Women’s Lacrosse Welcomes 2019-20 Freshman Class
Oct 03 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – With the 2019 fall schedule in full swing, Rutgers women's lacrosse and head coach Melissa Lehman officially welcomed their 13-player freshman class. The group features eight players from New Jersey, two from Virginia and one each from Florida, New York and Pennsylvania.
"We are beyond excited for the Class of 2023 to be here 'On the Banks.'", Lehman said. "From the moment they stepped on campus they brought great energy, and most importantly they came ready to compete and make an impact with this program."
Meghan Ball
Defense
Raritan, N.J. | Bridgewater-Raritan
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Bridgewater-Raritan … regarded as one of the top defenders in the Garden State by NJ.com in 2019 … finished senior campaign with 123 draw controls and 76 ground balls … helped Bridgewater-Raritan to a North Jersey Group IV title and an appearance in the Group IV tournament … first team all-state, all-group and all division by NJ.com … first team all-group and second team all-state selection as a junior … two-time All-Skyland Conference as a junior and sophomore … has secured more than 160 draw controls and has scooped up more than 100 ground balls during her scholastic career … won 122 draw controls to help Bridgewater-Raritan to an appearance in the NJSIAA North II, Group IV tournament final as a junior … played on 2017 team that won the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title and was voted the 2017 High School Team of the Year … four-time letterwinner in basketball and two-time letterwinner in soccer … a two-time all-division selection on the hardwood.
Jessica Beneducci
Midfield
Mendham, N.J. | Mendham
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Mendham … finished her scholastic career with 70 goals, 61 assists, 66 draw controls and 93 ground balls … three-time All-Morris County and all-league as sophomore through senior seasons … produced 15 goals, 22 assists, 28 draw controls, 18 forced turnovers and 25 ground balls as a senior … helped Mendham to its first Morris County Tournament title since 2011 … had 20 goals, 22 assists, 35 ground balls and 38 draw controls as a junior … netted a career-high 32 goals as a sophomore in 2017 … also a four-year letterwinner in soccer, where she was named a second-team all-conference player as a senior in 2018 … brother, Joe, played football at Michigan … father, Joe Sr., played football at Drew University … mother, Bonnie, played field hockey and lacrosse at Drew University, where she holds the program record for most ground balls in a career and was elected into the athletic department's hall of fame in 1995.
Jenna Byrne
Midfield
North Palm Beach, Fla. | The Benjamin School
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at the Benjamin School … three-time all-district and two-time all-region selection … three-time first team all-county by the South Florida Sun Sentinel … US Lacrosse Academic All-American has scored more than 165 goals and accounted for more than 100 assists during scholastic career … has also secured 288 draw controls, 147 ground balls and 86 caused turnovers … helped Benjamin to its first-ever state title … collected 48 goals, 23 assists and 25 caused turnovers to lead team to a district championships and an appearance in the FHSAA Girls Lacrosse Region III semifinals as a junior … helped team to a district championship as a sophomore in 2017 … selected as a Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State selection with her 4.0 GPA … also lettered in cross country, swimming and soccer at the Benjamin School … an honors student.
Ashley Campo
Midfield
Haddonfield N.J. | Haddonfield
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwinner at Haddonfield … 2018 US Lacrosse High School All-American … finished career with 344 points on 175 goals and 169 assists … totaled 101 points on 62 goals and 39 assists during senior season … helped Haddonfield to a NJSIAA Group II title and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions … first team all-conference, first team all-group and third team all-state as a senior … also an all-conference selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior … helped team to a NJSIAA South Jersey Group II title, a Group II crown and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions as a junior with 34 goals, 58 assists and 33 draw controls … team also won a state title in 2017, when she produced 34 goals, 41 points and 14 ground balls … enjoyed productive freshman season in 2016 with 45 goals, 31 assists and 29 ground balls … also an all-state selection and three-year letterwinner in field hockey and four-year varsity letterwinner in basketball … a member of the National Honors Society.
