CHARLOTTE, N.C. (December 16, 2008) – Head Coach Meghan Dennehy inks 11 for the class of 2013 in her first year as head coach of the women's lacrosse program. The 11 signees are the first for Coach Dennehy since her arrival at Queens University of Charlotte.
When asked about the class of 2013, Coach Dennehy said, “I am very excited about this group of 11 incoming freshman for next year. They are a very talented group that will make a big impact on my team right from the start. This is my first recruiting class as head coach at Queens University of Charlotte and I look forward to the opportunity of coaching and seeing these players progress during their collegiate career.”
Emily Milchling is a defender from Westminster, Md., that will be graduating from Westminster High School. Milchling is a two sport athlete playing both lacrosse and field hockey. In lacrosse, she helped her team become the 4A Women's Lacrosse Regional Champions in 2008. Additionally, Milchling was named to the National Honor Society, participated in student government, and received the Straight “A” Academic Award and the Presidential Award.
Another defender, Stacey Ruark, hails from Parkside High School located in Salisbury, Md. Ruark is a key player on her soccer and lacrosse team at Parkside. She has been a starter all four years of her high school career on the lacrosse team and was named to the Bayside Honorable Mention team as well as earning the Unsung Hero Award. Ruark helped the soccer team win four consecutive Bayside Conference Championships and four consecutive East Regional Championships. The soccer team has also made four consecutive Maryland final four appearances and in 2006 they made it to the finals. Ruark was named to the Bayside Honorable Mention team and the Bayside South Senior All-Star team. She also received team captain honors. Excelling off the field as well, Ruark has many academic awards. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and Who's Who Among American High School Students. She has earned the Minds in Motion Award for four years, the Parkside Outstanding Persons Award, the Presidential Award for Academic Achievement, and the United States Achievement Academy foreign language award.
Caitlin Miller is an attacker from Oceanview, Del., where she attends Worcester Prepatory School. Miller plays both lacrosse and field hockey. She plays club lacrosse for the Greene Turtle Lacrosse Club. Off the field, Miller is a member of the National Honor Society and she was named to the Headmasters Academic List.
Ali Murdoch, a midfielder, is from Calverton, Md., where she will be graduating from Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Murdoch helped her field hockey team win WCAC Championship in 2007, and lead her lacrosse team to a WCAC Championship win in 2008. She was named to the All-Conference second team for field hockey. In addition, Murdoch is a member of the spirit club.
Playing goalie and hailing from Owings Mills, Md., where she attends Garrison Forest School is Charlotte Tracey. Tracey helped her team win the 2008 IAAM (Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland) B Conference Championships. They finished second in the conference championships in both 2006 and 2007. Tracey is also the head of FOCUS (Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools) at her school for the 2007-2008 year and the 2008-2009 year.
Joining the other defenders will be Katie Sheppard from Lake Howell High School located in Winter Park, Fla. Sheppard is an all around athlete participating in lacrosse, weightlifting, horseback riding, and cross country. In lacrosse, Sheppard was selected for the Orlando Lacrosse Classic Champion Team and she was the Wishbone Tournament Hot Shot Championship Winner with Orange Crush. Sheppard is the Devnonwood Horse Show English/Western High Point Champion, the Silver Sands Open Horse Show English Reserve Champion, and the Central Florida Fair Western and English Champion. She also won the Top Five Halter Mares Three and Under at the Pinto World Horse Show. Miller is also a district qualifier in weightlifting. Outside of sports, Sheppard was named to the Principal's Honor Roll and is a member of the Varsity Club, the Future Health Care Professionals of America, the National Honor Society, the Chemistry Honors Club, and Junior Civitans.
Hailing from Queen Anne's County High School in Centreville, Md., is an attacker by the name of Enna Saffos. Saffos participates in lacrosse, indoor track and field, and gymnastics. In the high school lacrosse 1A-2A East Regional Championship game for 2007, Saffos scored the game winning goal. She led her team all the way to the semi-finals in 2007 and finished the year as the team's leading scorer and was given the Offensive Player of the Year Award. In gymnastics, Saffos was Maryland State Champion for level four and five gymnastics on the uneven bars with Clarks Gymnastics. She was a member of the Maryland state gymnastics team for level four gymnastics and the championship winning three man team for the state of Maryland.
Caitlin Flanagan is a defender from West Islip, N.Y., and will be graduating from West Islip High School. This two sport athlete plays lacrosse and field hockey. Flanagan was the captain of her field hockey team and earned the Defensive MVP Award.
At midfield is Kelly Walsh from John Carroll High School in Baltimore, Md. Walsh helped her team win the IAAM (Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland) A Conference Lacrosse Championship in 2007 and 2008. She also played on the field hockey team which made it to the IAAM B Conference finals in 2007. In addition, Walsh runs cross country and is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, the Outreach Club, Green Team, and Club Interact.
Joining the attackers is Cara Baldini of Silver Springs, Md., where she attends Georgetown Visitation Prepatory School. Baldini plays on the lacrosse and field hockey teams at Georgetown Visitation. She helped lead the lacrosse team to a national ranking of 16 in Lacrosse Magazine and a number two ranking in the D.C. area in the Independent School League. Baldini earned Coaches Award honors in her sophomore season on the field hockey team. Off the field, Baldini is the president of the Support our Troops Club and BADD (Buddies Against Drinking and Driving), a member of Operation Smile, and the recipient of the Rubackey 3-E Award (enthusiasm, excellence, and effort in school).
Brittany Barnwell, a midfielder, hails from Lorton, Va., where she will be graduating from Bishop Ireton High School. Barnwell helped her lacrosse team to a 17-5 overall record for the 2008 season. They advanced to the Washington Catholic Athletics Conference finals and the Virginia Independent School state semi-finals. She scored the game winning goal in the Washington Catholic Athletics Conference semi-final game with less than four minutes on the clock and finished the season averaging two goals a game. Bishop Ireton finished the 2008 season ranked 89th out of 2,400 high schools. Barnwell is also a member of F.O.R. (Friends of Rachel Scott) and Campus Ministry.
