Leadership is a common theme for LSU soccer defenders Alex Ramsey, Nina Anderson and Jodi Calloway in the 2012 season. The defenders have big shoes to fill after losing 2011 Southeastern Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year Allysha Chapman. Ramsey, a junior, is the most experienced of the group, starting on the back line for LSU since 2010.  “After losing upperclassmen, we had to transition to being upperclassmen because the freshmen are looking for people to step up and lead the team,” Ramsey said. “Sometimes this stage of soccer is more fast paced, but they know what to do. It helps having us in the back letting them know what to do.”  Anderson, a junior, is new to the back line – she played up front and in the midfield her first two years on the team. During the spring practices, Anderson got the call to join the defense. After playing only five games at left back during the spring, Anderson still didn’t feel comfortable. This summer, Anderson played in the semi-pro United Soccer League Women’s League with the Victoria Highlanders in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Anderson said she spoke with her head coach Brian Lee and assistant coach Kevin Dempsey after spring training and they sent out her information to the W-League team. Within two weeks, Anderson knew where she would spend six weeks of her summer. Anderson said playing in the league upped her confidence. “In Canada, I only played left back to practice and get more comfortable,” Anderson said. “It helped the transition.” Anderson said the mental aspect of her game grew stronger over the summer as well. “I learned to take chances,” Anderson said. “It was so different being there by myself. I learned life lessons of being out of comfort zones.”  Before Calloway, a redshirt sophomore, could even step foot on LSU’s campus, she tore her ACL multiple times. Her second ACL tear ended her freshman season before it had the chance to take off. While some of her peers were beginning their first year of collegiate soccer, Calloway redshirted and focused on rehab for her freshman season. After Calloway finally made her debut, she was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and named to the 2011 SEC All-Freshman team.  “Sometimes I need to take a break from soccer and focus on fitness,” Calloway said. “Being in the back line in the game, I could play up to 90 minutes. Fitness is very important.” Although Calloway is a redshirt sophomore, this is her third year on the team and she’s recognized by her peers as a leader. “Going from underclassman to upperclassman raised our competition level and our leadership role,” Calloway said. “The underclassmen know at the end of the day we’re trying to win the game.” Lee noticed the players’ desire to take on their expanded role. “Our junior class is our most experienced group,” he said. “It is a big year for them as a whole to really take over the team and imprint their style of play and their goals on the team.”
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