University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Women's Lacrosse Signs 10 Student-Athletes
11/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Nov. 24, 2008
STORRS, Conn. - University of Connecticut women's lacrosse head coach Angela McMahon announces the addition of 10 student-athletes to the 2010 squad. The student-athletes come from Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
"I am extremely proud and excited to announce our first recruiting class in the new era of UConn Women's Lacrosse," McMahon said. "These girls add tremendous speed and depth in the midfield, athleticism on defense, and finishers on the attacking end. They are not only great athletes, but wonderful people whose work-ethic is unparallel. They will be instrumental in helping us compete for a Big East Championship in the years to come."
Kaitlyn Aldrich (Auburn, N.Y./Auburn High) received Central New York County League First-Team honors as a junior and was an honorable mention following her sophomore season. She earned Auburn High School's Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2008. Aldrich is a four-year letterwinner at Auburn High while also competing on the Star Rider Lacrosse Club Team. She was a member of the 2007 Central Empire State Team and is a two-time Citizen All-Star (2007, 2008). Aldrich served as team captain her junior season was acknowledged by head coach Dick Lighton as the team MVP.
McMahon on Aldrich: "Kaitlyn is an extremely versatile player all over the field. Her rapid improvement in the past year bodes well for her future development as a Husky."
A three-year varsity letterwinner at James W. Robinson Secondary School, Tory Barron (Fairfax Station, Va./James W. Robinson Secondary School) was an all-district selection as a junior midfielder after helping the team to its 2008 Concord District Championship. She is also a member of the Capital Lacrosse Club.
Off the field Barron also has experience in competitive horseback riding and was the Washington International Horse Show champion. A member of the National Honor Society, Barron has been a scholar athlete for seven seasons.
McMahon on Barron: "Tory will add tremendous leadership and athleticism on the defensive end. She has an innate ability to control the draw and her work ethic is contagious."
Team captain since the 10th grade, Aimee Capps (Rocky Point, N.Y./Rocky Point) has played four years of varsity lacrosse at Rocky Point. Capps is a two-time all-county defenseman and was a member of the four-time county championship team. She received two second-team nods during her career once to the Newsday team and once to the All-Galaxy squad. Capps also started for the Long Island Gold Medalist Empire Lacrosse Team.
She played five years of varsity soccer at Rocky Point, taking on the roll of team captain for her final two seasons. After receiving rookie of the year honors in 2003, Capps was selected to the all-league team twice in her career.
McMahon on Capps: "Aimee is a tenacious defender that has a lot of experience winning at Rocky Point. Her confidence and ability will add another dimension to our defense."
Jordan Christopher (Downingtown, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) played both lacrosse and soccer at Villa Maria Academy for four years. Christopher was an All-American Honorable Mention following the 2008 lacrosse season during which she scored 20 goals and added 18 assists. She has been an AACA League All-Star for three-straight seasons (2006, 2007, 2008) and helped lead her team to two league titles (2006, 2008).
Christopher was named to the All-Main Line First-Team in 2007 and 2008 and the Second-Team in 2006. In 2006 and 2008, she received Upper Atlantic Second-Team accolades and was part of the fourth-team in 2007. Christopher served as one of the soccer team captains in 2008 and was selected to the First-Team All-Main Line in her final two seasons (2007, 2008).
McMahon on Christopher: "Jordan is a fast midfielder who has a great combination of unselfishness and ability to put the ball in the net. Defensively, she can tirelessly shut down a team's best player with her incredible fitness level."
Dorian Gilmartin-Dzitko (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) helped lead Hillsborough to the Sykland Conference championships for the second time in 2008, earning a share of the title. She was named to the first-team all-conference and first-team all-area squads following her junior season. Gilmartin-Dzitko was a Skyland Conference Honorable Mention in 2007 after guiding the team to Somerset County Championship title.
