St. Margaret’s Episcopal Boys Lacrosse Head Coach Glen Miles. OCVarsity.com

In part four of his interview with LaxBuzz, Glen Miles, head coach of the Nike/US Lacrosse West Region #4 Ranked St. Margaret’s Episcopal Boys Lacrosse program, discusses the role of seniors on a high school lacrosse team.

LaxBuzz: Many parents have contacted me over the years regarding playing time for upper classmen, especially seniors. There is a fine line between playing “the best” players, giving playing time to freshman and sophomores, and honoring seniors who have, in many cases, along with their families, put in eight years of sacrifice to get to this moment. This will be the last year of lacrosse for many of them. What is your philosophy regarding playing seniors? Is there an “honor code” in lacrosse that you honor seniors on high school lacrosse teams?

“For me this means playing the players who have earned the right to play through hard work, love for their teammates, a commitment to the team and a passion to prepare on and off the field.”

“For me playing time is not earned through longevity.  My seniors certainly get the benefit of the doubt if their performance is equal or close to an underclassman but not merely because they have been there the longest.”

“There are many roles to play on a Varsity Lacrosse Team.  There are leadership roles, there are follower roles, there are scout team roles, and there are friendship roles.  If a coach is an effective leader, he can help each senior find a role that is rewarding to him.”

West Player of the Year

Kerianne Hunt, Carondelet (Calif.)

Carondelet Girls Lacrosse Midfielder Kerianne Hunt

Hunt was one of the main catalysts for the Cougars, who won the North Coast Section Division I girls lacrosse championship with a 9-7 overtime victory over Amador Valley (Calif.).

She finished the season with 50 goals and 46 assists. She also had 50 ground balls and won 85 draws.

She was one of seven senior leaders on the team who entered the season committed to Division I lacrosse programs (she is headed to Brown) and was part one of the most talented squad in the history of the program. The Cougars finished the season 17-3, with two of its losses coming at the hands of out-of-state teams Radnor (Pa.) and St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes (Va.).

In addition, Hunt was named the Player of the Year in the East Bay Athletic League and was US Lacrosse High School All-American for the third consecutive season.

For more:  http://www.laxmagazine.com/high_school/girls/2012-13/news/061813_nike_us_lacrosse_west_region_girls_season_rewind

Oregon lacrosse head coach Jen Larsen Beck has announced the signing of goalie Janelle Parker, who will be the eighth incoming freshman for next season. The 2014 class consists of six midfielders and two goalies. Three hail from the state of Maryland, two from Colorado and one each from Massachusetts, Oregon and California.

Janelle Parker, Goalie, Danvers, Mass., Danvers High School/The Williston Northampton School/Synergy Lacrosse Club Parker was a four-year starter in goal in high school and won the team MVP award for three consecutive years at Danvers High School (2008-11). In addition, Parker won three Northeastern Conference (NEC) Championships while at Danvers and was a Salem News first team All-Star player during her tenure. She was NEC Most Valuable Player as both a sophomore and a junior. She also lettered in ice hockey and was a member of the National Honor Society in high school.

Anne Longtain, Midfield, West Linn, Ore., West Linn High School/Oregon Elite Lacrosse ClubLongtain was a Three Rivers Conference top-10 finisher in both draw controls and ground balls as a sophomore (2011) and junior (2012).  She led West Linn to a third-place finish in the 2011 Oregon State Tournament and a runner-up finish in 2012 while earning second team All-League. In 2013, Longtain was a first team All-State selection, an All-American Honorable Mention pick as she led her team to the state championship.

Isabella Pyne, Midfield, Edgewater, Md., South River High School/Chesapeake Club Lacrosse Bella led her school to its first state championship in 2010.  A four-year letterwinner, Pyne earned second team All-Washington D.C. Metro honors, was a first team All-County Coaches pick and named second team All-County by the Capital for Anne Arundel County as a sophomore in 2011.  During her junior year, Bella was named first team All-County in both Coaches and Capital categories and was an honorable mention All-Metro selection. In 2013, Pyne was named first team All-County and second team Washington Post All-Metro.

