Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/14/15
From Press Release
With the 2015-16 academic year at Rutgers University underway, the Rutgers women’s lacrosse team welcomes nine newcomers to the roster for the 2016 season.
The group — Abigail Lee Brooks (Moorestown, N.J.), Bianca Dente (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.), Dana Gisonno (Airmont, N.Y.), Tess Howland (Glen Ridge, N.J.), Devon Kearns (Cherokee, N.J.), Dakota Mason (Manorville, N.Y.), Dakota Pastore (Somerville, N.J.), Emily Santana (Springfield Delaware County, Pa.) and Regina Sharp (Suffern, N.Y.) — will make an immediate impact on the program as fall practices begin and the program prepares for its second season in the Big Ten Conference.
Emily Santana
Attack | 5-8
Springfield Delaware County, Pa./Springfield
Prior to Rutgers: A four-year letterwinner and starter on the Springfield Delco HS girls lacrosse team … a two-time US Lacrosse All-American and 2014 Heather Lee Albert Award finalist … named first team all-Central League and first team all-Delco as a junior and senior … compiled 295 goals, 121 assists and 240 draw controls in four seasons … owns the school record for most assists and goals in a single-season … selected to the final round of the USA U-19 National Team trials … also played four years of soccer, three years of track and a year of basketball … an honor roll student.
Personal: Daughter of Nelson and Mary … has one brother, Nicholas … intends to major in criminal justice.
Brand-Sias on Santana: “Emily is an explosive, high impact player. Whether she is snagging draw controls or scoring points at critical moments, she has a direct impact on every game she plays in. I see that translating right into our game.”
Abigail Lee Brooks
Attack | 5-1
Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown
Prior to Rutgers: A four-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and soccer at Moorestown High School … in lacrosse, helped team to consecutive undefeated seasons in 2013 and 2014 en route to two Tournament of Champions titles under head coach Deanna Knobloch … named first team all-South Jersey and a South Jersey attacker to watch as a senior … finished her career at Moorestown with 81 career goals, netting 46 as a senior … tallied 30 assists and 27 ground balls in her career … team won four-straight state championships from 2012-15 … was named second team All-South Jersey … played club lacrosse for South Jersey Select Lacrosse under head coach Kacey Knobloch … in soccer, served as captain in her senior season … a 2014 All-South Jersey second team selection … participated in the girls soccer All-South Jersey Senior All-Star Game … named to the 2013 Burlington County Scholastic League All Star Second Team … the women’s soccer team won the South Jersey Group 3 State Championship in 2012 and 2014, appearing in the finals from 2012-14.
Personal: Daughter of Lance and Sandra … has three sisters: Rosie, Emily and Megan … her cousin, Amber Brooks, plays soccer at the University of North Carolina.
Brand-Sias on Brooks: “Abbey will add a level of quickness and deceptive dodging to our offense that is hard to ignore. She works particularly well from X, but I see her helping us in many areas including our ride.”
Devon Kearns
Goalie | 5-10
Marlton, N.J./Cherokee
Prior to Rutgers: Captain and four-year letterwinner on the Cherokee High School lacrosse team … named first team all-South Jersey and First Team All-Olympic Conference as a senior, earning goalie of the year recognition … made 209 saves in her senior campaign, including six ground balls and eight caused turnovers … finished her career with 718 saves … also a two-year member of the Cherokee girls soccer team.
Personal: Daughter of Thomas and Angela … has two siblings, Maggie and Kristen … both of her sisters ran track and cross country at Monmouth University.
Brand-Sias on Kearns: “We have watched Devon develop exponentially over the years. She has great height and a commanding presence in cage. That coupled with her quickness promises her a bright future as a Scarlet Knight.”
Bianca Dente
Goalkeeper | 5-3
Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown
Prior to Rutgers: Transferred after spending freshman season at Marist … did not see game action … four-year member of the girls lacrosse team at Yorktown High School … played one season on the basketball team and three seasons of field hockey … named an All-Section and All-League goalie in 2013 … earned 2013 Hudson Valley/WE First Team Honors… recipient of the 2014 Charlie Murphy Women’s Lacrosse Award.
Personal: Daughter of Brenda and Brett … has two siblings, Giana and Robert … is undecided on major.
Brand-Sias on Dente: “Bianca brings great athleticism to our goalie corps and we are very excited to help her grow in our program. As a player that has improved rapidly during her year of college experience, we expect her to add to our program in a very positive way.”
Dana Gisonno
Attack | 5-5
Airmont, N.Y./Suffern
Prior to Rutgers: An All-American, four-time all-section, and three-time all-league and all-county player at Suffern HS … posted 61 goals, 34 assists and 15 draw controls as a senior … was the leading scorer on the squad, guiding Suffern to back-to-back New York State Championship appearances … closed her career with 205 goals, 87 assists and 90 draw controls … posted an astounding 62% shooting percentage … also played basketball at Suffern.
Personal: Daughter of John and Linda … has one brother, Vincent … intends to major in education … a black belt in Karate.
Brand-Sias on Gisonno: “Dana is an explosive player who improves drastically every time I watch her play. As a top scorer on a perennial New York State Championship contender, Dana comes to Rutgers with a great competitive background. I am excited about her skillset and competitive drive and feel she will have an immediate impact here at Rutgers.”
