Sept. 3, 2005

Mercyhurst women's lacrosse head coach Cecil Pilson has announced his 2005 - 2006 recruiting class.

Page Christensen (Hollywood, MD/Leonardtown), Megan Foley (Garden City, NY/Garden City), Tyler Groh (Linthicum, MD/North County), Alicia Guzzo (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker), Breanna Haggerty (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles), Rebecca Heintzman (Hillsboro, OR/Liberty), Jessie Horeth (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder), Katy Miller (Painted Post, NY/Corning Painted Post West), Elizabeth O'Neil (Syracuse, NY/Westhill Central), Kristen Toomey (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester), and Elizabeth Wagner (Rush, NY/Rush-Henrietta) have all signed national letters of intent and have enrolled at Mercyhurst for the fall of 2005. Also attending Mercyhurst is Bethany Maylone (Cazenovia , NY /Cazenovia), and Lauren Smith (Charlottesville , VA/Covenant School) who transferred from Bridgewater College.

"With these new recruits added to our 2005 - 2006 roster should be a great addition to our young and developing team." Pilson said. "This year's recruiting class will help put Mercyhurst on the map and allow us to have the depth to become a strong and resilient team in the south. I am sure they will help us climb higher into the NCAA Division II ranks than ever before over the next few years."

Christensen, a 5-7 midfielder, played three seasons of varsity lacrosse at Leonardtown High School (MD). The two-time first team All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference (2004, 2005), three-time first team All-County (2003, 2004, 2005), and two-time All-County Most Valuable Player (2004, 2005) assisted her squad with a total of 104 goals and 49 assists totaling 153 points over a three year span. In her sophomore year she compiled 36 goals and 17 assists to help her team win the 3A County Championship . In her junior year she compiled 19 goals and 17 assists to help her team win the 3A County Championship . Her senior year she compiled 49 goals and 15 assists and was named the Leonardtown High School Female Athlete of the Year. She also played one years of club lacrosse for Chesapeake Club Lacrosse (CC LAX).

Foley, a 5-7 goalkeeper, played three season of junior varsity lacrosse and was the 2005 starter at #21 nationally ranked Garden City High School (NY). Her senior year between the pipes she helped her team achieve an impressive 19-2 overall record. Her team was the 2005 Nassau County Champions; 2005 New York Class B, Section 8 Champions; 2005 Long Island Champions; and the 2005 New York State Class B Finalists and was selected for the New York State All-Tournament Team for Class B. She also started one year between to pipes for the Liberty Lacrosse Club.

Groh, a 5-7 attacker, played three varsity seasons on North County High School (MD). She assisted her team on the field by posting a three year total of 72 goals and 56 assists totaling 128 points. She also played one year of club lacrosse for Chesapeake Club Lacrosse (CC LAX).

Guzzo, a 5-9 defender, played two seasons of varsity lacrosse at C.W. Baker High School (NY). The Baldwinsville defenseman has assisted her team by posting a two year total of 2 goals and 2 assists totaling 4 points. She also played three years club lacrosse for Central New York Elite Lacrosse Club (CNYELC).

Haggerty, a 5-7 attacker, played four varsity seasons on the #8 nationally ranked Skaneateles High School (NY). The three-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American (2003, 2004, 2005), first team All-Central New York (2005), first team All-League (2005), and two-time second team All-League attacker (2003, 2004) assisted her squad with a total of 133 goals and 56 assists totaling 189 points over a four year span. In her sophomore year she compiled 22 goals and 10 assists to help her team win the 2003 New York Class C, Section 3 Championship; 2003 Central New York Championship; and the was the 2003 New York State Class C Semi-Finalist. In her junior year she compiled 47 goals and 20 assists to help her team win the 2004 New York Class C, Section 3 Championship. Her senior year she compiled 60 goals and 25 assists to help her team win the 2005 New York Class C, Section 3 Championship; 2005 Central New York Championship; and the 2005 New York State Class C Championship closing out their 2005 campaign with a very impressive 24-0 overall record. She was named 2005 Most Valuable Player for Class C at the New York State Tournament and was also selected for the New York State All-Tournament Team for Class C.

Heintzman, a 5-6 midfielder, played two seasons of varsity lacrosse at Liberty High School (OR), and two seasons of varsity lacrosse at Century High School (OR). The US Lacrosse Academic All-American (2005), second team all-state (2004), and two-time team captain has led her team with a two year total of 79 goals and 57 assists totaling 136 points. Her junior year she compiled 34 goals and 24 assists and helped her team win the Oregon Metro 2 Division going 6-0 later becoming the 2004 Oregon State 4A Semi-Finalists. Her senior year alone she scored 45 goals and 33 assists and helped her team win the Oregon Metro 2 Division going 8-0 and later finishing out the season the 2004 Oregon State 4A Quarter-Finalists with a 12-3 overall record.