Rachel Steinberg, Midfield, Millersville, Md., Severn School/ Chesapeake Club Lacrosse A four-year letterwinner and starter at Severn High School, Steinberg was an Under Armour All-American and Maximum Exposure All-Star.  She led her team in ground balls, draw controls and caused turnovers last season and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Kathryn Blumhardt, Midfield, Parker, Colo., Regis Jesuit High School/Team 180 Blumhardt was an honorable mention All-League selection as a freshman and led her team in draw controls and ground balls as a sophomore in 2011.  A team captain her junior year, Kathryn received first team All-Conference Accolades after leading Regis Jesuit in ground balls and draw controls.  Last spring she played on the Fellowship of Christian Athletes High School National Team and was a member of the National Honor Society. As a senior, Blumhardt was a first team All-State, first team All-League and an All-City selection as well as an Honorable Mention All-American pick. Additionally, she was an Academic All-American.

Becca Katzen, Goalie, Cockeysville, Md., Dulaney High School/SkyWalkers Lacrosse Club Katzen joins the Oregon lacrosse program after splitting time with two other goalies at Dulaney.  The Cockeysville, Md., native is a member of the National Science Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. In 2013, Katzen finished with a .590 save percentage.

Erin Schilmoeller, Midfield, Centennial, Colo., Regis Jesuit High School/Team 180 A four-year letterwinner, Erin earned first team U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American honors in 2012.  The same year, she garnered second team All-League accolades, one season after being named first team All-League.  Schilmoeller also picked up four varsity cross country letters at Regis Jesuit and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Kiki Gibson, Midfield, Carlsbad, Calif., La Costa Canyon High School/West Coast Starz Lacrosse Club A four-year letterwinner, Gibson was named a U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American after leading her team to a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) San Diego Division I championship in 2012. Kiki received All-CIF (San Diego) honors as a freshman and sophomore and was a three-time All-Academic selection as well. In 2013, Gibson was a U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American pick and first team All-CIF, first team All-League and first team All-Academic selection. She was a participant at the U.S. Lacrosse All-American Tournament in Orlando, Fla.

While Bokker was excited about her team’s success, she notes the team’s sights are set even higher for next year and believes her team is equipped with the experience and talent necessary to compete deeper into the postseason.

Stanford Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Amy Bokker

Stanford women’s lacrosse head coach Amy Bokker began the 2013 season with one specific message she hoped her young team – consisting of 19 underclassmen – would embrace: “Get better every day.”

“The younger players showed they had the drive to never settle and keep competing and not give up during the game, and competed for the full 60 minutes,” Bokker said. “Our older players really showed good leadership and poise in times when the game was on the line.”

“There’s a lot of self-motivation, they drive themselves,” Bokker said. “They had a taste of what that is like this year, so I think that is motivating in and of itself and leaves them hungry for more.”

Stanford will return all but two players – graduated seniors Carolyn Bradley and Elizabeth Adam – and welcome a talented recruiting class consisting of 10 freshmen and one rising sophomore transfer that will provide additional depth to the experienced roster.

Among key returners will be rising seniors Anna Kim, Nina Swanson, Megan Lerner and Lyndsey Munoz, and rising redshirt junior Rachel Ozer.

“Having the core of our scoring threats, defenders and goalie be in the senior class, the expectation of leadership will be pretty high, and again for them to help the large freshman class coming in understand what our goals are and how to get on board with that early,” Bokker said.

As many of the players head home for summer break, Bokker believes her team will continue to embrace the “get better every day” mentality and will return to campus ready to challenge for another MPSF championship and a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament.

Ashley Hill scored twice to help top-seeded BearLax 2016 Blue win the girls’ U15 championship with a 10-4 victory over third-seeded BearLax 2017 Blue (Calif.) in a matchup of teams from the Bay Area-based club program.

The elder BearLax led 4-2 at the break and ran off the first six goals of the second half. Ashley Ward scored twice in defeat for the 2017 team.

Caitlin McCarthy scored in the first half of BearLax 2016 Blue’s (Calif.) 10-4 win over sister team BearLax 2017 Blue in the girls’ U15 final at the Morgan Hill Outdoor Sports Center. Both squads advanced to the US Lacrosse U15 National Championship, powered by Lacrosse Unlimited, July 23-25 in Orlando. Photo by
©Damon Tarver for Lacrosse Magazine.