Grace Curran
Midfield/Attack
North Salem, N.Y. | North Salem
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time captain at North Salem … collected more than 210 goals and 80 assists during scholastic career … four-time all-league and three-time all-section … helped North Salem to 10 victories and an appearance in the LoHud Section I, Class D final during senior season … offensive MVP as a junior with 84 goals and 24 assists, helping North Salem to an appearance in the LoHud Section I, Class D playoffs … netted 67 goals and added 33 assists as a sophomore … also scored 36 goals and 16 assists as a freshman … also a four-year varsity letterwinner in basketball and three-year varsity letterwinner in soccer, earning all-league and all-section accolades in both … father, Brendan, and uncle, Tim, played lacrosse at SUNY Cortland … brother, Timothy, played lacrosse at Saint Michaels … cousin, Jonathan, played lacrosse at Catholic University … a member of the National Honors Society.
Lauren Ellis
Midfield
Alexandria, Virginia | West Potomac
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner and senior captain at West Potomac … also competed on the capital lacrosse club team … first team all-region and district by InsideNova.com … helped team to 15 victories an appearance in the Class 6 VHSL semifinals … accumulated more than 100 goals and 75 draw controls during her scholastic career … helped team to three consecutive Patriot Conference titles from 2017-19 … missed junior campaign due to injury … second team all-conference as a sophomore … honorable mention all-conference as a rookie … named to the 2017 US Lacrosse National Schoolgirls Tournament team … selected to the Under Armor 2016 All-American 2019 Uncommitted team … also lettered in volleyball and basketball at West Potomac, where she collected All-Nova honorable mention on the hardwood in 2018 … a member of the National Honors Society.
Janey Galski
Attack
Moorestown N.J. | Moorestown
Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity letterwinner at Moorestown … helped Moorestown to a NJSIAA Group III title and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions … scored three goals to proell Moorestown to NJSIAA TOC final … finished senior season with 57 points on 39 goals and 18 assists … also produced 25 ground balls … second team all-group by NJ.com ... helped Moorestown to a 2018 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title, a 2018 NJSIAA Group III state championship and a South Jersey Group III crown as a junior … team also captured a sectional title in 2018 … also lettered in cross country and swimming at Moorestown, where she collected two team state titles in the pool … an honors student.
Alonna Gliksman
Goalkeeper
Branchburg, N.J. | Somerville
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Somerville … finished scholastic career with 622 saves and more than 30 victories … three-time first-team Skyland Conference selection … Under Armor Underclassmen All-American … finished senior season with 168 saves … a 2019 defender to watch by NJ.com … stopped 213 shots as a junior, which included setting the team's single-game saves record with 24 stops against Hillsborough … led team to a 2018 NJSIAA North II, Group II semifinal appearance … broke schools single-season saves record with 233 stops as a sophomore … also lettered in tennis at Somerville … an honors student.
Casey Haas
Defense
Ridgewood, N.J. | Ridgewood
Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity starter at Ridgewood … finished senior season with 39 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls … helped Ridgewood to a 23-2 record, a NJSIAA Group IV title and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions during senior campaign … second team all-conference and third team all-group by NJ.com … … also helped Ridgewood to NJSIAA Group IV title as a junior … team also won the Bergen County tournament titles in 2018 and 2019 … sister, Lindsay, plays lacrosse at Wagner and helped team to back-to-back NEC Championships.
Maddie Kercher
Defense
Herndon, Va. | Herndon
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwinner and starter at Herndon … four-time all-conference and all-region selection … honorable mention all-metro by the Washington Post as a senior … team MVP as a sophomore … voted rookie of the year during freshman season in 2016 … played for the Capital Lacrosse Club Blue team … selected to the DC Metro national schoolgirls underclassman tournament … also played field hockey at Herndon.
Lindsay Newton
Midfield
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Upper St. Clair
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Upper St. Clair … four-time varsity athlete award winner … first girl's lacrosse player in school history to sign with a Big Ten Conference program … scored more than 100 goals during her scholastic career … first team all-league who helped team to a 16-2 record and a runner-up result in the WPIAL tournament as a senior in 2019 … voted the team's MVP as a junior, leading the program in goals scored in 2018 and an appearance in the WPIAL quarterfinals …selected to the 2018 US Lacrosse women's National Tournament representing Western Pennsylvania mother, Sandy, played two years of lacrosse and four years of soccer at Hollins University … father, Matthew, played four year of basketball at Washington & Lee University … grandfather, Bill Bookout, is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame … a honors student.