Horeth, a 5-7 midfielder, played four seasons of varsity lacrosse at Webster Schroeder High School (NY) and graduated one year earlier than expected. The US Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention (2005), two-time first team all-county (2004, 2005), and two-time team captain (2004, 2005) has led her team on the field by posting a four year total of 181 goals and 93 assists totaling 274 points. She led her team in scoring both her sophomore and junior/senior years by posting 55 goals and 30 assists her sophomore year and 71 goals and 43 assists in her junior/senior year. Her junior/senior year she was named her teams Most Valuable Player for totaling up 114 points in a single season. She also was a starter for the 2004 Western Region Team at the New York Empire State Games and received a Bronze Medal. Lastly, she played four years of club lacrosse for Lady Roc.

Maylone, 5'2" attacker, played four varsity seasons at Cazenovia High School (NY). This two-time second team all-league (2004, 2005) and all-league honorable mention (2003) has led her team on the field by posting a four year total of 161 goals and 114 assists totaling 275 points. She led her team in scoring both her junior and senior years by posting 42 goals and 32 assists her junior year and 47 goals and 34 assists in her senior year. She also played three years of club lacrosse for Star Riders.

Miller, a 5-4 attacker, played three varsity seasons at Corning Painted Post West High School (NY). This two-time first team all-league (2004, 2005), two-time first team all-leader (2004, 2005), and team captain (2005) has led her team on the field by posting a three year total of 78 goals and 25 assists totaling 103 points. She led her team in scoring both her junior and senior years by posting 24 goals and 8 assists her junior year and 42 goals and 9 assists in her senior year.

O'Neil, a 5-5 defender, played three varsity seasons at Westhill Central High School (NY). The two-time Onondaga Second Team All-League (2005, 2004) and Onondaga All-League Honorable Mention (2003) defenseman has assisted her team by posting a three year total of 24 goals and 12 assists totaling 36 points. Her senior year her team was the 2005 New York State Class C, Section 3 Finalists.

Smith, a 5-9 midfielder, played two seasons at Bridgewater College (VA) before transferring to Mercyhurst. While at Bridgewater she led the Eagles in Goals, Assists, Points, and Draw Controls (2005, 2004). Before attending Bridgewater she played five varsity seasons at The Covenant School in Charlottesville, VA. While at the Covenant School she was named First Team All-Central Virginia (2003), Second Team All-Central Virginia (2002), All-Central Virginia Honorable Mention (2001). Smith is the sister of four-time IWLCA Division II All-American (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001) Natalie "Smith" Wood; 2001 Graduate of Longwood University (VA).

Toomey, a 5-9 midfielder, played four varsity seasons at #19 nationally ranked East Rochester High School (NY). The two-time 1st Team All-County (2004, 2005), All-County Honorable Mention (2003), and team captain (2005) assisted her squad with a total of 131 goals and 21 assists totaling 152 points over a four year span. In her freshman year she compiled 10 goals and 1 assist after being brought up from junior varsity late in the season to help her team win the 2002 New York Class C, Section 5 Championship; 2002 Western New York Championship; and the was the 2002 New York State Class C Semi-Finalist. In her sophomore year she compiled 24 goals and 2 assists to help her team win the 2003 New York Class C, Section 5 Championship; 2003 Western New York Championship; and the was the 2003 New York State Class C Finalist. In her junior year she compiled 34 goals and 8 assists. Her senior year she compiled 63 goals and 10 assists to finish out her four year campaign. She also played two years of club lacrosse for Lady Roc.

Wagner, a 5-8 defender, started three varsity seasons at #39 nationally ranked Rush-Henrietta High School (NY). The two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American (2005, 2004), two-time First Team All-County (2005, 2004), and Team Captain (2005) assisted her team by posting a three year total of 7 goals and 15 assists totaling 22 points. In her junior year she compiled 5 goals and 5 assists to help her team win the Monroe County Championship. Her senior year she compiled 2 goals and 10 assists to help her team to become the 2005 Monroe County Champions; 2005 New York Class A, Section 5 Champions; 2005 Western Regional Champions; and the 2005 New York State Class A Semi-Finalists. While at the State Tournament she was named for the Brine Player Choice Award and was also selected for the New York State All-Tournament Team for Class A. She also played one year of club lacrosse for Lady Roc.