The Wilkes University women's lacrosse team will be adding seven new players to its roster in 2011 in an effort to help replace the three Lady Colonels who departed this past year.
Wilkes lost seniors
Erica Sundberg (Mullica Hill, N.J./Kingsway HS),
Amanda Tilley (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and junior
Amelia Farnham (Guilford, CN/Guilford HS), who combined for 68 goals and 11 assists. The 2011 recruiting class will be asked to pick up the slack and fill in the holes for the Lady Colonels offensively as well as defensively.
Here is the recruiting class of 2011:
Olivia Dworak. This graduate of Wyoming Seminary scored 11 goals and 10 assists in the senior campaign, helping the Blue Knights to a 7-3 record. She also played field hockey, and participated on the varsity squads for both lacrosse and field hockey her junior and senior seasons.
Gabriella Ford. Ford hails from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, N.Y. Gabriella was the first women's lacrosse player at Sewanhaka to receive All-County honors as well as score over 100 goals. Her senior season she recorded 63 goals and 80 total points while helping the Indians to a 10-2 overall record, winning the district title and becoming a state finalist.
Alexandra Grippo. Alexandra compiled an overall record of 38-33 while at Fair Lawn High School. While in a Cutter uniform, Grippo scored 13 goals and 10 assists in her senior season, earning her First Team All League honors.
Justine Thimmel. Justine comes to Wilkes from Pompton Plains, N.J. where she played lacrosse for four years. She started at goalie for the Panthers her junior and senior seasons, saving 417 shots over those two years. She was also a two-time honorable mention all-conference selection, and was 2nd Team All League her senior year.
Keri Meerholz. Keri hails from Fair Lawn, N.J., where she recorded 50 goals and 15 assists in her senior season alone, helping the Cutters to a 13-5 record. She scored over 100 goals in her high school career, and helped Fair Lawn High to become state and county finalists.
Jessica Stetler. Jessica comes to Wilkes from Penn Manor High School in Millersville, Pa. While in a Comet uniform, Stetler helped Penn Manor to a 14-3 record her senior year, scoring 37 goals and recording 34 assists between Junior Varsity and Varsity play. That same year, the Comets were league and section champions, as well as district finalists.
Samantha Pavalko. Samantha was a four year soccer player in high school, earning two varsity letters and developing a passion for lacrosse. She attended the Wilkes University lacrosse camp last summer and chose to play lacrosse while in college.