Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 11/27/14
From Press Release
The Jacksonville lacrosse team has kept the program on top-flight footing with another banner recruiting year as seven of the nation’s top student-athletes who excel on the field and in the classroom have signed national letters of intent with the Dolphins.
“This group of diverse students comes from all over the country and they all have a team-first mentality that has made our success happen,” said head coach Mindy McCord. “They are fast, skilled, smart on the field and great community members off the field. They will study whatever they like at our great school and we will continue to compete at the highest level with their help.”
The seven new Dolphins, the class of 2019, will be a snug fit with the run and gun system of play that has made JU the top scoring offense in the nation for an unprecedented four consecutive seasons.
“These ladies are unreal in terms of talent, off the charts,” McCord said. “But what we love about them is that they are team-first and unselfish first. Not one of them has any problems setting a screen for a teammate or doing the dirty work.”
Four recent signees are amongst the top-200 recruits in the nation ranked by StudentSports.com. Katie Garvey (Unionville), Erin McGuire, Lillie Miller, and Quinn Trudel made the rankings.
“We became a good program without worrying about lists and the reality is that everyone has to earn it once they get here,” McCord said. “We are pleased with all seven of our new Dolphins. They are all at the top of our list.” Another key factor in their recruitment, McCord said, is their family backgrounds.
“These young women come from exceptional families,” she said. “Their parents are all about growth and building their daughters through the sport of lacrosse and our personalized education here at JU. In many ways recruiting should be attracting the right personalities and skill sets to the right school. We think that’s what is happening in our recruiting and that makes us even more excited.”
The Dolphins open the season on Feb. 12, 2015, at home against Florida at 7:00 pm.
Meet The Sensational Seven
Katie Garvey, Midfield
Kennett Square, Pa.| Unionville High School
Prior to Jacksonville
• Selected for Under Armour All-American Underclass Games as a sophomore
• Named first team All Chesmont defense and second team All Area
• Also plays soccer and swims
Personal
• Daughter of Jay and Carey
• Mother played lacrosse at Lafayette
• Plans to major in business communications and get MBA
The Coach Says:
“She has the tools to be an outstanding midfielder at JU and is super smart on and off the field. She makes tons of plays and is a productive teammate, too.”
Erica Beal, Defense/midfield
Leesburg, Va.| Loudoun County High School
Prior to Jacksonville
• Four-year starter in lacrosse at LCHS under Coach Katie Bowers
• 1st Team All-District sophomore and junior year
• Recorded 59 goals and 41 assists her junior season
Personal
• Daughter of Greg and Dana
• Father Greg played basketball at Shenandoah University
• Member of elementary teacher assistance program
The Coach Says:
“She is a playmaking, rangy player who competes as an athlete first and lacrosse player second. She is fast, aggressive and plays her angles well. She loves being a good teammate and is versatile which we love.”
Kristen Brunoforte, Goalkeeper
Northport, N.Y.| Northport Senior High School
Prior to Jacksonville
• Has started all three years pf her high school career
• All-League and All-Tournament junior season
• Saved 48 percent of shots in goals her junior year
Personal
• Daughter of Michael and Margaret
• Brother Michael runs for the Naval Academy
• Plans to become a nurse
The Coach Says:
“She is tough and resilient which are two qualities you have to possess when you are facing the best attackers in the nation each day at practice. Her work ethic at Northport (Long Island, N.Y.) is good. We expect her to be a great leader.”
Kerri Clayton, Attack
Brookelandville, Md.| St. Paul’s School for Girls
Prior to Jacksonville
• Scored 50 goals and recorded 13 assists her junior season of lacrosse
• Lacrosse team was ranked #13 in nation junior season
• Also plays tennis and swims
Personal
• Daughter of Bob and Cindy
• Father swam at Princeton and mother played tennis at Maryland
• Plans to major in business and then get into coaching
The Coach Says:
“She is a 100% powerhouse player. She is strong and plays the game very differently that the rest of the class. We loved that about her. She is super smart and sets her teammates up big-time. Nobody will ride harder than Kerri.”
Erin McGuire, Attack
Westminster, Md.| Winters Mill High School
Prior to Jacksonville
• Has started past three years for high school lacrosse team
• Lacrosse state champions her sophomore season
• Also plays field hockey and runs indoor track
Personal
• Daughter of Frank and Marie
• Has made the honor roll every semester of high school
• Plans to major in kinesiology and become a physical therapist
The Coach Says:
“I have not seen a player command the offensive end like her in a long time. She has a great lax IQ and footwork that doesn’t come around all that often. Another amazing student.”
Lillie Miller, Attack/midfield
Columbia, Md.| Long Reach High School
Prior to Jacksonville
• Earned 1st Team All-Howard County (MD) and all-Metro as a junior scoring a team-high 54 goals
• As a sophomore was one of the top scorers in Baltimore County
• Miller was one of the most highly recruited players in the nation while competing for M&D Lacrosse Club
Personal
• Daughter of Belinda and Scott
• Also starred as an All-Howard County field hockey player leading her team to multiple sectional titles Also starred as an all-Howard County field hockey player leading her team to multiple sectional titles
• A member of National Honor Society
The Coach Says:
“Lillie is always thinking one play ahead of everyone else at the high school level and there isn’t a position on the field that she doesn’t play very well. She is a very explosive player.”
Quinn Trudel
Broomfield, Colo.| Legacy High School
Prior to Jacksonville
• Three-year starter for high school lacrosse team under coach Genny Horning
• 1st Team All-State sophomore and junior year
• Team was undefeated in regular season junior year, lost in state semi-finals
Personal
• Daughter of Greg and Teri
• Father Greg was a wrestler at UConn
• Plans to major in business
The Coach Says:
“She plays an attacking defense and has great speed too. For us it’s all about playing defense with an attacking mindset like the one she has. She gets better each time we watch her play.”
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