Rutgers Announces Early Signing Class
Jan 11 | Women's Lacrosse
Piscataway, N.J. - Rutgers University women's lacrosse head coach Laura Brand has announced the signing of nine players to national letters of intent for the fall 2007. The nine hail from four different states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
The recruiting class includes Kristen Anderson (Shoreham-Wading River, N.Y.), Eileen Ghent (Silver Spring, Md.), Tara Hardy (West Chester, Pa.), Shawn Lopez (Monkton, Md.), Mary Moran (Florence, N.J.), Katherine Marino (Hillsborough, N.J.), Jennifer Schmitt (Baltimore, Md.), Nicole Smartt (Hillsborough, N.J.), and Marley Welsh (Jarrettsville, Md.).
"Each of these student-athletes offers something unique to our program," said Brand. "Every individual possesses an incredible work ethic and a strong passion for the game which we hope will equal into future success."
Anderson, an all-county performer from Shoreham-Wading River H.S., scored 51 goals and tallied 20 assists her junior season. The Long Island product helped lead her squad to the Suffolk County C Championship the past three consecutive years and was a gold medalist at the Empire State games in 2006. Anderson has registered 161 goals in her stellar high school career, including 78 scores her sophomore campaign. She honed her skills with the club team, Long Island Express.
Ghent, a 5-9 defender, comes from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Silver Spring, Md. She was tabbed second team All-WCAC after helping her team reach the WCAC Championships each of the past two seasons. The three-year varsity letterwinner also achieved success in the classroom, earning 2006 US Lacrosse Academic All-America honors. A member of the National Honor Society, Ghent played club lacrosse for M&D Lacrosse 2007 Red.
Hardy, a midfielder, hails from Unionville H.S. which was ranked 14th in the year-end high school rankings by USA Lacrosse Magazine. A four-year varsity starter, the West Chester, Pa. native was selected first team all-league and second team all-area in 2006. A member of the National Honor Society, Hardy was also a four-year member of the cross country team, helping her team capture the 2004 state championship. On the club level, Hardy played for PA Express and Lenape Premier.
Lopez, a 5-6 attacker from Monkton, Md., has honed her skills the past five years for the highly successful Skywalkers club team. She attended and played high school lacrosse for three years at Maryvale Preparatory School. At Maryvale, Lopez also was a member of the track and field team for two seasons and also participated in basketball, soccer and field hockey. A consistent honor roll performer, she was named to the Spanish National Honor Society.
Moran, a four-year letter winner at Holy Cross High School, was an all-conference selection the past two seasons. The Florence, N.J. product grabbed honorable mention All-South Jersey accolades following her junior campaign. A four-year honor roll student and Holy Cross' midfielder of the year, Moran played for South Jersey Lacrosse club.
Marino comes to Rutgers after lettering the past three seasons for Hillsborough (N.J.) High School. She totaled 79 goals and 46 assists over the three-year span. Marino picked up Somerset County Honorable Mention honors en route to helping her team garner the Somerset County championship and the Skyland Conference title with a 20-2 mark. The midfielder participates on the club level with Tri-State Black and in the past earned All Galaxy first team honors and helped the club squad win the 2006 state cup.
Schmitt, the fourth of five Maryland natives, was a four-year varsity performer at Perry Hall High School in Baltimore. A second-team all-country honoree, Schmitt is second all-time in assists at the school and a member of the honors program. Along with Lopez, Schmitt played for the Skywalkers club team.
Smartt is the second Hillsborough H.S. product among the nine newcomers, joining prep teammate Marino. A three year varsity starter, she was an all-conference and All-Somerset selection in 2006. Smartt has registered over 100 draw controls the past two seasons, while recording 10 goals. Smartt played for a number of club teams in the Garden State, among them Galaxy and Tri-State Black. She also was an all-conference performer in soccer, earning NJGSCA All-State accolades.
The final addition to the class is Welsh, a four-year varsity letterwinner from North Harford H.S. in Jarrettsville, Md. Welsh recorded a first-team all-County nod and helped her team secure the county championship after tallying 56 goals and 17 assists last spring. Welsh, a four year honor roll participant, has excelled in the classroom, earning the Maryland Distinguished Scholar Award. Welsh's talent is not limited to the field as NEMS club player has been a member of the All-State Choir the past five years. She will be joining former high school teammate Katy Lawrence, 'On the Banks' next fall.
"This class fulfills many of our needs," Brand notes of the diverse group. "We will be graduating key players in the midfield and I am confident this group will help fill those roles. These nine individuals have amazing speed and athleticism coupled with great academic backgrounds. I am very excited about their potential and the immediate impact they will have on this program."
The Scarlet Knights return eight starters and commence the 2007 season at Cornell on Feb. 24 at 3:00 p.m.
