Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/13/20
From Press Release
La Salle women’s coach Katie Rhodes Abbott announced the addition of 12 newcomers to the team on Thursday, consisting of 11 freshmen and one sophomore transfer. The Explorers didn’t have to look far for their 2020 recruiting class with six players hailing from Pennsylvania, three from New York, two from Maryland and one from New Jersey.
Sara Grassi – Midfielder
Glen Mills, Pa. (Cardinal O’Hara High School)
At Cardinal O’Hara, Grassi featured heavily for both the lacrosse and field hockey teams. In the latter, she collected two First Team All-Catholic nods and a First Team All-Delco mention as a senior. She also participated on the club level with Ultimate Goal Lacrosse.
Academically, Grassi finished with high marks and will enter La Salle as a business major.
Maddie Henderson – Midfielder
Narberth, Pa. (Harriton High School)
Henderson landed multiple All Central League and All Main Line honorable mentions in her career at Harriton. Her team won its league championship and went on to win the PIAA State Championship in 2019. As a junior, she recorded 80 draw controls, 58 ground balls and 32 goals.
Additionally, she lettered in indoor track and was a team captain in 2019.
Henderson chose La Salle because of the connection she made with the team and its family atmosphere. She’ll join the school’s education program in the fall.
Chloe Leiter – Midfielder
Willow Grove, Pa. (Upper Moreland High School)
Leiter earned accomplishments in both lacrosse and soccer during her time at Upper Moreland. As a sophomore, her lacrosse team reached the second round of the playoffs, while that same year she was a Suburban One Honorable Mention in soccer.
She was drawn to the Explorers because of the connection she made with Rhodes Abbott and the potential to achieve highly, athletically and academically, at La Salle.
Fab Narda – Attacker
Broomall, Pa. (Archbishop John Carroll High School)
Narda arrives at Olney Ave. having won often at Archbishop Carroll. Her team captured the PCL title on multiple occasions, and a state championship in Narda’s freshman campaign. She also played soccer and field hockey during her time there.
Narda finished high school with a 4.0 GPA, receiving first and second honors.
Lola Quigley – Attacker
Villanova, Pa. (Episcopal Academy)
While at Episcopal, Quigley won championships in multiple sports. Her lacrosse team were Inter Ac champions in 2017, 2018 and 2019. As part of the soccer team, Quigley also won the Inter Ac Championship in 2017 and the PAISAA Championship a year later.
She is involved locally as a community service board member and joined La Salle for the community it presented and the opportunities it offers.
Kira Sides – Midfielder
Cape May Court House, N.J. (Middle Township High School)
A multi-sport standout, Sides joins La Salle after glittering careers in lacrosse, basketball and soccer at Middle Township. As a freshman, she scored 56 goals and her team was crowned South Jersey champions with Sides named to NJ.com’s Top 50 Freshmen in the State. A year later, she led the state in scoring with 129 goals, adding 57 assists and featured as NJ.com’s Player of the Year in the CAL conference. She again broke the 100-goal plateau as a junior and picked up her second consecutive First Team All-Conference nod. Additionally, she was elected Atlantic City Press Player of the Year and First Team All-Star.
In basketball, she reached the South Jersey finals as a freshman, landed First Team All-Conference as a sophomore and hit the 1,000-point mark as a junior. In soccer, Sides’ team won its conference when she was a rookie. She was then First Team All-Conference her next three years, leading scorer as a sophomore and netting 19 goals as a senior.
Claudia Steinmetz – Midfielder
Ivyland, Pa. (Council Rock South High School)
Steinmetz was steady as a rock in Council Rock’s midfield across her career. She was named Rookie of the Year in her debut campaign, then Team MVP over the following two seasons. She progressed from Suburban One Second Team as a sophomore to making the first team as a junior.
Steinmetz also lettered in soccer and basketball. Notably, her soccer team reached the state tournament in 2019.
She’ll enroll in La Salle’s biology program this upcoming semester.
Shannin Cato – Defender
Delmar, N.Y. (The Albany Academies)
Cato arrives at La Salle as a well-rounded athlete, having lettered in track, basketball and field hockey, in addition to lacrosse. A strong presence on the team, she was named the most inspirational player her junior year and collected the leadership award for her club team, ADK Lacrosse.
Cato chose La Salle for the close-knit community and will major in political science.
Mackenzie Click – Midfielder
Baltimore, Md. (Perry Hall High School)
After four years at Perry Hall, Click will don the Blue & Gold this upcoming season, bringing a proven academic aptitude. The Baltimore native often featured on All Academic teams, won multiple Minds in Motion awards, and was heavily involved in various honor societies.
Click was also a three-year starter on the soccer team, winning a pair of state championships and making the All-Division Team.
In the fall, she’ll enter into La Salle’s biology and pre-physical therapy programs.
Julianna Harden – Defender
Bel Air, Md. (Bel Air High School)
Harden elevated to starter as a freshman at Bel Air and found success, winning regional championships in 2016 and 2017, and a state championship in 2016. As a junior, she made Second Team All-County.
In addition to lacrosse, Harden lettered in volleyball and basketball. In the former, her team won the regional championship and placed second in the state in 2018. A year later, Bel Air won its conference and Harden made First Team All-County.
Raquel Nieves – Defender
Yorktown Heights, N.Y. (Lakeland High School)
Nieves found success early at Lakeland as her team captured the league title and she was named to the All-League team. The following year, she earned All-Section Honorable Mention.
Additionally, she lettered in field hockey as Lakeland won two state championships.
Perhaps her most unique honor to date, Nieves represented Puerto Rico as part of its first ever national lacrosse team.
Kiki Venza – Defender
Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. (Comsewogue High School / Ohio State University)
Venza, a sophomore transfer, joins the Blue & Gold after spending the beginning of her career at Ohio State. She was named an OSU Scholar Athlete as a freshman.