“We scrimmage at practice sometimes, but it was fun to do it in an official environment,” said Theresa Sherry, director of BearLax. “It was pretty spirited, but at the end we had a whole club cheer, which was pretty special.”

Sherry and her teams have qualified for the US Lacrosse U15 National Championship in previous years, under the NorCal Elite Green name.

“We decided to take the BearLax name and keep that chemistry going instead of having two different groups,” Sherry said. “A lot of these kids have been to Florida before and were at the West Championships in Phoenix last year. They know the deal.”

Sherry’s squads beat two other teams in the semifinals that are bound for Orlando July 23-25. The 2016 team knocked off fourth-seeded Desert Heat Black (Ariz.), 9-2, while the 2017 team withstood a challenge from the second-seeded Pacific Falcons (Calif.), 8-5.

“This was a good warm-up, no pun intended,” Sherry said. “In the next few weeks, they’ll know how to prepare for the heat and the speed of play. There’s a lot of excitement around going [back to the national championship].”

For more:  http://laxmagazine.com/high_school/boys/2012-13/news/063013_bradys_bunch_and_bearlax_among_us_lacrosse_west_champions

Notre Dame Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Kevin Corrigan & Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Christine Halfpenny talk about Fighting Irish lacrosse’s immediate arrival to the ACC, starting July 1st, 2013.

Profile of the 2013 Michigan State Spartans Men’s lacrosse club team. Michigan State experienced a coaching change after making it to Nationals in 2012. This is almost unheard of. Watch as the program reaches new heights after a new attitude is instilled upon the team.

Head Coach Ann Elliott and her assistant coaches, Colleen Magarity and Hannah Nielsen, played for the prestigious Northwestern program that has won seven of the past nine NCAA titles. Combined, the three own 13 championship rings.

To prepare for the spring season, CU  is making both short- and long-term  upgrades to the team’s facilities. The Buffs will open their first season with a  game at Folsom Field in mid-February before moving to their home at Kittredge  Field, a space the team will share with club lacrosse and recreational sports  teams.

This summer, the field was resodded in a project that cost $500,000,  Manning  said. The scoreboard and lighting also will be upgraded before the season  starts.

Colorado Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Ann Elliott

.When the University of Colorado announced the addition of a women’s lacrosse  team in 2012, it created a new opportunity for Coloradans in one of the area’s  fastest-growing sports.

But for the team’s first roster, coach Ann Elliott recruited players  nationwide.

“You can go to any state and find a great lacrosse player that can play at  the Division I level,” Elliott said. “Our vision is not to limit ourselves, and  I think the university attracts people from all over the country.”

Among the 20 players on CU’s roster,  only four are natives of Colorado.

“This first year, we got such a late start that many of the very elite  players had already selected where they wanted to go,” CU associate athletic  director Julie Manning said. “We’re really seeing the Colorado players disperse  all over the country.”

CU coaches hope to stock the roster with in-state talent in the near future.  They have been in contact  with area club coaches, and expect to sign a much  higher number of Colorado players in the  next few recruiting classes, Manning  said.

Although the team is in its first season, the university is providing it with  the full 12 scholarships allowed for equivalency sports.

Read more: Colorado lacrosse builds first Buffs roster with nationwide talent – The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_23756543/cu-lacrosse-builds-initial-roster-nationwide-talent#ixzz2adEV9tzm

Q: Why is the Patriot League a good fit for the Loyola men’s lacrosse program?

Loyola Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Charley Toomey

A: The Patriot League is a great academic fit for Loyola University.  We will be aligned with institutions that have similar standards for their student athletes. I have a great respect for the Patriot League teams and look forward to creating new rivalries within the conference.  Having coached at and now living near Annapolis, I am especially excited about the new local rivalry with the U.S. Naval Academy.

Q: The program’s recent success has been well-documented, with five NCAA Tournament appearance in the last seven years and the 2012 Division I national championship. What has been the recipe for success?

A: First, I would say that what our recent teams have done is really build on the successful foundation that was laid by alumni and coaches that came before them. Loyola has a rich tradition in lacrosse having participated in 19 NCAA Tournaments and 3 NCAA Final Fours.  The National Championship in 2012, it would never have been possible if not for everyone who came before us. That being said, I am fortunate to coach at an institution that invests resources into our teams allowing us to be successful.  The Ridley Athletic Complex exemplifies the University’s commitment to our lacrosse program.