Tess Howland
Midfield | 5-10
Glen Ridge, N.J./Glen Ridge
Prior to Rutgers: A three-sport athlete at Glen Ridge HS, starting for four years on the girl’s lacrosse team, four years on the field hockey team and running four years of track … served as captain of the lacrosse team as a senior … in lacrosse, was recognized as First Team All-NJGILL Stars & Stripes Conference, First Team All-Super Essex Conference, Second Team Group I All-State, and added to the All-Essex County Tournament Team as a senior … also collected the Glen Ridge High School Family Athlete of the Year Award and Glen Ridge High School Legacy Award … named first team All-Super Essex Conference as a junior … placed on the All-Essex County Tournament Team and 2014 Under Armour All-American Team … notched double-digits goals and assists in her sophomore and junior seasons … selected to the Second Team Super Essex Conference All-American Division in 2013 … helped team to an NJSIAA Group I State Championship as a freshman … a decorated field hockey player, earning first team All-Super Essex Conference, first team All-Essex Union Conference and second team All-North Jersey as a senior … led field hockey team in scoring with 11 goals in 2014 … her 4×400 meter relay team advanced to the group finals in 2013 and 2014 … president of the Girls’ Club of Glen Ridge.
Personal: Daughter of Sean and Kyle … has one sister, Liza.
Brand-Sias on Howland: “Tess brings an all-around skillset and good use of her height. I see her making an impact in multiple areas, particularly our draw controls.”
Dakota Mason
Midfield | 5-4
Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor
Prior to Rutgers: Played in seven games as a true freshman at Massachusetts … recorded a groundball, a draw control and two caused turnovers … played in first collegiate game against UMass Lowell (Feb. 14) … in win at St. Bonaventure (April 4), had a groundball, a draw control and a caused turnover … also had a caused turnover against George Washington (April 26) … a five-year varsity starter at Eastport South Manor HS … helped team to county championship in 2012 and 2013 … won the Shark Athletic Leadership Award as a senior when she was co-captain … received numerous accolades as a junior, including Academic All-America and Under Armour All-America status, and spots on the Long Island and Suffolk County All-Tournament Teams … led team in goals and points as a junior … named all-county as a sophomore and was recognized as an unsung hero by the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation as a freshman … was also a four-year starter on the girls soccer team, earning all-conference laurels as a junior … a member of the Foreign Language Honor Society and principal’s honor roll.
Personal: Daughter of Frank and Christina … has one brother, Hunter … father was a wrestler at SUNY-Cortland … grandfather, John Mason, played semi-professional football for the Bay City All-Saints … her grandmother emigrated to the United States from Switzerland on the first sailing of the Queen Elizabeth.
Brand-Sias on Mason: “Dakota will assume a more defensive role for us here at Rutgers and we are optimistic about her potential on the field and her ability to help us make an impact in the Big Ten.”
Dakota Pastore
Midfield | 5-7
Branchburg, N.J./Somerville
Prior to Rutgers: A four-year varsity letterwinner at Somerville HS … served as team captain as a senior … named first team all-conference and first team all-area … had a productive senior send off, scoring 78 goals, notching 22 assists and recording 20 ground balls … tallied her 300th career goal in her final season … a 2014 Under Armour All-American … racked up 377 goals, 134 assists, 130 ground balls and 511 points in four seasons … re-set her own school record for goals (128) and total points (158) in a single season as a junior … an NJ.com Preseason Top 25 Player in New Jersey … named first team all-area, all-county and all-conference as a junior … notched 154 points as a sophomore, scoring 102 times to go with 52 assists … mark was the school record until her junior campaign … selected as a Brine All-American and was named the player that most impressed in the Brine All-American Championship Game … a first-team all-conference, all-county and all-area selection in 2013 … as a rookie, scored 71 goals and set the school record for most goals in a single game (nine) … named first team all-conference and was a Top 150 North Start Invitational participant … also a three-year member of the swim team … earned All-Skyland Conference honors in the 200 IM and 50 freestyle events … will serve as captain in her senior season … excelled in the classroom, earning the Academic Honors Award three times along with High Honor Roll recognition through her first three years.
Personal: Daughter of Kelly and B. Vincent … has one sibling, Kyanna, who attends Ohio State University and plays on the club lacrosse team … intends to major in pre-veterinary medicine.
Brand-Sias on Pastore: “Dakota plays a very fluid game. She possesses great stick skills and unwavering composure. I look forward to her work ethic and development as a Scarlet Knight.”
Regina Sharp
Midfield | 5-6
Suffern, N.Y./Suffern
Prior to Rutgers: A five-year varsity girls lacrosse participant at Suffern HS … recorded 33 goals, 15 assists and 25 draw controls as a senior … an all-league and all-section member in all five seasons … scored 129 goals, tallied 55 assists and collected 137 draw controls … named to the all-tournament team during the state playoffs as a senior and sophomore.
Personal: Daughter of Sheila and Chris … has four siblings: Maggie, Peter, Thomas and Daniel … her brothers, Peter and Tom, play lacrosse in college … her sister, Maggie, also competed at the college level.
Brand-Sias on Sharp: “Regina is the true definition of a middie. She has an impact in every aspect of the game and consistently gets the job done. We have been impressed with her play for a very long time and we look forward to that impact helping us here at Rutgers.”
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