Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/21/16
From Press Release
With the 2016-17 academic year underway, the Boston University women’s lacrosse team announced seven new faces on campus that make up the class of 2020, head coach Liz Robertshaw (Strath Haven).
The Terriers welcome two defenders, three midfielders, an attacker and a goalkeeper to this year’s squad, including several local recruits from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“This class is bringing skill and athleticism to our team,” Robertshaw said. “With the addition of the shot clock and some other new rules, we are so excited how those things as well as a large incoming class translate to our program. All seven players are going to have an big impact on this team.”
#15 | Christine Carugati | 5-3 | M | Langhorne, Pa. | The Pennington School (N.J.)
Carugati joins BU this season after spending the last four years as a starter for The Pennington School varsity lacrosse team. She was named to the New Jersey All-State Prep B First Team as a freshman and went on to earn the distinction for the next three years. She helped her squad to the N.J. Prep B state semifinals and was named to the USWNT Schoolgirls Team (N.J. South) during her first season at Pennington.
During her sophomore year, Carugati again led her team to the state semifinals and went on to play in the Under Armour Underclass Tournament. (She broke-out during her junior campaign, having a career-best season with 109 goals and 28 assists, helping her team to a state championship appearance and to be named the N.J. Prep Player of the year.
She again participated in the Under Armour Underclass Tournament and was named the N.J. South Trentonian All-Prep Offensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Trenton All-Area First Team.
As a senior, Carugati was named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American and set The Pennigton School’s career scoring record with 292 goals and total point record with 362.
Carugati helped two other teams to State Championships during her years at Pennington, winning the title with the soccer team in 2013 and 2015 and with the basketball team in 2016.
Robertshaw on Carugati: “Christine is bringing fresh stick work and visible game sense to our team this year. As a standout midfielder on her high school team, she will be a great addition to both ends of the field.”
#16 | Bianca Smith | 5-2 | GK | Medford, NJ | Shawnee High School (N.J.)
A Medford, Mass. native, Smith comes to Boston University after playing for Shawnee High School in New Jersey. As a freshman, she helped her team to a Group IV South Jersey Championship and went on to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.
During her sophomore year, Smith represented New Jersey in the Brine National Lacrosse Clinic. As a senior, she went on to help her team win another Group IV South Jersey Championship and was named First Team All-Conference, First Team All-South Jersey and Second Team All-New Jersey Group IV.
Robertshaw on Smith: “Bianca is active and agile in cage. She isn’t afraid to come out and do what it takes to make the save. Her style of play will complement Caroline and Christine very well and will give our attackers a different look at the goal.”
#1 | Mackenzie Howe | 5-10 | M | Laconia, N.H. | Laconia High School
Howe comes to BU after playing four seasons of varsity lacrosse between Laconia High School and the Holderness School, where she was named to the All-State Second Team in her very first season with the program, scoring 37 goals, totaling 15 assists and 38 caused turnovers while helping her team make the playoffs for the first time in school history. As a sophomore, Howe transitioned to the Holderness School for one season where she was named an NEPSAC All-Star and helped the program reach the Lakes Region Championship game.
Returning to Laconia for her junior and senior seasons, Howe earned First Team All-State recognition in both years and was named a US Lacrosse All-American and Academic All-American as a senior. A captain as a junior and senior, she led the team to back-to-back State Championships.
After finishing her senior campaign with 68 goals, 23 assists, 64 draw controls and 35 caused turnovers, Howe was invited to play in the Twin State Senior All-Star Game.
Howe played with the Granite State Elite club where she was coached by Boston University alum and UWLX Long Island Sound player McKinley Curro and played alongside fellow freshman, Lexi Lewis.
Robertshaw on Howe: “Mackenzie is great on the draw and a seasoned player coming out of New Hampshire. We look forward to seeing what she brings as she joins our midfield unit with impressive stick skills and vision.”
#8 | Kailey Conry | 5-7 | A | Needham, Mass. | Needham High School
Conry joins the Terriers this fall, which includes former high school teammate Kaitlin Belval, who was a big contributor as a freshman last spring. A four-year starter for Needham, Conry helped her team to a Bay State Conference Championship every single season.
The accolades began to roll in as a sophomore, when she was named to the Bay Sate League All-Star Team for the first time, and would earn the distinction for the next three years. She was neamed to the Eastern Mass All-Star Second Team as a sophomore as well, and would go on to be a first-team member as a junior and senior.