Q: What challenges does a new conference schedule create for you and your staff?

A: Certainly it has changed things, but we look forward to building these new rivalries. We were accustomed to being in the ECAC where we might have to get on a plane several times a year to go play at places like Denver, Ohio State or Air Force, but now we have conference opponents who are much closer geographically, so that will ease some of the travels we’ve had. At the same time, we took a good look at our non-conference schedule and made sure that we are playing the games that will help our strength of schedule and RPI. We’re fortunate to have some tremendous local games like Towson, Georgetown and UMBC — and add the Naval Academy to that as a Patriot League game — and we are looking forward to starting series with Virginia and Penn State this year. We were also able to continue what has become a great series and rivalry with Duke, and of course we are finishing the regular-season with our yearly game against our Charles Street neighbor Johns Hopkins.

Q: You’re a Loyola alum and have been deeply involved with the program since your days as a student-athlete. What makes Loyola such a special place to you?

A: Anyone that knows me knows that I hold Loyola very near and dear to my heart.  I feel very lucky to be the head of a program that has a chance to win a national championship year in and out.  Any student athlete that has spent time on our campus and had the opportunity to get to know the people that make up the Loyola community understand why this is such a special place.

Q: Seniors Joe Fletcher (First Team) and Justin Ward (Honorable Mention) were both All-Americans last year, and Fletcher was the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year. What are you looking for from them as seniors?

A: Joe Fletcher and Justin Ward are two guys who took big steps from their freshmen year to sophomore year, and they were big reasons we were able to win the National Championship in 2012.  Justin had a great season in 2013 season, leading our team in scoring as well as becoming our voice on the offensive side of the field.  Joe Fletcher is the best all around defenseman in college lacrosse right now.  Joe and Justin have a tremendous work ethic, are dedicated and excellent students.  They are guys who now will be some of the main voices in our locker room after we have graduated a large senior class. We will ask an awful lot of them, as well as seniors like Pat Laconi, Jack Runkel, Kyle Duffy. They will be our leaders on and off the field, and we’re fortunate to have high-character people like them in our program.

For more:  http://www.patriotleague.org/sports/m-lacros/spec-rel/081313aab.html

The costs of fielding teams, and being competitive, can lead NCAA Division I athletic programs to drop rather than add sports. But for NAIA programs and some in NCAA Division II, the math can work out in a school’s favor even though there is no significant revenue derived from ticket and merchandise sales or sponsorships.

Midland University’s cost of tuition, room and board is listed at more than $30,000 this year. Even if an athlete receives a few thousand dollars, Midland still comes out ahead. Because there are no scholarship limits for NAIA schools, Midland can discount tuition as little or as much as it sees fit.

The investment can pay off. Midland, according to government statistics, spent $5.5 million on athletic scholarships and operations in 2011-12 and got back $9.5 million in tuition and fees paid by athletes. Its enrollment has grown from a post-World War II low of 598 in 2009 to last fall’s record 1,097.

The organization of lacrosse as an official sport within the NAIA has begun — the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) announced on January 27, 2012, that it is making history by adding lacrosse for both men and women as conference sports effective the fall of 2012. The WHAC is the first conference in the NAIA to offer lacrosse as a conference championship sport. An earlier step in this direction was the establishment in September 2010 of the National Women’s Lacrosse League, which is a lacrosse-only women’s NAIA conference.

Small colleges have long used the lure of partial athletic scholarships to draw students. With college costs rising, many small, private liberal arts schools are trying to stay relevant as prospective students turn to less-expensive community and online colleges.

Between 2006 and 2011, the number of schools where at least 33 percent of the students played a sport increased from 96 to 124. Derek Flynn, who specializes in enrollment issues for higher education consulting firm Noel-Levitz, has found that even the smallest athletic scholarships can entice new students.

“When we examine the data of campuses that offer small athletic scholarships, student behavior (enrollment rate) doesn’t seem to change dramatically whether the student is offered the smaller or larger amount,” he said. “It would suggest that it is about the recognition rather than the amount, although I am certain parents recognize the amount.”

