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Meet The 2019 Irish

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Notre Dame women’s lacrosse team is set to open the 2019 campaign on Friday, Feb. 8 at Marquette before returning home to face Canisius on Sunday, Feb. 10. All Irish home contests can be attended free of admission. For the complete 2019 schedule, click here.

In the 14 days leading up to the 2019 opener, we highlighted players from each of the 14 states represented on the Irish roster. Learn more about the 2019 team below!
 

Get To Know: Connecticut native Makenna Pearsall

The Makenna Pearsall File
Position: Midfield/Defense
Class: Senior
Hometown: Wilton, Conn.

Pearsall started all 19 games on the back line for the Irish in 2018, causing 22 turnovers and collecting 26 ground balls. In 31 career contests, Pearsall has scored five goals, collected 38 ground balls and caused 27 turnovers. She has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll three times and additionally earned 2018 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll accolades as a junior.

Get To Know: Indiana native Kelly Donnelly

The Kelly Donnelly File
Position: Midfield
Class: Junior
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind.

Donnelly appeared in all 19 games for the Irish a year ago, scoring three goals and collecting eight ground balls. The Indianapolis native graduated in 2016 from Cathedral High School, where she was a three-time All-State honoree. Donnelly helped guide her team to the Indiana girl’s state championship as a junior in 2015.

Get To Know: Georgia natives Bridget Deehan, Jessi Masinko & Erin McBride

The Bridget Deehan File
Position: Goalie
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Milton, Ga.

A 2018 ACC Academic Honor Roll member, Deehan appeared in 10 games in the Irish net as a freshman. Deehan notched a pair of wins while collecting 46 saves and earning a .517 save percentage in 260 minutes of play. Deehan graduated in 2017 from Milton High School, where she led her team to three state championships and four straight No. 1 rankings in the South.

The Jessi Masinko File
Position: Attack
Class: Junior
Hometown: Roswell, Ga.

Masinko tallied 22 goals and added 11 assists in 19 contests for the Irish in 2018. A 2018 Academic Honor Roll member, Masinko has scored 34 goals in 35 games in a Notre Dame uniform. She’s also collected 20 ground balls in her two seasons for the Irish. Like Deehan, Masinko was a three-time state champion at Milton High School.

The Erin McBride File
Position: Midfield
Class: Junior
Hometown: Marietta, Ga.

McBride has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll in each of her first two seasons at Notre Dame. In 30 career games, McBride has netted eight goals and collected 12 ground balls.  She graduated from George Walton Comprehensive High School, where she earned First Team All-State accolades four times.

Get To Know: New Jersey natives Lizzy Doherty, Cailin Field, Cassie Ford & Diana Kelly

The Lizzy Doherty File
Position: Defense
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Chatham, N.J.

A 2018 ACC Academic Honor Roll member, Doherty competed in three games for the Irish as a freshman last season. In 2017, Doherty graduated from Oak Knoll School, where earned four varsity letters in lacrosse and soccer and two in swimming. She helped her lacrosse team earn two state titles in addition to the 2015 Tournament of Champions crown.

The Cailin Field File
Position: Attack
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Moorestown, N.J.

Field joins the Irish from Moorestown High School, where she was a three-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and two-year letterwinner in cross country. Field helped her nationally-ranked lacrosse squad to Group 3 New Jersey State Championships in 2015 and 2018. She also was honored with four presidential community service awards for achieving over 450 hours of community service.

The Cassie Ford File
Position: Midfield/Attack
Class: Junior
Hometown: Summit, N.J.

Ford enters her junior season having been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll as both a freshman and sophomore. Last year, Ford notched a goal and an assist in addition to collecting seven ground balls in seven contests for the Irish. Before coming to Notre Dame, Ford also graduated from Oak Knoll School in 2016.

The Diana Kelly File
Position: Midfield
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Chatham, N.J.

Kelly played in all 19 contests for the Irish as a freshman in 2018, tallying nine goals, four assists, 16 ground balls, seven draw controls and nine caused turnovers. Kelly, one of four freshmen to total 10+ points for Notre Dame last season, netted a career-high four goals in an 11-9 win over Elon. Like Ford and Doherty, Kelly also hails from Oak Knoll School.

Get To Know: Maryland natives Andie Aldave, Savannah Buchanan, Maddie Carr, Mollie Carr & Grace Steffens

The Andie Aldave File
Position: Midfield
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Catonsville, Md.

Aldave started all 19 games at midfield for the Irish as a freshman en route to recording a school-record 98 draw controls in a single season. Aldave, who also collected 31 goals and 14 assists, was named to the 2018 Inside Lacrosse All-Rookie Team, ACC All-Tournament Team and IWLCA All West/Midwest Region Second Team. She combined with Maddie Howe to become the first freshman duo to score 30+ goals in a single season in school history.