Leading the team and league in points and the state in assists (97) during her junior campaign, Conry caught the attention of nearly every outlet awarding high school lacrosse honors, and was named to the Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic Team, the ESPN All-State Team, the USA Today All-Massachusetts team and was a US Lacrosse All-American.
She matched all of these distinctions as a senior, but was elevated to the Bay State League MVP and set the Needham High School record in career points with 473, totaling 229 goals and 244 assists over four seasons.
Her athletic prowess was not limited to the lacrosee field, however, as she was also a four-year starter for the Needham High field hockey team where she enjoyed three Bay State League Championships and three Bay State League All-Star Team selections.
Robertshaw on Conry: “Kailey’s vision on the attacking end is something we are really looking forward to this year. She is patient, composed and confident and we cannot wait to see the impact she has this season.”
#10 | Lexi Lewis | 5-5 | M | Windham, N.H. | Windham High School
Lewis heads to BU after playing four seasons on Windham High School’s varsity lacrosse team. She helped her team to two New Hampshire State Championships and was named Second Team All-State as a sophomore and First Team All-State as a junior and senior.
As a senior, Lewis was also named to the Twin State All-Star Team and was captain of her squad, earning the team MVP award.
Lewis played alongside fellow freshman Mackenzie Howe on her club team, the Granite State Elite, which was coached by McKinley Curro, a BU alum and UWLX Long Island Sound player.
In the classroom, Lewis more than excelled, finishing as her class’s Salutatorian. She also earned the ESPN New Hampshire Scholar-Athlete of the Year award as a senior.
Lewis was also a standout on the track during her high school career, setting school records in the 55 meter, 200 meter and 300 meter. She went to the State Championships as a sophomore and senior, where she placed fifth in the 300 meter on both occasions and second in the 4×200 meter as a sophomore.
Robertshaw on Lewis: “Lexi is a powerhouse in the midfield. She is fast and gritty and brings that to every contest. Her confidence and awareness of her skills will take her and the team far this year and will push everyone around her to be at their best.”
#12 | Katie DeFreitas | 5-3 | D | Sudbury, Mass. | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional
Another local standout, DeFreitas joins the Terriers after starting as a defender in all four years for the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School varsity lacrosse team. As a freshman she earned her team’s inaugural Coach’s Hardhat Award and played on the Under Armour All-American Uncommitted Team, which is a showcase for the nation’s best lacrosse athletes that are not yet committed to a university.
As a sophomore, DeFreitas helped her team to a DCL Championship and was named a Boston Globe DCL All-Star and a EMGCLA Massachusetts All-Star. As a captain for her junior and senior seasons, she was named to the MIAA All-State Team in 2015 and was also on the MetroWest Daily News Girls Lacrosse All-Star Super Team that season. During her senior campaign, she helped lead Lincoln-Sudbury to another conference championship.
Robertshaw on DeFreitas: “Katie’s game sense and leadership skills are going to serve her well here at Boston University. She takes control of the players around her and pushes them to play at a standard. We are excited to see what Katie has in store for us this year.”
#17 | Maggie Lohrer | 5-7 | D | Alexandria, Va. | Bishop Ireton
Lohrer had the farthest to travel to join the Terriers this season, but she’ll be right at home alongside Kelly Mathews and Avery Donahoe, who also hail from Virginia. A four-year varsity player at Bishop Ireton, she helped her team reach the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship game and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) state championship game as a freshman.
As a sophomore, Lohrer helped her team reach new heights as it returned to both championship games, but this time came out victorious, winning both a WCAC Championship and a VISAA State Championship. Lohrer was named to the All-WCAC second team during this season.
With the standard set, Bishop Ireton won another VISAA State Championship during Lohrer’s junior year and she earned even more accolades, being named to the All-WCAC First Team, the All-State Second Team, an Under Armour All-American Washington DC Team, and an Academic All-American.
Lohrer again helped her team to a WCAC Championship as a senior captain and reached the VISAA state championship game. She was named to the All-WCAC First Team and the All-State First Team last spring.
Her leadership did not end with lacrosse, as she served as the Student Council Class President as a freshman and sophomore and was the Bishop Ireton Vice President as a senior.
Robertshaw on Lohrer: “Maggie’s speed, athleticism and competitive edge are something we strive to find and are looking forward to seeing on the field this year. Her drive and determination will fit perfectly within our defensive unit.”