For more:  http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130817/APS/1308170534

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAIA_lacrosse

The University of Denver women’s lacrosse team welcomes nine student-athletes to the 2014 roster, head women’s lacrosse coach Liza Kelly announced today.

Denver Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Liza Kelly

“This is a talented group of freshmen that we know will help our program continue to grow and improve,” Kelly said. “This class has the talent and potential to fill the holes left by our graduating seniors. I look forward to seeing them succeed both on the field and in the classroom at the University of Denver.”

• Sybil Pallace (Baltimore, Md.) helped lead McDonogh High School to four undefeated seasons and the No. 1 ranking in the nation. Pallace also played seven years for Skywalkers club team, which won the Charm City Tournament.
• Layne Voorhees (Alexandria, Va.) played three years at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in suburban Washington, D.C., leading the Saints to VISAA state championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Voorhees was selected All-State and D.C. Metro Second Team.
• Molly Danko (Towson, Md.) played three years at attack and midfield for The Bryn Mawr School Mawrtians. Danko was voted Baltimore Messenger Girls All-Star Lacrosse First Team and Towson Times Girls All-Star Lacrosse Second Team as a senior. Danko also played four years of field hockey and basketball in high school, and led the field hockey team to the IAAM A Conference Championship and Final No. 1 Ranking in State of Maryland in 2009.
• A team captain, Tagne Vandewall (West Friendship, Md.) led Glenelg High School in scoring as a senior. Vandewall was selected as an Academic All-American as a junior and senior, as well as a Minds in Motion Scholar. Vandewall also led her team to the Maryland State field hockey title twice.
• Emily Johnson (Riverside, Conn.) led Greenwich High School to Connecticut State Championships in 2011 and 2012, and the team was runner-up in 2010 and 2013. A team captain, Johnson led her team in goals, assists, points, ground balls and caused turnovers as a senior. The defensive midfielder played club lacrosse for Connecticut Chargers, earning All-State and All-Conference in 2012 and 2013. Johnson also played soccer and ran track in high school. She led her soccer team to FCIAC Conference Championships all three seasons and her track team to its first indoor conference championship in 30 years. Johnson won consecutive conference and state championships in the 4×200 and 1600-meter sprint medley.
• Ellie Knott (Baltimore, Md.) played four years at The Bryn Mawr School, where she also played four years of field hockey.
• A 2013 All-American, Maddy Stevenson (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) earned All-State First Team honors in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, while playing at Bainbridge High School and for Puget Sound Select club team. Stevenson was selected as Comcast State Championship Player of the Game in 2011 and 2012, leading her team to a pair of Washington State Championships.
• Nicole Martindale (Brooklin, Ontario) led her team to its first-ever OFSAA Varsity Provincial Lacrosse Championship in 2013, as well as second place finishes in 2011 and 2012, and third place in 2010. At the club level, Martindale led Lady Blue Knights to six Provincial Lacrosse Championships and the Ontario Sumer Games Lacrosse title in 2012. Martindale also played ice hockey in high school, guiding her team to three Provincial Hockey Championships, and she was selected to the Provincial and Canadian National teams.
• Hunter Gray (Mount Laurel, N.J.) played four years at Lenape High School, earning both All-Conference First Team and All-Conference First Team twice. A 2013 Academic All-American, Gray also played two years of field hockey in high school, earning All-Conference Second Team honors.

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Denver coach Bill Tierney speaks about the expectations for Zach Miller in simple terms: “You can bet when the starting lineup is announced, Zach Miller will be in it.”

Zach Miller is the total package, said Denver coach Bill Tierney.
Photo by © John Strohsacker/LaxPhotos.com for Lacrosse Magazine

Miller is that special, the total package, Tierney said. The left-handed swingman could play attack, midfield and take a few faceoffs in his freshman year.

Miller is the latest product of the pipeline of future Division I stars developed at Brodie Merrill’s Hill Academy in Ontario, Canada. Merrill called Miller a complete player and a unique recruit. He played attack his freshman year, then was a two-way midfielder before returning to attack for his senior season. The Hill went 18-4 this season, with victories over power programs like Calvert Hall (Md.), Gonzaga (D.C.) and Landon (Md.).