In field hockey, Gilmartin-Dzitko served as team captain her final season and was named to the Skyland Conference First-Team. She was also named to the second-team all-county in 2008. Gilmartin-Dzitko was acknowledged as the team's most valuable player as a junior and was named to the all-county second-team and all-conference first-team that year (2007).
McMahon on Gilmartin-Dzitko: "Dorian is a crease attacker that has phenomenal anticipation to put a feed exactly where it needs to be. Her quick moves to goal make her a serious threat on offense."
A midfielder from Andover, Mass., Catherine Gross (Andover, Mass./Andover) was a 2008 All-American. She also earned Academic All-American, Globe All-Scholastic and Herald All-Scholastic honors in 2008. Gross was named to the EMGCLA first-team and was also an all-conference selection in 2008. For the past three years, Gross has played with the Lower New England regional team.
Gross played three years of varsity field hockey at Andover and was a Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star in 2006 and an All-Conference selection in 2007. In 2008, she earned All-American status in field hockey.
McMahon on Gross: "Leadership, communication, and work ethic are Cat's best characteristics. I expect Cat to make an immediate impact as a defensive midfielder.
Chelsea Hauswirth (Crownsville, Md./Old Mill Senior High) led Old Mill Senior High in goals, assists and ground balls as a junior. Following her junior season, Hauswirth was named the team's offensive MVP and earned all-county second-team honors. She played club lacrosse with the Sky Walkers for one season and helped the team to the 2007 Fall FSLAX Maryland Challenge Cup Championship. She led the Sky Walkers to the IWLCA Galaxy Cup Championship in 2008.
Hauswirth captained the 2008 soccer team and earned a varsity letter with the team. She also lettered in basketball. Hauswirth earned Minds in Motion Athlete accolades through out high school with a 3.25 grade-point average or higher at Old Mill Senior High.
McMahon on Hauswirth: "Chelsea is a dedicated attacker from one of the top club teams in the country. Her skills allow her to put the ball away at will.
A letterwinner in three sports, Morgan O'Reilly (West Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) is the single season record holder for points at Sayville. The midfielder was selected to the all-tournament and all-county teams while serving as the team captain as a senior. O'Reilly, a four-year honor roll student, also competes on the Long Island Express Club Team.
At Sayville, she earned two varsity letters in basketball and four varsity letters in volleyball.
McMahon on O'Reilly: "Morgan has great size and lightening speed in the midfield. She is a true team player and will do whatever it takes to win."
The 2009 team captain, Mackenzie Rainone (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) was a member of the 2008 Empire State Central Women's Lacrosse team. She earned first-team all-league accolades as a junior and second-team all-league accolades as a sophomore. Following her freshman campaign, Rainone was an all-league honorable mention. She has scored 70 goals in her career and recorded 12 assists.
In soccer, Rainone earned two varsity letters and was an honorable mention to the all-league squad her junior season. As a senior, she was named to the all-league second-team after helping lead the team to the Section B Championships. She also ran three years of varsity track at Westhill. Rainone is a member of the National Honor Society and French National Honor Society.
McMahon on Rainone: "Mackenzie will add invaluable depth to our midfield. She continues to improve every time she plays and will definitely be a leader in the class."
Kelsi Tucci (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) will serve as team captain in her final season at Winchester after helping the team to earn the Division 2 State Title in 2008. She was named to the Middlesex League All-Star Team in 2008. In 2007, Tucci led Winchester to its first of two-consecutive Middlesex League titles (2007, 2008) and a berth in the state finals.
Tucci was the captain of the 2008 soccer team, earning three varsity letters at Winchester. She helped the team to an undefeated season (16-0-2) in 2008 and two Middlesex League Championships (2007, 2008).
McMahon on Tucci: "Coming of a state championship this past season, I have great expectations for Kelsi in the midfield next fall. She has a great attitude and work ethic that exudes what our program stands for."
The 2009 UConn women's lacrosse team starts the season at home against Vermont on Feb. 21.
