Lacrosse Adds Seven for 2008-09
7/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Lacrosse
NEW YORK, N.Y. ? The Columbia women's lacrosse team will add seven newcomers for the 2009 season. The first-years hail from five different states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and two from New York.
“I'm really excited about our incoming class,” noted head coach Kerri Whitaker. “They are an athletic and skilled group who are committed to improving the program and totally invested in our vision.”
The class of 2012, which features two attackers, two midfielders, two defenders, and a goalie, is listed below with a statement from Whitaker.
Sarah Avallone
Manhasset, N.Y. / Manhasset / Midfield
“Sarah is a fast, athletic, and aggressive midfielder. She loves to go after the ball, is just a nasty defender and all she wants is to get the ball back. She has excellent closing speed and can play at both ends of the field."
Karlee Blank
Rexford, N.Y. / Niskayuna / Goalie
“Karlee just makes saves, that is the thing you notice first about her ? she stops the ball. She's smart, too, and anticipates well. She reacts really quickly to low shots and attacks the ball.”
Kelly Buechel
South Orange, N.J. / Columbia High / Attack
“I think Kelly flew under the radar a little bit, so we are pleased that she will be here. She is a skilled and clever attack player who can create for her teammates off the pass ? she is a playmaker with a good sense of space and timing. She is equally adept at finding openings as a cutter.”
Megan Carley
Cincinnati, Ohio / Saint Ursula Academy / Attack
“Megan is a goal scorer with good size and strength. She has a good stick and is pretty comfortable with a finesse game but she can also play a really physical style as well, so her versatility is well-suited to the college level. She is smart off-ball and can barrel through space as a cutter.”
Taylor Gattinella
Greenwich, Conn. / Greenwich Academy / Midfielder
“Taylor possesses great speed and loves to go forward in the midfield, capable of generating a fast break every time she gets the ball in the defensive end. She is a gifted passer with really good field vision. She is short but tough and can hold her own when matched up against bigger athletes.”
Amanda Goodhart
Alexandria, Va. / St. Stephen's and St. Agnes / Defender
“Amanda is a smart and intuitive defender with great size. She comes from one of the most powerful high school programs in the country, and along with her athleticism, she has a really good feel for the game.”
Jenny Schiff
Larchmont, N.Y. / Horace Mann / Defender
“Jenny is fast going forward and has a lot of potential to develop. Her feet are really quick, and she moves well laterally which all defenders need to do.”