“He was kind of something that we never had before,” Merrill said, “an X attackman who could control the play and really attack defensemen. He would either score unassisted goals, or draw a lot of attention and pick you apart with his feeding ability.”

By Corey McLaughlin

Originally from Allegheny, N.Y., just outside Buffalo, Miller played for the 2012 Iroquois Nationals under-19 team. Credit Denver assistant Matt Brown for spotting and landing Miller.

Denver needs to replace the production of departed attackman Eric Law and midfielder Cam Flint, and could use help on faceoffs after stalwart Chase Carraro graduated.

Miller can help everywhere.

“He does everything,” Tierney said. “He can face off, he can play midfield, he can feed, he can finish on the inside, he can play attack, he can play behind, he can shoot. This kid has it all.”

For more:  http://www.laxmagazine.com/genrel/2013_freshman_15s_college_freshman_lacrosse_players_to_watch

Kelsey Murray falls into the ahead-of-the-curve category. Going from a decorated high school career in Illinois to a promising college career on the West Coast at Stanford qualifies as much.

Illinois standout Kelsey Murray is taking her talents to Stanford. Photo by © Scott McCall for Lacrosse Magazine

But her goals are familiar.

“I loved that the athletics were so important there. It’s definitely a big part of the culture,” Murray said. “You walk around and there are these banners that say ‘Home of Champions’ everywhere. It’s not something that’s necessarily on the side. It’s something that’s really important to them, and I like that aspect.”

Murray scored 72 goals in her senior season at New Trier (Ill.), where she already owned the school’s single-season and career scoring records as a junior. She was Lacrosse Magazine’s Midwest Player of the Year in 2012 and a US Lacrosse All-American this year.

Academically, Murray compiled a 32 ACT and possessed a 4.96 GPA on New Trier’s 4.0 scale.

By Corey McLaughlin

Stanford returns all but two players from the team that won the MPSF title and a first-round NCAA tournament game, but Murray will compete for time with a group of 10 incoming freshmen.

“I’m going to go and work and play where they tell me to play,” she said.

For more: http://www.laxmagazine.com/genrel/2013_freshman_15s_college_freshman_lacrosse_players_to_watch

University of Colorado head lacrosse coach Ann Elliott has added three student-athletes to her first roster, bringing the total to 22.
“I could not be more excited to add Katie, Abby and Johnna to our roster this fall,” Elliott said. “All three individuals will add athleticism, speed and versatility to our roster, making us a stronger program. I look forward to watching each of them develop and feel we could not have added three more coachable kids that fit in with our program’s philosophy. Overall our staff is very excited about the 22 student-athletes that will join us this fall and be the foundation of our CU lacrosse program and culture. We have kids from across the country, each bringing something unique to our program, and that is going to make this first year very special!”

Katie Carroll, Attack/Midfield   5-3, Arnold, Md. (Severn School/Maryland United)
COACH ELLIOTT ON CARROLL: “I am very excited that Katie has decided to become a Buff. Katie is a hard worker and will add an element of leadership and experience to our young team. Katie has a passion for lacrosse and has worked very hard these past few months to be able to join our program this fall. We are excited about her drive and believe she will fit very well into our program.”
FRESHMAN (2012 at FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY): Carroll began her collegiate career at Fairfield University, where she played for National Lacrosse Hall of Famer and 2012 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Mike Waldvogel. In seven games with the Stags, Carroll scored four goals, ranking third amongst freshmen. She took nine shots, seven of which were on goal. Her first collegiate goal was the final nail in the coffin in Fairfield’s 14-4 win over Manhattan. She contributed two goals in Fairfield’s 14-5 routing of Niagara in the teams’ MAAC opener. Her final goal of the season came in the Stags’ 16-12 win over Sacred Heart, helping the team remain undefeated in conference play.
HIGH SCHOOL: Carroll was a three-year letter-winner in lacrosse at Severn, helping turn the Admirals into a winning program. In her sophomore season, the Admirals went 8-11, but just one season later, they improved to 10-7. In her standout senior season, the Admirals continued to improve in the win column, finishing with an 11-8 record. As a senior, Carroll led Anne Arundel County in points, scoring 18 goals and contributing a county record-breaking 45 assists. She was honored with a Severn Mullinix Award for best attacker and was named a player of the week by The Capital.  She also earned first-team All-County honors. Carroll played four years of club lacrosse with CCLAX and Maryland United Lacrosse Club. She also was a four-year letter-winner in soccer at Severn, where she was the defensive player of the year as a junior and the team captain as a senior.
IN THE CLASSROOM: Carroll studies communication and is also interested in marketing.
PERSONAL: Katherine Baylitts Carroll was born on May 17, 1993 in Annapolis, Maryland. Her parents, Mark and Holly, work in medical sales and financial development, respectively. She has two sisters, Elizabeth and Mackenzie. Carroll comes from an athletic family. Her sister Mackenzie currently plays lacrosse at High Point University, while her father played soccer and lacrosse at Nichols College and her uncle Tom Dexter played football at the College of William and Mary. Carroll worked as a marketing intern for U.S. Lacrosse. She was selected as a speaker for the oratorical society on “character.” She regularly practices Bikram hot yoga. She enjoys eating sushi and listening to Phoenix. Her favorite athlete is U.S. soccer player Abby Wambach and her favorite teams are the Washington Capitals and Boston Red Sox.

