BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb lacrosse added thirteen players on Wednesday for the 2022-2023 academic year. The athletes represent seven different states and includes a group of triplets from Virginia.
 
Ali James (Aberdeen, MD) will join the program after having a decorated high school career. She attended the Under Armour 150 Showcase in 2019 and 2020. At her high school, Havre de Grace, she received First-Team All-County in 2021 and Second-Team Honors in 2019. In addition to playing lacrosse, James was a member of the school's varsity swim program.  
 
Emily Martindale (Annandale, VA) is the first of the triplets to sign with Gardner-Webb. Emily is a goalie and earned First-Team All-District honors during her junior season. In addition to playing lacrosse, she has been a member of the cross country and track and field team since her freshman year. E. Martindale also was a member of her school's chapter of HOSA.
 
Lillian Martindale (Annandale, VA) was one of the best players in her high school's district being named MVP for the 2021 season. She scored a total of 82 goals and secured 152 draw controls. She was a member of the Pride Girls Lacrosse Club. L. Martindale received First-Team All-District during her freshman season in 2019. Also, she is a member of the HOSA chapter at her school.
 
Holly Martindale (Annandale, VA) is the last of the three triplets signed the team this year. H. Martindale played for Virginia's WPLL team. She has been named Honorable Mention All-County for her sophomore and junior years. H. Martindale also earned First-Team All-District during the past three seasons.
 
Morgan Atwater (Rochester, NY) was named Second-Team All-County for Rochester, New York during her high school career. Atwater has collected 10 goals, 21 draw controls, 14 groundballs, and 10 caused turnovers between the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
 
Sarah Lynn (Montgomery, OH) has been selected for Team Ohio for Brine and was named an All-Star at the Five Star Lacrosse Shootout. Lynn serves as a team captain for her team. Despite having an injury-shortened 2021 season, she averaged two goals, two groundballs and four draw controls per game.
 
Olivia Lucidi (Orchard Park, NY) brings a wealth of playing experience with her as she has been a starter at her high school since 8^th grade. In her career, she has tallied over 100 goals to lead her being named to the First-Team for All-Western NY Rochester, All-League, and All-County. Lucidi is a dual-sport athlete playing lacrosse and field hockey. She played for Lake Effect Storm and Relentless Hustle for club. In the classroom, she has had perfect attendance in addition to being in the National Spanish Honor Society.
 
Lauren Cretella (Wallingford, CT) is the other goalie from this class. Cretella holds her school's save record. She has a save percentage of 73% and collected 200 saves in a single season. She also is on the varsity field hockey and basketball team at her school. She plays her club ball for Nor'Easter. Cretella is a member in her school's National Honor Society and ranks in the top 15% of her class.
 
Rylee Gonzalez (Camillus, NY) helped led her high school to an undefeated season in 2019, leading the team in draw controls and being a top point scorer also. Earlier this year, she was named the MVP for the Monster Combine. Gonzalez led her team in points scored this past season and lead her earing Second-Team SCAC honors. Since 2017, she has always been the top points scorer for her club teams.
 
Ava Pezzimenti (Victor, NY) will look to make an immediate impact at Gardner-Webb like she did at her high school. In her freshman season, she led her team in caused turnovers. During her time there she has earned Second-Team All-League. Along with her success on the field, Pezzimenti is the starting libero for the top ranked girls volleyball team in NYS that won the 2021 Sectional Championship.
 
Keira Yurashek (Frisco, TX) will be a four-year starter at her high school in lacrosse. Yurashek also has spent time in high school on the basketball and cross-country teams. In 2019, she helped her high school to a state runner-up finish. Yurashek was an All-District player this season too. She played club ball at 214 Lacrosse.
 
Emma Duchscherer (Rosemont, MN) played her club lacrosse for Lacrosse Monkey. During her junior season, she earned almost every award possible. Some that she received were Team MVP, All-Section First-Team, All-Metro Second-Team, All-State Honorable Mention, and All-State Academic. Duchscherer will become the second student from Minnesota to play for the GWU lacrosse program. The first was former Big South All-Conference Honoree Abby Hanscom.