Dec. 3, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's lacrosse head coach Suzanne Isidor has announced the signing of 11 recruits for the 2009 season. Composed of five midfielders, three defenders, two attackers, and one goalkeeper, the class has had several players ranked among the Sports Illustrated Takkle Top 100 Girls High School Lacrosse Players.
"This year's freshman class is big in numbers as well as in talent," said Isidor, who is entering her ninth year at the helm of the Nittany Lions. "We have an amazing group of student-athletes coming in from several different states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, and Vermont. The class also has highly skilled players at each position - attack, midfield, defense, and goalkeeper. I look forward to the opportunity to coach them."
For those who follow Penn State lacrosse, the name Adams should be familiar. Two thousand nine recruit Aly Adams is the younger sister of Drew Adams, the men's team's two-time ECAC Lacrosse League Goalkeeper of the Year. A starter in the midfield for three and a half years at Springfield H.S. in Springfield, Pa., Adams was named All-Delco, All-Central, All-American, and Academic All-American as a senior. In 2007, she helped the Cougars post a perfect 21-0 record and win Central League and District I Championships. Also an accomplished volleyball player, she led Springfield to Central League and District Championships in 2008, earning First Team All-Delco, All-Central, and All-State honors. Adams gained club experience with Ultimate Goal Lacrosse Club, receiving All-Galaxy Honorable Mention recognition in 2006 and 2007.
Newcomer Lea Andress has strong Penn State bloodlines as well. Her brother, Johnny, is a junior defender on the men's lacrosse team, her mother, Deb, is a former Nittany Lion field hockey and lacrosse player and the current women's lacrosse head coach at Penn State Abington, and her father, John, played quarterback for Coach Joe Paterno from 1973-1977. A talented attacker, Andress totaled 200 goals and 95 assists at Central Bucks East H.S. in her hometown of Doylestown, Pa. She was a two-time MVP Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-Intel Area Select First Team and First Team Suburban One League-Continental Conference honors as a junior and senior. Andress participated in club lacrosse for five years with Ultimate Goal under former Penn State All-American Michele DeJuliis, winning championships in 2005 and 2006.
Goalkeeper Dana Cahill comes to Penn State after a highly decorated high school career at Mercy H.S. in Baltimore. Hailing from Towson, Md., Cahill was honored as All-Baltimore City Player of the Year, First Team All-Baltimore City, and Second Team All-Metro by the Baltimore Sun in 2008. Also as a senior, she was named a 2008 IAAM A Conference All-Star and, for the second consecutive year, Mercy's Team MVP and was selected to the 2008 Under Armour All-American High School Team. Cahill played club lacrosse with ROME 2008 in Baltimore.
At Moorestown H.S. (N.J.), the No. 3-ranked high school program in the nation according to Lacrosse Magazine, midfielder Bridget Callahan led the Quakers to state championships in 2006 (23-1) and 2007 (23-3). She was named First Team All-Burlington County, All-Group 3, and All-South Jersey in 2007. After a stellar senior season, Callahan received First Team All-South Jersey, First Team All-Burlington County, Burlington County Scholastic League All-Star, Burlington County Player of the Year, First Team High School All-American honors while leading Moorestown to a Group 3 state championship. At the club level, Callahan was a member of South Jersey Select in 2006 and 2007.
Brittaney Chamberlain, a defender from Finksburg, Md., was a three-year letter winner in lacrosse at Westminster H.S. After earning all-conference honorable mention recognition as a sophomore, she went on to become a two-time First Team All-Carroll County performer as well as receive First Team All-Conference and All-State honors. Chamberlain was a major contributor to the Owls' 2007 Carroll County Championship in addition to their regional and state semifinalist teams in 2006 and 2007. Along with fellow freshman Dana Cahill, she played club lacrosse with ROME 2008.
A native of Ridley Park, Pa., midfielder Stephanie Markunas is coming off an injury-plagued senior season at Ridley H.S. in which she played only two games. However, her junior year provided an indication of her talent and potential, as she scored 77 goals, earned offensive MVP honors, and was named First Team All-Delco while leading the Raiders to the 2007 state championship game. That same year, Markunas played on the Upper Atlantic I National Team and was recognized as First Team All-Galaxy as a member of the Ultimate Goal club team.
Penn State's lone recruit from the New England region, Vermont native defender Ashley Ross follows her father Earl's footsteps to Happy Valley to play lacrosse for the Nittany Lions. At Middlebury Union H.S., she capped off a standout scholastic career by being named All-ACSU and All-Vermont State while winning a Division I state championship. A gifted all-around athlete, Ross also earned four letters in basketball, receiving team defensive MVP and all-state defensive honors. She acquired club lacrosse experience with IAS, located in Greenfield, Mass.
Colleen Shea is the latest member of her family to attend and play lacrosse Penn State, following the path paved by sisters Linsey and Kerry. A two-time All-Baltimore City defender at Seton Keough H.S. in Baltimore, she was honored as team MVP and as All-IAAM performer in 2008. As a senior, Shea also led the team in the ground balls for the second straight season and in caused turnovers. In 2007, she played on the Mid-Atlantic 3 All-Star team in the national tournament. True to her strong athletic lineage, Shea excelled in other sports in high school, earning three letters each in both cross country and indoor track. As a member of the Hero's club lacrosse team, she helped it compile a remarkable record of 153-11-5 over five years and win three prestigious tournaments.
Cassie Speno, an attacker hailing from Summit, N.J., finished her career at the Kent Place School strong, tallying 35 goals and 22 assists in her senior season to secure First Team All-Union County and Second Team All-Prep accolades. She led the Dragons to the Union County Tournament final in 2007 and a championship in 2008. In four years at Kent Place, she totaled 157 goals and 75 assists. Competing as a member of the Metro Lacrosse Club, Speno was named First Team All-Galaxy in 2007, Second Team All-Galaxy in 2006 and won the Metro Foundation Scholarship in 2008.
Four-year starting midfielder Elaine Welch teamed with fellow Nittany Lion freshman Cassie Speno to provide the Kent Place School with an effective 1-2 scoring punch. In recognition for her standout senior season, the Bernardsville, N.J. native was named team MVP for the second straight year, First Team All-Prep, and First Team All-Union County and was honored with the Pat Conely Athletic Award. As a junior, Welch established herself as a major offensive threat, netting 52 goals and notching 93 draw controls. Also a member of the Metro Lacrosse Club, she earned Second Team All-Galaxy honors.
Midfielder Theresa Zichelli comes to Penn State with two state championships in tow after helping Severna Park (Md.) H.S. secure back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008. As a sophomore and junior, her play earned her a spot in the Under Armour Underclass All-Star game. Zichelli experienced success on the Falcon field hockey team as well, capturing state championships in 2006 and 2007. A club player with CC Lax, she was honored as an All-Galaxy First Teamer in 2008. Zichelli's brother, Tommy, captained the 2008 Penn State men's lacrosse team in his senior season.
2009 Penn State Women's Lacrosse Recruiting Class
Aly Adams, Midfield, Springfield, Pa.
Lea Andress, Attack, Doylestown, Pa.
Dana Cahill, Goalkeeper, Towson, Md.
Bridget Callahan, Midfield, Moorestown, N.J.
Brittaney Chamberlain, Defense, Finksburg, Md.
Stephanie Markunas, Midfield, Ridley Park, Pa.
Ashley Ross, Defense, Fair Haven, Vt.
Colleen Shea, Defense, Baltimore, Md.
Cassie Speno, Attack, Summit, N.J.
Elaine Welch, Midfield, Bernardsville, N.J.
Theresa Zichelli, Midfield, Severna Park, Md.