June 14, 2011
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State lacrosse team wrapped up its first-ever recruiting class in program history with an 18-member spring group, head coach Kylee White announced today. The 18 incoming freshmen, combined with the eight previous recruits (announced on Dec. 7, 2010), will make up the first lacrosse team in school history.
"I am extremely excited about this talented group rounding out San Diego State's first recruiting class," White said. "These 18 student-athletes are the epitome of what I am looking for as the foundation of the Aztec lacrosse program. This class is dynamic, hard-working, passionate and determined to be the best in both the classroom and on the field.
"This group balanced us on both ends of the field and in the midfield. We'll compete right away and play a fast-paced and tenacious style of lacrosse. I'm excited to start working with all 26 in August."
Aubrey Asplen, a 5-foot-6-inch attack, comes to The Mesa from Saint Augustine, Fla., where she attended Bartram Trail High School. Asplen helped lead the Bears to the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and a District Championship in each of her final three years. During her time at Bartram Trail, Asplen earned First Coast Lacrosse honorable mention honors. Asplen also competed on the varsity competitive cheerleading squad, which were state champions in 2008 and runner-ups in 2011. Asplen played her club ball at LaxManiax. Her father, Brennan Asplen III, played collegiate baseball for Seminole State and Florida State.
Another recruit from out of state, Bailey Ewing hails from Reisterstown, Md. As a 5-foot-6-inch attack, Ewing attended McDonogh School and her team won the IAAM A Conference Championship in 2010 and 2011. The Eagles went 20-0 and 19-0, respectively, and were the top team in the country. While at McDonogh, Ewing was a three-sport athlete, also playing tennis and basketball, where she was named her team's unsung hero. Ewing played club lacrosse for M&D 2011 Black.
A 5-foot-6-inch attack/midfielder, Katie Gill played her high school lacrosse at Washington Township in Sewell, N.J. Gill led the `Maids to the Lacrosse County Championship a year ago, while earning the 2010 Dr. Sheila E. Ridley Award given by the Coaches Lacrosse Club of South Jersey and the 2010 Coach's Award given by WTHS. During the 2011 season, Gill led the team with 65 goals and 41 assists en route to being named a first-team all-league selection. Washington Township won the Olympic Conference with an undefeated season, captured the South Jersey Group 4 championship and finished runner-up at the state championship game. Gill played three sports at Washington Township, also participating in soccer and indoor track, earning the 2010 Coach's Award for soccer. Gill was a member of the South Jersey Devils Lacrosse team.
Michaela Jarvis, a 5-foot-2-inch attack, joins SDSU after attending St. Mary's High School in Annapolis, Md. In her time as a member of the Panthers, Jarvis notched 17 goals, 10 assists, 15 ground balls, eight draw controls and eight caused turnovers. She also competed in field hockey as a team captain and won the coach's award, and was the team's leading scorer over her final two years. Jarvis played her club ball for the Maryland United. Her brother, Ryan Jarvis, is a member of the men's lacrosse team at Bryant University.
Hailing from California, Jade Jones attended Bullard High School in Fresno. The 5-foot-4-inch attack led the Knights to consecutive runner-up finishes in the Valley League in 2009 and 2010. Jones, a two-year team captain, earned first-team Honors from The Fresno Bee and was named league and team MVP after scoring a league-high 49 goals. A scholar-athlete, Jones excelled as a four-year athlete on the tennis team and was a member of the Blue Dog Lacrosse Club team. For her efforts, Jones was named Bullard's Senior Athlete of the Year.
A 5-foot-4-inch midfielder, Kelly Jones will be an Aztec after playing lacrosse for Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Jones is No. 8 all-time in career goals for the Tigers and 10th all-time in career points. She was a member of the Great Lakes National Team 1 for the last three years. A team captain, Jones earned honorable mention Ohio North, and first-team All-District and second-team All-State. While at Cleveland Heights, Jones also participated in indoor track and field and field hockey, earning MVP honors in lacrosse and field hockey. Jones played club ball for the Ohio Premier Lacrosse team. Her sister, Zoe Jones, was a member of the lacrosse team at UC-Berkeley.
Sophie Koubek, a 5-foot-2-inch midfield (defensive wing), played her high school lacrosse at Richard Montgomery in Rockville, Md. Koubek led the Rockets to an undefeated record in the National Draw Competition, while being named MVP in 2009 and 2010, and earning Washington Post first-team accolades in 2011 and honorable-mention honors in 2010. Also this past year Koubek was picked as an all-county selection and second-team all-Gazette. During her time at Richard Montgomery, Koubek was a three-sport athlete, playing basketball and soccer and earning MVP honors in both sports. She also played for the Thinklax Rebels' Lacrosse Club team.
A teammate of Kelly Jones, Olivia Lash also played at Cleveland Heights High School in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Lash, a 5-foot-5-inch attack, was a honorable mention 2011 All-American and honorable mention All-District in 2009. She was also a member of the 2010 Great Lakes North Coast National Team. A team captain, Lash was named to the 2010 All-District second team. Lash was a four-year athlete on the field hockey team and was a teammate of Jones on the Ohio Premier Lacrosse team.
