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Women's Lacrosse Announces Strong Early Recruiting Haul
February 03, 2018 | Women's Lacrosse
BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb women's lacrosse announced a seven-member class from the early signing period, part of a strong foundation for the recruiting Class of 2018.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued their success in the mid-Atlantic region, and also dipped into the southeast for a class heavy on versatile midfield talent.
Gardner-Webb signed Elizabeth Antoshak (Hanover, Pa.), Ciarra Ashworth (Mechanicsville, Va.), Alissa Brown (Acworth, Ga.), Heather Lobas (Huntingtown, Md.), Hannah Mitchell (Pottstown, Pa.), Jada Preston (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Jess Vetter (Ellicott City, Md.) to National Letters of Intent during the early period.
"We feel very good about this group of young women from the early period," said head coach Jillian Krick, who is entering her third season in charge of the Gardner-Webb program. "We focused on the midfield with this class and as we continue to grow our roster, we are confident this group will be a major factor in our success going forward."
Six of the seven National Letter of Intent signees are midfielders on the prep level. Two hail from the lacrosse-rich hotbed of Maryland, two more play prep lacrosse in Krick's home state of Pennsylvania and another plays in another strong lacrosse area in Virginia.
The two signees outside of the traditional lacrosse region have strong resumes.
Alissa Brown (Kell HS) has been named to the Georgia Class 5A All-State team twice heading into her senior campaign and helped her Longhorns to a state title as a freshmen in 2015.
Jada Preston, who plays attack, sparked her St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High squad to a national ranking in 2017, a 19-2 record and state runner-up finish. She finished her junior campaign with 71 goals and 13 assists for one of the top programs in the Sunshine State.
Bios for Gardner-Webb's 2018 early signees are listed below:
Elizabeth Antoshak * MF * Hanover, Pa. / South Western HS
Starred at South Western (Pa.) High as a midfielder … Earned second-team All-York Adams League honors as a junior in 2017 … Also a second-team All-League choice in 2016 as a sophomore … Played club lacrosse for the York Invaders.
Ciarra Ashworth * MF * Mechanicsville, Va. / Hanover HS
Standout midfielder at Hanover (Va.) High … A first-team All-Conference selection following junior season … Also an All-Region selection … Earned a spot on the Virginia roster for the 2017 National Lacrosse Classic in Richmond … Earned second-team All-Conference honors following sophomore season in 2016 … Played club lacrosse for STORM Elite 2018.
Alissa Brown * MF * Acworth, Ga. / Kell HS
Star midfielder at Kell (Ga.) High near Atlanta … A two-time All-State selection for the Longhorns … Named second-team Class 5A All-State following junior season … Also a second-team All-State selection as a sophomore … Helped team to a state runner-up finish in 2016 and 2017, and a state title in 2015 … Also an All-Cobb county selection … Played club lacrosse for Eagle Stix, No Doubt and KHAOS.
Heather Lobas * MF * Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown HS
Played at a high level for Huntingtown (Md.) High … Helped team to the Class 3A-2A East Regional Final in 2017 … A two-time All-Calvert County choice … Also a two-time All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference selection … Played club lacrosse for Uproar Lacrosse.
Hannah Mitchell * MF * Pottstown, Pa. / Boyertown HS
Standout for Boyertown (Pa.) High … Helped team to a 12-7 overall mark and a 7-6 record in the Pioneer Athletic Conference as a junior … Played club lacrosse for Dynamite 2018 Black.
Jada Preston * ATT * Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas
One of the top scorers for St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High … A first-team All-Broward County selection following junior season … Finished 2017 by scoring a team-high 71 goals and dishing off 13 assists for one of the top programs in Florida … Scored game-winner in overtime to send Raiders to the state semifinals … Helped team to a state runner-up finish in 2017.
Jess Vetter * MF * Ellicott City, Md. / Howard HS
Played at Howard (Md.) High … Helped Lions to the 16th annual Karl Wolfe Memorial Tournament title during the 2017 regular season … Part of a squad that advanced to the state semifinals in 2015 and 2016 … Played club lacrosse for a traditionally strong Hero's program.