Elizabeth Skobelev
Midfield
Monroe Township, N.J. | Monroe Township
Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity letterwinner at Monroe Township … missed senior season due to injury … produced 136 goals, 57 assists, 193 points and 102 ground balls during scholastic career … three-time all-conference selection … netted 66 goals and had 24 assists as a junior, helping Monroe Township to a Grater Middlesex Conference Tournament title and an appearance in the 2018 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinals …had 49 points on 33 goals and 16 assists as a sophomore to help team to a conference tournament championship … netted 37 goals and 17 assists as a rookie … a member of the national honors society.
Cassidy Spilis
Midfield
Tabernacle, N.J. | Seneca
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner, two-time All-American and two-year captain at Seneca … one of the most prolific scorers in the state of New Jersey, accounting for 331 goals and 386 points during her scholastic career … produced 97 goals and 21 assists for 118 points as a senior ... named a 2019 All-American … seventh in the state with 151 draw controls and 11th with 97 goals … helped Seneca to an appearance in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III playoffs … first team all-state, all-group and all-division by NJ.com … also voted the Olympic Conference Player of the Year … first team all-conference, first team all-South Jersey, first team all-Group III and second team all-state as a junior, netting 100 goals to go along with 24 assists and 137 draw controls … also an All-American in 2018 … helped Seneca to an appearance in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III semifinals as a junior … collected 83 goals, 31 assists and 102 draw controls as a sophomore … first team all-conference, second team all-South Jersey and third team all-state in 2017 … had 50 goals and 55 draw controls as a freshman en route to second team all-conference honors … also a two-time all-conference selection in soccer … mother, Cherie, played lacrosse and field hockey at Millersville University, where she was an All-American and Division II Most Valuable Player in lacrosse … father, Steve, played soccer at Drexel.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the program on Facebook, Twitter (@Rutgers_WLAX) and Instagram.
"We are beyond excited for the Class of 2023 to be here 'On the Banks.'", Lehman said. "From the moment they stepped on campus they brought great energy, and most importantly they came ready to compete and make an impact with this program."
Meghan Ball
Defense
Raritan, N.J. | Bridgewater-Raritan
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Bridgewater-Raritan … regarded as one of the top defenders in the Garden State by NJ.com in 2019 … finished senior campaign with 123 draw controls and 76 ground balls … helped Bridgewater-Raritan to a North Jersey Group IV title and an appearance in the Group IV tournament … first team all-state, all-group and all division by NJ.com … first team all-group and second team all-state selection as a junior … two-time All-Skyland Conference as a junior and sophomore … has secured more than 160 draw controls and has scooped up more than 100 ground balls during her scholastic career … won 122 draw controls to help Bridgewater-Raritan to an appearance in the NJSIAA North II, Group IV tournament final as a junior … played on 2017 team that won the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title and was voted the 2017 High School Team of the Year … four-time letterwinner in basketball and two-time letterwinner in soccer … a two-time all-division selection on the hardwood.
Jessica Beneducci
Midfield
Mendham, N.J. | Mendham
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Mendham … finished her scholastic career with 70 goals, 61 assists, 66 draw controls and 93 ground balls … three-time All-Morris County and all-league as sophomore through senior seasons … produced 15 goals, 22 assists, 28 draw controls, 18 forced turnovers and 25 ground balls as a senior … helped Mendham to its first Morris County Tournament title since 2011 … had 20 goals, 22 assists, 35 ground balls and 38 draw controls as a junior … netted a career-high 32 goals as a sophomore in 2017 … also a four-year letterwinner in soccer, where she was named a second-team all-conference player as a senior in 2018 … brother, Joe, played football at Michigan … father, Joe Sr., played football at Drew University … mother, Bonnie, played field hockey and lacrosse at Drew University, where she holds the program record for most ground balls in a career and was elected into the athletic department's hall of fame in 1995.