Johnna Fusco, Midfield  5-4, Marietta, Ga. (Lassiter)
COACH ELLIOTT ON FUSCO: “I feel so fortunate to have found Johnna late in the recruiting process. Johnna has great speed and is very competitive. Both these qualities will make her successful in our program. Johnna’s speed and athleticism will allow her to play a bunch of different positions for us on the field, and we are excited to watch her continue to develop.”
HIGH SCHOOL: Fusco was a two-time All-American and a four-year letter-winner at Lassiter. She set all-time school records with 177 goals, 163 assists, 340 points and 310 groundballs. In her first two seasons alone, she had already broken into the top 10 in Lassiter’s career record books in goals and points. She helped lead the Lady Trojans to a 78-12 record in her four seasons, including a state runner-up finish her freshman and senior seasons and a quarterfinal berth as a sophomore. Her senior year, she recorded 48 goals and 71 assists, helping her to the 2013 Marietta Daily Journal/Cobb County Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year title. She was a back-to-back first-team All-State honoree her final two seasons, also earning second-team and honorable mention honors as a sophomore and freshman, respectively. Fusco was also a four-year letter-winner for Lassiter’s cheer squad.
IN THE CLASSROOM: Fusco plans to major in integrative physiology in hopes of pursuing a career as a pharmacist.
PERSONAL: Johnna Elizabeth Fusco was born on June 26, 1994 in Atlanta, Ga. Her parents are Anthony and Maribeth Fusco. Her father works in professional claims, and her mother is a teacher. She lists the biggest moment of her prep career as beating Chattahoochee by one point in the state semi-finals to earn a spot the championship match her freshman season.

Abby Phelan, Midfield  5-5, Hingham, Mass. (Hingham/Revolution Lacrosse)
COACH ELLIOTT ON PHELAN: “Abby is a solid and versatile player. I am excited to see where she will end up on the field for us because she has a lot of potential at both ends and in the midfield. Abby is very determined, has good speed and a solid stick. She will be a great asset to our program.”
HIGH SCHOOL: Phelan was a three-year letter-winner in lacrosse at Hingham. She was her team’s leading scorer as a senior, netting 67 goals. That year, Hingham boasted a 14-7 record, and Phelan was named an offensive MVP. She received back-to-back Patriot League All-Star honors in lacrosse and received the “Work Horse Award” as a sophomore. Phelan also excelled as a captain for the both the soccer and basketball teams. A four-year letter-winner in the midfield, Phelan was named a Patriot League soccer All-Star and received a Coaches’ Award. She was a two-year letter-winner on the basketball court, where she played point guard. Phelan also competed for the Revolution Lacrosse club.
IN THE CLASSROOM: Phelan is an open-option major.
PERSONAL: Abigail Phelan was born on May 24, 1995 in Boston. Her parents are Joseph, a lawyer, and Sandra, an accountant. She participated in Hingham’s chorus and was named the group’s most improved. Her favorite team is the Boston Bruins.

Colorado Buffaloes Lacrosse