University of Connecticut Athletics
McMahon Inks Second Recruiting Class as Lacrosse Head Coach
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Nov. 18, 2009
STORRS, Conn. - University of Connecticut women's lacrosse head coach Angela McMahon will has seven student-athletes set to join the Huskies for the 2011 season. Just three states are represented by the incoming class that includes three midfielders, two attackers, a defensemen and a goalie.
"I am very proud to announce the signing of my second recruiting class here at Connecticut," McMahon said. "All seven players are dedicated student-athletes that come from top-level high school programs. Each player has a tremendous work ethic and determination, which epitomizes the mission of UConn lacrosse. These exceptional athletes have the ability to make an immediate impact on our program and we are looking forward to welcoming them next fall."
An Under Armour All-American Central New York Honoree, Maia Czarnecki (Oswego, N.Y.) earned all-league first team and All-Central New York Third Team honors following her junior season. She was named the team's Offensive MVP from the midfield, following her Defensive MVP Award as a sophomore. She also received all-league second team honors as sophomore.
 A multi-sport athlete, Maia Czarnecki will join the Huskies in McMahon's second Connecticut recruiting class.  | |
Czarnecki is a four-year letterwinner in soccer as well and as a junior, she was named the team's Defensive MVP in addition to garnering all-league first team honors. In the midst of her final season at Oswego High School, she is 18th in her class and a member of the National Honor Society. Czarnecki has been part of the Top 25 Dinner for four years and was the Spanish Award recipient twice.
Coach McMahon on Czarnecki: "Mia will bring strength and athleticism to our defensive midfield. She is remarkably strong for her age and an extremely hard worker.
Katie Ferris (Carthage, N.Y.), who plays club lacrosse with the Star Riders, was a member of the US Lacrosse's Team Upstate New York at the National Tournament last year. She is the New York State record holder for goals in a single season with 138 as a junior and is the all-time school leader in career goals (363) and career points (450). She has guided Carthage Central to three Frontier League Championships posting a combined 59-11 record, including a 34-0 league record. In 2007, Carthage was the State Runner-ups followed by back-to-back Class B semifinal appearances.
Also following her junior season she pulled in a trio of first-team accolades in All-Central New York, All-North and All-Star honors. Ferris was named to the Under Armour All-American Upstate New York Team in 2009. A McDonald's Athlete of the Week in 2008, Ferris capped off her sophomore season as the All-North MVP. She was All-North First Team and first-team league all-star in 2007 and 2008. Ferris pulled in All-CNY Second-Team Honors as a sophomore after earning a spot on the New York State Class B States All-Tournament Team.
Twice named to the second-team league all-star team in soccer, Ferris was a two-time All-North Honorable mention in 2008 and 2009. She received an honorable mention to the league all-star team following her freshman season.
Coach McMahon on Ferris: "Katie has an innate ability to finish whenever she is near the goal. I expect her to make an immediate impact on our attacking end with her drive and passion for the sport."
Lauren Kahn (Nanuet, N.Y.), a three-time all-league and all-section honoree, was the 2009 Most Valuable Player and the 2007 Most Improved Player at Nanuet High School. She was twice named to the second team (2007; 2008), helping her team to consecutive league and second titles in the same season. After winning the regional title in 2007, Kahn helped the team to the finals in 2008. Kahn was a 2009 All-American and competed with the National Team. She holds the Nanuet school records for points in a game (12), ground balls in a season, forced turnovers and leads in career assists (181).
She will graduate as a five-year lettewinner in soccer, pulling in all-league, all-second and all-county first-team honors three times (2006; 2007; 2008). Kahn was named to the All-New York Second-Team following the 2008 season and is the Nanuet record holder for goals scored (99). She is poised to capture the Rockland Country record for career assists with 109 currently.
A three-sport athlete at Nanuet, Kahn has played three years of varsity basketball and was twice named to the all-league and all-section teams. She was a first-team all-state honoree in 2009 a season after being named to the second team (2008). She was the Team Captain as a junior and guided the team to the NYS Championship and Federation Title. In addition to her success in athletics, Kahn has been a high honor or honor roll student throughout her entire high school career.