Jenna Byrne
Midfield
North Palm Beach, Fla. | The Benjamin School
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at the Benjamin School … three-time all-district and two-time all-region selection … three-time first team all-county by the South Florida Sun Sentinel … US Lacrosse Academic All-American has scored more than 165 goals and accounted for more than 100 assists during scholastic career … has also secured 288 draw controls, 147 ground balls and 86 caused turnovers … helped Benjamin to its first-ever state title … collected 48 goals, 23 assists and 25 caused turnovers to lead team to a district championships and an appearance in the FHSAA Girls Lacrosse Region III semifinals as a junior … helped team to a district championship as a sophomore in 2017 … selected as a Florida Dairy Farmers Academic All-State selection with her 4.0 GPA … also lettered in cross country, swimming and soccer at the Benjamin School … an honors student.
Ashley Campo
Midfield
Haddonfield N.J. | Haddonfield
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwinner at Haddonfield … 2018 US Lacrosse High School All-American … finished career with 344 points on 175 goals and 169 assists … totaled 101 points on 62 goals and 39 assists during senior season … helped Haddonfield to a NJSIAA Group II title and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions … first team all-conference, first team all-group and third team all-state as a senior … also an all-conference selection as a freshman, sophomore and junior … helped team to a NJSIAA South Jersey Group II title, a Group II crown and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions as a junior with 34 goals, 58 assists and 33 draw controls … team also won a state title in 2017, when she produced 34 goals, 41 points and 14 ground balls … enjoyed productive freshman season in 2016 with 45 goals, 31 assists and 29 ground balls … also an all-state selection and three-year letterwinner in field hockey and four-year varsity letterwinner in basketball … a member of the National Honors Society.
Grace Curran
Midfield/Attack
North Salem, N.Y. | North Salem
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time captain at North Salem … collected more than 210 goals and 80 assists during scholastic career … four-time all-league and three-time all-section … helped North Salem to 10 victories and an appearance in the LoHud Section I, Class D final during senior season … offensive MVP as a junior with 84 goals and 24 assists, helping North Salem to an appearance in the LoHud Section I, Class D playoffs … netted 67 goals and added 33 assists as a sophomore … also scored 36 goals and 16 assists as a freshman … also a four-year varsity letterwinner in basketball and three-year varsity letterwinner in soccer, earning all-league and all-section accolades in both … father, Brendan, and uncle, Tim, played lacrosse at SUNY Cortland … brother, Timothy, played lacrosse at Saint Michaels … cousin, Jonathan, played lacrosse at Catholic University … a member of the National Honors Society.
Lauren Ellis
Midfield
Alexandria, Virginia | West Potomac
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner and senior captain at West Potomac … also competed on the capital lacrosse club team … first team all-region and district by InsideNova.com … helped team to 15 victories an appearance in the Class 6 VHSL semifinals … accumulated more than 100 goals and 75 draw controls during her scholastic career … helped team to three consecutive Patriot Conference titles from 2017-19 … missed junior campaign due to injury … second team all-conference as a sophomore … honorable mention all-conference as a rookie … named to the 2017 US Lacrosse National Schoolgirls Tournament team … selected to the Under Armor 2016 All-American 2019 Uncommitted team … also lettered in volleyball and basketball at West Potomac, where she collected All-Nova honorable mention on the hardwood in 2018 … a member of the National Honors Society.
Janey Galski
Attack
Moorestown N.J. | Moorestown
Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity letterwinner at Moorestown … helped Moorestown to a NJSIAA Group III title and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions … scored three goals to proell Moorestown to NJSIAA TOC final … finished senior season with 57 points on 39 goals and 18 assists … also produced 25 ground balls … second team all-group by NJ.com ... helped Moorestown to a 2018 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title, a 2018 NJSIAA Group III state championship and a South Jersey Group III crown as a junior … team also captured a sectional title in 2018 … also lettered in cross country and swimming at Moorestown, where she collected two team state titles in the pool … an honors student.
