POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist women's lacrosse program and Head Coach Jessica O'Brien have added eight freshmen for the upcoming 2016 season. Half of the newcomers are from New York, while two are from New Jersey and two more hail from New Hampshire.
"It's always exciting to see the newest members of our family contribute,” O'Brien said. “This freshman class has already made an immediate impact to our program and I anticipate more from them as the season continues. With the addition of all eight, we've added depth to both ends of the field. I look forward to working with the freshmen and the entire team in order to reach a higher level of play."
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Carly Grant – Midfield – 5'6 – Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
Grant helped lead her team to three Section II titles, a pair of regional championships and an appearance in the state semifinals. She was named a Section II Second Team All-Star twice. In the classroom she was a Scholar Athlete all four years of high school and selected as an Academic All-American.
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Jessica Lasaponara – Midfield – 5'4 – Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay
A Poughkeepsie Journal First Team All-Star her junior and senior seasons, Lasaponara became John Jay's all-time leading scorer with 105 career goals. In four years on varsity, she was an All-League selection three times and earned All-Section recognition as a senior. Lasaponara was named team MVP her final two seasons and a member of the New England Brine All-American Team in 2015. She also played field hockey for three years, capturing a league championship.
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Julia Luff – Defense – 5'7 – Portsmouth, NH/Portsmouth
Luff was captain of three teams at Portsmouth High School: soccer, basketball and lacrosse. She was the recipient of a U.S. Lacrosse Jackie Pitts Award, which is given to a senior who truly honors lacrosse, is invested in the development of the game in her community, is an exceptional player who continually strives to improve her game, and is an exemplary member of her team. Luff was a two-time Brine Lacrosse All-American. At the state level, she was a midfielder on the First Team and a member of the Senior All-Star Team. She was named the 2016 Portsmouth Herald Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year.
Luff's academic career was highlighted by appearances on the NHIAA All-Academic and All-Scholastic teams. She was a member of the National Honor Society for two years and earned a spot on the Honor Roll for four straight years.
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Samantha Mehalick – Attack – 5'4 – North Brusnwick, NJ/North Brunswick Township
Mehalick was the Greater Middlesex County Player of the Year her sophomore and junior seasons and picked up the Offensive Player of the Year award as a senior. She earned First Team All-Conference honors for four consecutive years, leading her squad to two county championships in the process. She also competed in cheerleading and basketball for four years. Mehalick was selected to the All-State Third Team in 2015 and 2016. Academically she was a member of the National Honor Society.
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Ellie Petraccione – Attack – 5'7 – Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna
A two-sport athlete at Niskayuna, Petraccione won Suburban Council Section II championships her junior and senior seasons. In 2015, she was a Suburban Council First Team All-Star. She also played field hockey for four years. Petraccione graduated in the top 5 percent of her class and received an award from the National Honor Society. She was an Academic All-American in 2015 and a Scholar Athlete all four years of high school.
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Jana Rothman – Midfield – 5'7 – Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan Regional
Rothman was a county and conference champion at Bridgewater-Raritan Regional. In her final season as a team captain, she was First Team All-Area and All-Conference as well as a member of the All-Group 4 Second Team. Rothman earned Under Armour All-American distinction and was also a Brine All-Star. She was a two-time Academic All-American and achieved High Honors throughout high school.
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Annie Sheehy – Defense – 5'7 – Wilmot, NH/Proctor Academy
Sheehy was named her graduating class' Most Outstanding Female Athlete after competing in soccer, basketball and lacrosse for four years. In lacrosse she was recognized as a New England All-Star and a Lakes Region All-Star her junior and senior years. She helped lead the basketball team at Proctor Academy to a Class C New England Championship and was on the Honor Roll all four years of high school.
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Jenna Signorile – Defense – 5'5 – Mount Sinai, NY/Mount Sinai
Signorile won three state titles in four years at Mount Sinai. Two of her team's playoff victories came in sudden death fashion and led to Suffolk County championships. She received her team's Unsung Hero Award and won the school's Student Athlete Award at graduation. Signorile was a senior mentor who was on the High Honor Roll and Honor Roll throughout high school. She also competed in volleyball and winter track.
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The Red Foxes have begun their fall season and will compete in the fifth annual Edward Taylor Coombs Fall Ball Shootout. The event will be held in Tenney Stadium for the first time ever Oct. 16.