Hailing from Burnsville, Minn., Logan Lofthus was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year at Burnsville Senior High School. A 5-foot-8 inch defender, Lofthus, led the Blaze in forced turnovers and was a team captain. In 2011, she garnered all-conference and honorable mention all-state accolades. Lofthus, who was nominated for the senior national all-star game at the 2011 WDNT, also competed in club gymnastics during her time at Burnsville High. A team captain for the Minnesota Lakers Lacrosse club team, she was a Silver and Bronze Division competitor in the Vail shootout.
A local recruit from Coronado High School in Coronado, 5-foot-6-inch Lauren Maack earned first-team all-league honors as an attacker. Maack also earned first-team all-county accolades in 2010 after scoring 80 goals and assisting on 32 others as her team made it to the CIF Finals. At the Orange County Invitational earlier this year, she received the Most Outstanding Offensive Player award. Maack, a member of the LaxDawgs Elite club team, also played a year of soccer at Coronado High.
Lauren Paul, a 5-foot-6-inch defender, becomes an Aztec after playing lacrosse at Saint Peter's and Paul High School in Grasonville, Md. Paul co-captained the Sabres to a 2011 E.S.I.A.C. title while garnering first-team all-conference honors. In 2010, Paul was invited to the U-19 World Cup National Team Tryout. She also led the Sabres to another E.S.I.A.C. championship and was named a US Academic All-American. In 2008, Paul was a second-team all-conference pick, helping the Sabres to the E.S.I.A.C. championship. She was named a 2009 Under Armour All-American Underclassmen as well as garnering first-team all-conference and all-Mid-Shore accolades. Paul was a three-sport athlete, competing in field hockey (first-team all-league) and basketball. Paul played her club ball at Maryland United Lacrosse Club 2011 West.
Another recruit from Maryland, 5-foot-9-inch midfielder Laura Peterson attended Gaithersburg High School in Gaithersburg, Md. Last year, Gaithersburg was an all-division, all-county and MVP as a team captain. Peterson led the Trojans in scoring and garnered 2010 MVP honors as well as all-division and all-county accolades. She earned the Stephen Yachmetz Athletic Directors Award and was captain and MVP of the soccer team, and a captain of the indoor track and field team for the past two seasons. Peterson, who teamed with Koubek on the Thinklax Rebels' lacrosse club team, is an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honors Society. Her sister, Emily, was on the rowing team at the University of Maryland.
A 5-foot-7-inch defensive midfielder, Nicole Pullano is from Glenbrook High School in Glenview, Ill. An All-American, all-state selection and all-conference pick in 2011, Pullano captained the Titans win sectionals and earn a No. 4 state ranking in Laxpower.com. Last year, she led her team in assists, draw controls, groundballs and caused turnovers. An all-conference and all-state honorable mention pick in 2010, Pullano also participated in the National Tournament and led the Western Great Lakes Team in caused turnovers. In addition, Pullano played basketball during her time at Glenbrook, helping her team to a berth in regionals and a runner-up finish in sectionals. She also played for the Lakeshore Lacrosse club team.
Another local recruit, Christina Ricciardulli attended Poway High School in Poway. A 5-foot-4-inch midfielder, Ricciardulli was named to first-team all-CIF and led her team to the final four of the CIF Lacrosse Championships. A team captain for the Titans, she also earned defensive MVP honors. Ricciardulli was a four-sport athlete, competing in field hockey, water polo and track and field. This season, she played on the SDSU club team and led the team in goals and earned the all-league award. A San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team honoree, Ricciardulli also competed on the San Diego Sharkz club team. Her father, Guy, played football at USD and her two brothers have played at Humboldt State University.
The sixth recruit in this year's class from Maryland, 5-foot-5-inch midfield Madeline Ross, comes to SDSU after playing lacrosse at Severna Park High School in Severna, Md. The Falcons won consecutive State Championships with Ross being a starter. In 2011, Ross was named to the Coaches All-County Team-Defense, the Maryland Gazette all-county second-team all-defense in and her team's sportsmanship award in 2011. Ross also participated on the field hockey team, earning MVP honors for offense and helping her team win three straight state championships from 2007-2009. She played her club ball for the SP Lax team.
A 5-foot-6-inch defender, Katherine Simmons played her lacrosse at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria, Va. A first-team all-conference honoree, Simmons helped lead the Cardinals to consecutive runner-up finishes in the 2008 and 2009 WCAC Championship game. She also made the Women's Division National Tournament Team. Simmons was a four-sport athlete, competing in soccer, swimming and cross-country. A member of the National Honor Society, she also played for the Capital Lacrosse Club 2011 Blue.
The third local recruit, Sammy Slattery hails from Carlsbad High School in Carlsbad. A 5-foot-10-inch goalie, Slattery is transferring in from Palomar College. She garnered defensive MVP honors in 2006 and was nominated in 2007 for the National Tournament. Slattery also earned second-team all-conference accolades in 2008 and first-team honors in 2009 in leading the Lancers to consecutive playoff berths. An academic scholar and a graduate with honors, she was a member of the San Diego Rip club team.
The final signee of the group is 5-foot-4-inch defender Madison Wallace. The Chantilly, Va., native attended Chantilly High School, where she earned first-team all-Concorde District honors and second-team all-region accolades as a senior after being named to the all-Concorde District second team as a junior. Led the team in ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls each of the past two seasons. Wallace, who played her club ball with Future Elite, also starred in field hockey, garnering first-team all-district and second-team all-region honors. Her father, Bill, played collegiate baseball at New England College.