Alonna Gliksman
Goalkeeper
Branchburg, N.J. | Somerville
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Somerville … finished scholastic career with 622 saves and more than 30 victories … three-time first-team Skyland Conference selection … Under Armor Underclassmen All-American … finished senior season with 168 saves … a 2019 defender to watch by NJ.com … stopped 213 shots as a junior, which included setting the team's single-game saves record with 24 stops against Hillsborough … led team to a 2018 NJSIAA North II, Group II semifinal appearance … broke schools single-season saves record with 233 stops as a sophomore … also lettered in tennis at Somerville … an honors student.
Casey Haas
Defense
Ridgewood, N.J. | Ridgewood
Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity starter at Ridgewood … finished senior season with 39 caused turnovers and 31 ground balls … helped Ridgewood to a 23-2 record, a NJSIAA Group IV title and an appearance in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions during senior campaign … second team all-conference and third team all-group by NJ.com … … also helped Ridgewood to NJSIAA Group IV title as a junior … team also won the Bergen County tournament titles in 2018 and 2019 … sister, Lindsay, plays lacrosse at Wagner and helped team to back-to-back NEC Championships.
Maddie Kercher
Defense
Herndon, Va. | Herndon
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year letterwinner and starter at Herndon … four-time all-conference and all-region selection … honorable mention all-metro by the Washington Post as a senior … team MVP as a sophomore … voted rookie of the year during freshman season in 2016 … played for the Capital Lacrosse Club Blue team … selected to the DC Metro national schoolgirls underclassman tournament … also played field hockey at Herndon.
Lindsay Newton
Midfield
Pittsburgh, Pa. | Upper St. Clair
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Upper St. Clair … four-time varsity athlete award winner … first girl's lacrosse player in school history to sign with a Big Ten Conference program … scored more than 100 goals during her scholastic career … first team all-league who helped team to a 16-2 record and a runner-up result in the WPIAL tournament as a senior in 2019 … voted the team's MVP as a junior, leading the program in goals scored in 2018 and an appearance in the WPIAL quarterfinals …selected to the 2018 US Lacrosse women's National Tournament representing Western Pennsylvania mother, Sandy, played two years of lacrosse and four years of soccer at Hollins University … father, Matthew, played four year of basketball at Washington & Lee University … grandfather, Bill Bookout, is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame … a honors student.
Elizabeth Skobelev
Midfield
Monroe Township, N.J. | Monroe Township
Prior to Rutgers: Three-year varsity letterwinner at Monroe Township … missed senior season due to injury … produced 136 goals, 57 assists, 193 points and 102 ground balls during scholastic career … three-time all-conference selection … netted 66 goals and had 24 assists as a junior, helping Monroe Township to a Grater Middlesex Conference Tournament title and an appearance in the 2018 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinals …had 49 points on 33 goals and 16 assists as a sophomore to help team to a conference tournament championship … netted 37 goals and 17 assists as a rookie … a member of the national honors society.
Cassidy Spilis
Midfield
Tabernacle, N.J. | Seneca
Prior to Rutgers: Four-year varsity letterwinner, two-time All-American and two-year captain at Seneca … one of the most prolific scorers in the state of New Jersey, accounting for 331 goals and 386 points during her scholastic career … produced 97 goals and 21 assists for 118 points as a senior ... named a 2019 All-American … seventh in the state with 151 draw controls and 11th with 97 goals … helped Seneca to an appearance in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III playoffs … first team all-state, all-group and all-division by NJ.com … also voted the Olympic Conference Player of the Year … first team all-conference, first team all-South Jersey, first team all-Group III and second team all-state as a junior, netting 100 goals to go along with 24 assists and 137 draw controls … also an All-American in 2018 … helped Seneca to an appearance in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III semifinals as a junior … collected 83 goals, 31 assists and 102 draw controls as a sophomore … first team all-conference, second team all-South Jersey and third team all-state in 2017 … had 50 goals and 55 draw controls as a freshman en route to second team all-conference honors … also a two-time all-conference selection in soccer … mother, Cherie, played lacrosse and field hockey at Millersville University, where she was an All-American and Division II Most Valuable Player in lacrosse … father, Steve, played soccer at Drexel.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers women's lacrosse, follow the program on Facebook, Twitter (@Rutgers_WLAX) and Instagram.
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