The Runnin' Bulldogs continued their success in the mid-Atlantic region, and also dipped into the southeast for a class heavy on versatile midfield talent.
Gardner-Webb signed Elizabeth Antoshak (Hanover, Pa.), Ciarra Ashworth (Mechanicsville, Va.), Alissa Brown (Acworth, Ga.), Heather Lobas (Huntingtown, Md.), Hannah Mitchell (Pottstown, Pa.), Jada Preston (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) and Jess Vetter (Ellicott City, Md.) to National Letters of Intent during the early period.
"We feel very good about this group of young women from the early period," said head coach Jillian Krick, who is entering her third season in charge of the Gardner-Webb program. "We focused on the midfield with this class and as we continue to grow our roster, we are confident this group will be a major factor in our success going forward."
Six of the seven National Letter of Intent signees are midfielders on the prep level. Two hail from the lacrosse-rich hotbed of Maryland, two more play prep lacrosse in Krick's home state of Pennsylvania and another plays in another strong lacrosse area in Virginia.
The two signees outside of the traditional lacrosse region have strong resumes.
Alissa Brown (Kell HS) has been named to the Georgia Class 5A All-State team twice heading into her senior campaign and helped her Longhorns to a state title as a freshmen in 2015.
Jada Preston, who plays attack, sparked her St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High squad to a national ranking in 2017, a 19-2 record and state runner-up finish. She finished her junior campaign with 71 goals and 13 assists for one of the top programs in the Sunshine State.
Bios for Gardner-Webb's 2018 early signees are listed below:
Elizabeth Antoshak * MF * Hanover, Pa. / South Western HS
Starred at South Western (Pa.) High as a midfielder … Earned second-team All-York Adams League honors as a junior in 2017 … Also a second-team All-League choice in 2016 as a sophomore … Played club lacrosse for the York Invaders.
Ciarra Ashworth * MF * Mechanicsville, Va. / Hanover HS
Standout midfielder at Hanover (Va.) High … A first-team All-Conference selection following junior season … Also an All-Region selection … Earned a spot on the Virginia roster for the 2017 National Lacrosse Classic in Richmond … Earned second-team All-Conference honors following sophomore season in 2016 … Played club lacrosse for STORM Elite 2018.
Alissa Brown * MF * Acworth, Ga. / Kell HS
Star midfielder at Kell (Ga.) High near Atlanta … A two-time All-State selection for the Longhorns … Named second-team Class 5A All-State following junior season … Also a second-team All-State selection as a sophomore … Helped team to a state runner-up finish in 2016 and 2017, and a state title in 2015 … Also an All-Cobb county selection … Played club lacrosse for Eagle Stix, No Doubt and KHAOS.
Heather Lobas * MF * Huntingtown, Md. / Huntingtown HS
Played at a high level for Huntingtown (Md.) High … Helped team to the Class 3A-2A East Regional Final in 2017 … A two-time All-Calvert County choice … Also a two-time All-Southern Maryland Athletic Conference selection … Played club lacrosse for Uproar Lacrosse.
Hannah Mitchell * MF * Pottstown, Pa. / Boyertown HS
Standout for Boyertown (Pa.) High … Helped team to a 12-7 overall mark and a 7-6 record in the Pioneer Athletic Conference as a junior … Played club lacrosse for Dynamite 2018 Black.
Jada Preston * ATT * Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas
One of the top scorers for St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High … A first-team All-Broward County selection following junior season … Finished 2017 by scoring a team-high 71 goals and dishing off 13 assists for one of the top programs in Florida … Scored game-winner in overtime to send Raiders to the state semifinals … Helped team to a state runner-up finish in 2017.
Jess Vetter * MF * Ellicott City, Md. / Howard HS
Played at Howard (Md.) High … Helped Lions to the 16th annual Karl Wolfe Memorial Tournament title during the 2017 regular season … Part of a squad that advanced to the state semifinals in 2015 and 2016 … Played club lacrosse for a traditionally strong Hero's program.
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