Notre Dame Women Sign Six to NLIs
from press release
NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- Notre Dame women's lacrosse
coach Tracy Coyne, who is in her 15th season as the coach of the
Notre Dame women's lacrosse program, has announced the signing of
six high school lacrosse players to national letters of intent.
They will attend the University beginning in the fall of 2011.
Signing letters of intent in the early-signing period are: Taylor
Freeman (Dallas, Texas), Leah Gallagher (Radnor, Pa.), Caitlin
Gargan (Rocky Point, N.Y.), Allie Murray (Exton, Pa.), Shauna
Pugliese (Rochester, N.Y.) and Barbara Sullivan (Garden City,
N.Y.)
In making the announcement, Coyne said, "We are pleased to welcome
an outstanding group of student-athletes to the Irish women's
lacrosse program. Not only has there talent on the lacrosse field
impressed me, but also their commitment to academic excellence.
Each one brings a unique skill set that will make an immediate
impact on the program. They are passionate dedicated young women
who are a perfect fit for Notre Dame."
The six-player class consists of three players from New York, two
from Pennsylvania and one for Texas as Taylor Freeman becomes the
first women's lacrosse recruit ever from the Lone Star state. The
group includes one goalkeeper, two defensive midfield players and
three midfielders.
Taylor Freeman is a 5-5 defense/midfielder from Dallas, Texas where
she attends The Hockaday School and is a member of the Nitro Texas
lacrosse club. A two-sport athlete in soccer and lacrosse, Freeman
has played on two state championship teams in lacrosse (2008 and
2009) and saw her team advance to the state championship game in
2010. The team captain of the soccer team in 2010, Freeman helped
The Hockaday School to the Southwest Preparatory Conference
championship game this year, the semifinals in 2009 and the
conference championship in 2008. A seven-year member of the Dallas
Sting Soccer Club (the club team of current Irish soccer standouts
Courtney Barg, Melissa Henderson and Jessica Schuvelier), she was a
member of the state championship team in 2006 and the national
championship team in 2007 as an attacking central midfielder.
Coyne on Freeman: "Taylor is our first recruit from the state of
Texas which is really exciting for the program. She played soccer
at a very competitive level for a nationally ranked club program
for many years but once she started playing lacrosse, she fell in
love with the game. She's a smart player with outstanding athletic
ability and a strong desire to succeed on the Division I level.
Taylor is mentally tough with a great attitude. Once she adjusts to
the speed of play I expect Taylor to become a solid contributor in
her first year. A Notre Dame legacy, she's a perfect fit for the
University overall."
Leah Gallagher is a 5-5 midfielder from Radnor, Pa., where she
plays at Radnor High School, one of the top high school lacrosse
programs in the country. A two-sport athlete at Radnor where she
also plays basketball, Gallagher will serve as the team captain for
the lacrosse team that has won three consecutive Pennsylvania state
championships. A member of the Ultimate Goal lacrosse club, she is
a talented player with outstanding speed and stick skills. ESPN
RISE listed her among the top 20 attackers "On The Rise" for the
upcoming spring season.
Coyne on Gallagher: "Leah is a talented middie who plays for one of
the best programs in the country at Radnor. Being a member of
multiple state championship teams in high school has taught her how
to win. We definitely value recruiting proven winners. Leah comes
from a long line of Radnor players who have succeeded at ND, most
recently Kristen Hopson and Becky Ranck. She's fast and athletic
with strong fundamental skills and can fill a variety of roles for
us, replacing the speed in the midfield we are losing to
graduation. Leah's a natural leader who will thrive in the Notre
Dame environment."
Caitlin Gargan is a 5-8 midfielder from Rocky Point, N.Y., where
she attends Rocky Point High School and is a member of the Long
Island Yellow Jackets Lacrosse Club. A member of three Suffolk
County championship teams (2008, 2009, 2010), Gargan has scored 113
goals with 134 assists in her first three seasons at Rocky Point. A
three-sport athlete in lacrosse, soccer and track, Gargan has
tremendous speed and athletic ability. She has been selected
all-Suffolk County twice (2009, 2010) and is a 2010 high school
All-American and academic All-American. A member of the 2010 Empire
State gold-medal winning team representing Long Island, Gargan was
selected all-conference in soccer for the 2010 campaign and was
most valuable player on Rocky Point's winter track team. She played
for the Long Island all-stars in the 2010 Under Armour All-American
game last summer in Baltimore, Md.