Coach McMahon on Kahn: "As a three-sport athlete, Lauren is one of the more athletic players I have ever seen. Her work ethic on top of that will make her a serious threat all over the field."
Kacey Pippitt (New Canaan, Conn.), a midfielder from New Canaan High School, is a two-time All-ECIAC Team member. As a sophomore, she was named to the All-ECIAC East Team and as a junior was selected to the first team. Pippitt earned All-State First Team honors as a junior scoring 35 goals and recording 35 assists. She finished her third varsity season with 67 draw controls, 57 ground balls and 43 caused turnovers.
Pippitt is a three-year letterwinner in soccer and basketball at New Canaan. She received honorable mention to the All-ECIAC team in soccer as a junior and senior. Pippitt pulled in an honorable mention nod to the All-ECIAC squad as a junior in basketball. She has maintained a spot on the academic honor roll throughout her high school career.
Coach McMahon on Pippitt: "Kacey brings excellent speed and field vision to the midfield. She was a catalyst in New Canaan's success this past season, and I expect her to do the same at Connecticut."
Janet Tela (Alexandria, Va.) helped Bishop Ireton to a No. 25 nationally ranking from Laxpower.com in a season that saw the team reach the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference finals and Virginia Semifinals. She was the team leading scorer with 86 goals and 43 assists, earning a spot on Inside Lacrosse Magazine Top 35 Seniors Watch List in August.
She was a 2009 All-American and All-Virginia First Team Honoree, in addition to all-conference first-team and All-Metropolitan Second-Team honors. In 2008, Tela was named to the all-conference second-team. She competed with the US Lacrosse Women's Divisional National Tournament DC METRO2 Team following her junior season.
A two-year letterwinner in cross country, she was an Alexandria City Championship Individual Runner-Up in the Varsity B Division. Tela earned academic honors, was a scholar athlete and received the school's English award in 2009. In 2008, she won the Geometry Award.
Coach McMahon on Tela: "Janet is an extremely intelligent player and reads defenses very well. Her quickness and understanding of the game will help her transition well on our team."
Karlyn Tupper (Camillus, N.Y.) will join her older sister, Kiersten Tupper (Camillus, N.Y.) in 2010. She was named to the 2009 Under Armour Team as well as a 2009 Academic All-American at West Genesee. Tupper earned second team All-Central New York and all-league honors following her junior season. Twice named a scholar-athlete (2008; 2009), she competed with the New York National Team in 2009. She aided the team to the NY State Class A Championship Title in 2008 and competed with the Empire State Team that year.
 Karlyn Tupper will join her older sister and current UConn Lacrosse student-athlete, Kiersten Tupper next spring. | |
She was a 2007 and 2008 scholar-athlete with the soccer team, pulling in all-league honorable mention in 2008. She is a National Honor Society member and has earned a spot on the High Honor Roll for every semester since her freshman year. Unlike her older sister, Tupper will add depth to the Connecticut defense upon her arrival.
Coach McMahon on Tupper: "Coming from the New York powerhouse in West Genesee, Karlyn brings exceptional tenacity all over the field. She has excelled in both attack and defense, which will benefit our team tremendously.
Kelsey Zinck (Burke, Va.) aided Robinson Secondary School to earn consecutive Concorde District Titles in 2008 and 2009 from the cage. She was a member of the All-District Tournament Team and earned honorable mentions to the All-District and All-Washington Post teams. Zinck was named to the All-Fairfax County First-Team. In 2007, Robinson Secondary was the Northern Region Runner-Ups before capturing the title in 2009. Also in 2009, Zinck guided the team to a runner-up finish in the State Championships.
Earned an academic award for boasting a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher in season and is a member of the National Honor Society. Zinck is also the Editor-in-Chief of the school yearbook for two years,
Coach McMahon on Zinck: "We are thrilled to bring such a talented and athletic goalie as Kelsey to UConn. She is an extremely hard-worker and her energy in the cage will be contagious."
