Kent State Lacrosse Introduces Inaugural Signing Class
11/29/2017 5:15:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
KENT, Ohio — Head coach Brianne Tierney has announced the inaugural signing class for the Kent State Lacrosse program, which will begin play in 2019. The class includes 13 student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent or a Declaration to Attend form to join the Golden Flashes for their first varsity lacrosse season.
Hired in May, Tierney has worked tirelessly over the past six months to recruit student-athletes to join her in the rare opportunity of starting a NCAA Division I athletics program. This initial group features student-athletes from six different states, including six Ohio products, and is comprised of seven midfielders, four defenders, one attacker and one goalkeeper.
"This group has committed to being an integral part of the foundation of Kent State Women's Lacrosse," Tierney said. "Their contributions to this program, both on the lacrosse field and off, will lead the way for future Golden Flashes. I am confident that these are the right young women to take on such a massive responsibility. We are thrilled about our first recruiting class and look forward to all the other 'firsts' that this group will record in the very near future."
Hailee Andry • Defender • Santa Ana, Calif. • Mater Dei High School
Andry plays for one of the nation's elite prep programs at Mater Dei High School and has helped the Monarchs to back-to-back Orange County and Southern Section championships. This past spring, Mater Dei finished 16-5 and the No. 26 ranking in the country by MaxPreps. The Monarchs went undefeated (21-0) and were the No. 8 team in the country in 2016.
Malissa Beall • Defender • Annapolis, Md. • Annapolis High School
Beall participated in the 2017 Brine National Lacrosse Classic and is a two-time team captain at Annapolis High School. She had 63 ground balls as a junior and also plays for Maryland United Lacrosse Club.
Meghan Cawood • Midfield • Middlebury, Ind. • Northridge High School
Cawood has been one of the top scorers in the Hoosier State each of the past two seasons and has totaled 197 goals, 30 assists and 200 draw controls over her first three seasons at Northridge High School. She was named Team MVP as a junior after scoring 85 goals to go with 13 assists. A member of National Honor Society, Cawood participated in the North-South Senior-Junior Showcase last year.
Carlee Cook • Defender • Westminster, Md. • Winters Mill High School
Cook is a multi-sport athlete at Winters Mill High School with four varsity letters in lacrosse and field hockey and two letters for basketball. She was an honorable mention all-conference selection as a junior.
Abby Jones • Midfield • Coon Rapids, Minn. • Blaine High School
Jones is a three-time all-conference selection and has led Blaine High School to the state tournament the past two seasons. She was named all-state second team this past spring after setting school records for goals (81) and points (100).
Megan Kozar • Attack • Upper Arlington, Ohio • Upper Arlington High School
Kozar has been a pivotal member of Upper Arlington's state championship teams that have earned Top 15 national rankings by MaxPreps the past two seasons. This past spring, she led the Golden Bears with 36 assists and also scored 36 goals to earn all-district second team and all-conference first team recognition. Kozar also excels in the classroom and is a three-time Academic All-Ohio honoree.
Maddy Mead • Midfield • Upper Arlington, Ohio • Upper Arlington High School
Mead is a two-time Academic All-Ohio honoree and was recently appointed team captain for the Ohio powerhouse Golden Bears. She is also a three-time varsity letter winner in cross-country and two-time varsity letter winner on the Upper Arlington basketball team. Mead plays for Resolute Lacrosse in Columbus and is a member of National Honor Society.
Grace Merrill • Goalkeeper • Canton, Ohio • Jackson High School
Merrill's stellar play between the pipes has led Jackson High School to a 58-5 overall record over the past three seasons. This past spring, she saved 74 percent of opponent shots on goal as part of a defense that led the Buckeye State in goals allowed per game to earn all-district first team honors. The Polar Bears were ranked No. 21 nationally by MaxPreps and finished as state runner-up for the second straight year. Merrill is a three-time all-district selection and has 10 career shutouts.
Morgan Naber • Midfield • Loveland, Ohio • Loveland High School
Naber is Loveland High School's record holder for assists in a season (44), assists in a game (7) and points in a game (10). She scored 25 goals to lead to an Eastern Cincinnati Conference championship in the spring, earning all-district first team and Cincinnati Enquirer All-Star honors in the process.
Eva Nikolai • Midfield • Medina, Ohio • Medina High School
Nikolai was Medina High School's top scorer in the spring and earned all-region second team honors. She helped the Bees reach the state semifinals in 2015 and quarterfinals in 2016. Nikolai also excels in the classroom and is a three-time Academic All-Ohio honoree.
Alexis Parker • Defender • St. Paul, Minn. • Cretin-Derham Hall High School
Parker helped lead Cretin-Derham High School to a state consolation championship this past season and was the top defensive player on a unit that allowed the second-fewest goals per game in the state of Minnesota. She is a two-time all-conference selection and has led the Raiders to two Section 3 championships.
Madison Rapier • Midfield • Powell, Ohio • Olentangy Liberty High School
Rapier was named All-Ohio Second Team during her sophomore season at Olentangy Liberty High School. She is a two-time all-district first team selection and has totaled 59 goals and12 assists over her two varsity seasons. Rapier is also a member of National Honor Society.
Reagan Russell • Midfield • East Lansing, Mich. • Haslett High School
Russell earned all-state second team and Lansing State Journal Dream Team honors this past spring. She was named Haslett High School's MVP with 48 goals, 18 assists and 42 draw controls.
Be sure to follow Kent State Lacrosse on Twitter for news and updates.