Coyne on Gargan: "We're very pleased to have a player of Caitlin's
caliber joining our program. Caitlin is a fast, athletic middie
with a knack for putting up points. Not only does she have
tremendous speed, Caitlin also has great endurance that makes her
very dangerous. Those attributes are what sets her apart and will
make her an excellent college midfielder. Caitlin has won
championships at Rocky Point and with the Yellow Jackets. That's
why we wanted her to play at Notre Dame. She's a winner. Caitlin
also is an excellent student so she will do very well academically
at Notre Dame."
Allie Murray is a 5-5 goalkeeper from Exton, Pa., where she plays
at Downingtown East High School and is a member of the PA Express
lacrosse club. Recognized as one of the top high school goalkeepers
in the nation, she is ranked fifth on ESPN RISE's list of top
senior goalkeepers "On The Rise" for 2011. In 2010, Murray
backstopped Downingtown East to a 19-6 season, fifth place in
District 1 and a berth in the second round of the PIAA state
championships. She is a member of the U.S. Women's National
Under-19 training team and was selected all-conference in each of
the last three seasons. A two-sport athlete, Murray is a member of
the Downingtown East field hockey team where she served as team
captain in the fall and is a two-time all-conference selection. She
was a member of the Philly team that participated in the 2010 Under
Armour Underclassmen games last summer in Baltimore, Md.
Coyne on Murray: "Allie is a quick, athletic goalkeeper who makes
incredible saves; show stopping kind of saves. When she's hot,
she's really fun to watch. The addition of Allie to the roster
gives us two outstanding goalkeepers, something we haven't had in a
very long time. Our shooters will be forced to get better. We are
very proud of Allie for being selected to the U-19 training team
for the World Cup this summer. The opportunity to train and play
with the very best will sharpen Allie's skills and give her an edge
when she transitions to the speed of D1 game. Allie will be a great
asset to our program."
Shauna Pugliese is a 5-5 midfielder from Rochester, N.Y., where she
attends Webster Schroeder High School and is a member of the
Relentless Hustle Lacrosse Club. As a junior, Pugliese led Webster
Schroeder in goals (50) and points (69) and was an all-Greater
Rochester team and first team Monroe County all-league selection
while taking the Webster Warrior offensive MVP honors. She was an
honorable mention selection to the all-Greater Rochester team in
2009 with 39 goals and 25 assists for 64 points while taking first
team all-league honors. A three-time Scholar-Athlete award
recipient, she helped the Western New York team to the silver medal
at the 2010 Empire State games.
Coyne on Pugliese: "Shauna has all the tools to be a standout
middie on the Division I level. Shauna's speed, quick first step
and stick skills make her very difficult to stop. She catches your
eye because she is always involved in the play. Shauna demands the
ball in key situations because she has the heart of a champion. She
wants to win. I love her competitive attitude and desire to be the
best. Those attributes combined with a tremendous work ethic
guarantee Shauna will play a key role in our future success. We're
happy to have the best 2011 player from Rochester playing for the
Irish."
Barbara Sullivan is a 5-10 defense/midfielder who is from Garden
City, N.Y., where she plays at Garden City High School and is a
member of Long Island Yellow Jackets lacrosse club. Ranked by many
as the top defensive recruit in the nation, Sullivan is a member of
the U.S. Women's Lacrosse Under-19 training team. A four-year
regular at Garden City, she has helped the team to three
consecutive New York State Class B championships. A 2010 U.S.
Lacrosse high school All-American and Academic All-American, she
was selected all-County and all-Long Island following the 2010
season, Sullivan was the most valuable player of the New York State
Class B Championship game was selected to the all-tournament team.
A member of the 2010 Under Armour Team, she also played for the
gold medal team at the 2010 Empire State championships. Sullivan
also plays basketball and soccer at Garden City. In basketball she
is a two-time team captain where she plays guard. She is a two-time
all-county selection and was the 2010 conference player of the year
while taking all-state honors. The captain of the 2010 soccer team,
Sullivan helped Garden City to its first-ever New York State
championship in 2010 while taking all-Long Island and
all-conference honors.
Coyne on Sullivan: "Barbara is the best defender in the country.
We're thrilled to have Barb wearing the Irish uniform and
representing the U.S. as a member of the U-19 team. She has all the
attributes of a champion. She's tough, tenacious, gritty with a
tremendous will to win. She's a special type of player who makes
those around her better. Winning championships is something Barbara
has grown accustomed to playing for Garden City and the Yellow
Jackets. She has the same competitiveness and drive to win as our
senior All-American defender Jackie Doherty. She will step in and
fill Jackie's role very nicely. Barbara joins a long line of Irish
players from Long Island who've had incredible experiences at Notre
Dame. She is a perfect fit."
