Team honoree following the 2021 season.
Rounding out the leadership group, Gagne played in 10 games in goal for the Bears last season, making seven starts. She posted a 5-1-1 record in those games and recorded three clean sheets.
Brown will be looking for their fourth straight Ivy Title in 2023. If accomplished, the Bears will be the first Ivy League team to win four in a row since Brown's own historic run of nine straight titles from 1982-90.
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on Twitter, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
Players Mentioned
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