The Savannah Buchanan File
Position: Midfield
Class: Junior
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.

A 2018 IWLCA All West/Midwest Region First Team & Second Team All-ACC All-Star, Buchanan led the Irish with 27 assists while also racking up 67 draw controls and 27 goals last season. In 38 career contests, Buchanan has collected 46 goals and 72 points for the Irish. Buchanan’s efforts off the field also earned her ACC Academic Honor Roll accolades as both a freshman and sophomore. She also donned the red, white and blue on the 2015 U.S. U19 Women’s Lacrosse Team.

The Maddie Carr File
Position: Midfield
Class: Junior
Hometown: Rockville, Md.

A two-time ACC Academic Honor roll member, Carr has appeared in five career games for the Irish. Before coming to Notre Dame, Carr graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. There, Carr lettered all four years in soccer, basketball and lacrosse. She was named to the ALL ISL Lacrosse team as a sophomore, junior and senior.

The Mollie Carr File
Position: Midfield
Class: Junior
Hometown: Rockville, Md.

Freshman Mollie Carr joins her older sister Maddie on the Irish. Carr graduated in 2019 from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, where she was four-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and earned US Lacrosse All-American accolades as a senior. Carr received the school’s Bonifat Wilson Award given to the Best All-Around Athlete excelling in multiple sports and exhibiting good sportsmanship and citizenship.

The Grace Steffens File
Position: Goalie
Class: Junior
Hometown: Chestertown, Md.

Steffens has collected five saves and a ground ball in five career games in goal for the Irish. The junior goalie graduated in 2016 from Queen Anne’s County High school, letting in swimming four times, lacrosse three times and field hockey twice. Steffens helped her lacrosse team reach the state semifinals three times, including a state finals appearance her junior year. She was also named valedictorian of her high school class.

Get To Know: Colorado native Kathleen Roe

The Kathleen Roe File
Position: Defense
Class: Junior
Hometown: Denver, Colo.

Junior midfielder Kathleen Roe enters her third season with the Irish after playing 19 games in 2018. Last season, Roe netted four goals and dished out three assists while recording 31 ground balls, 15 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers. Roe graduated in 2016 from Regis Jesuit High School, where she lettered four years in lacrosse and three years in field hockey.

Get To Know: California native Molly Hagan

The Molly Hagan File
Position: Defense
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Pasadena, Calif.

Hagan enters her sophomore season after making her collegiate debut on Senior Day last year vs. San Diego State. In that contest, she collected a ground ball and caused one turnover. Hagan walked onto the Irish roster in 2018 after graduating from St. Monica Academy.

Get To Know: Kentucky native Sydney Flynn

The Sydney Flynn File
Position: Midfield
Class: Senior
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.

Flynn has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll for the past three seasons, and additionally earned IWLCA Academic Honor roll accolades as a junior in 2018. Over the last three years, Flynn has appeared in 31 games for the Irish at midfield, collecting 22 ground balls, 21 draw controls and eight caused turnovers.

Get To Know: Virginia native Madison Mote

The Madison Mote File
Position: Midfield
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.

Mote joins the Irish from Bishop Ireton, where she was a four-year letterwinner in lacrosse and three-year letterwinner in soccer. The midfielder was named Virginia’s 2018 All-State Player of the Year and an Under Armour All-American. Mote helped guide her school to three state titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Get To Know: New York natives

The Jenn Casadonte File
Position: Midfield
Class: Senior
Hometown: Dix Hills, N.Y.

Casadonte enters her senior season as a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll nominee. Before injuries prevented her from seeing action the past two years, Casadonte scored nine goals and picked up 12 ground balls as a freshman in 2016. She graduated in 2015 from Half Hallow Hills, where was honored as the Most Outstanding Athlete, which recognizes outstanding ability shown by high school seniors in athletics, scholarship, leadership, and service to others.

The Hannah Dorney File
Position: Midfield
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Port Jefferson Station, N.Y.

Dorney joins the Irish from Comsewogue High School, where she was a five-year varsity letterwinner in lacrosse and a four-year letterwinner in field hockey. She tallied 48 goals, 42 assists, 44 caused turnovers and 128 ground balls in her senior year and also captained her lacrosse team for four seasons. Off the field, Dorney earned the Comsewogue School District Citizenship and Service Award and the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence.

The Sam Giacolone File
Position: Goalie
Class: Senior
Hometown: Manorville, N.Y.

A 2018 First Team All-ACC All-Star, Giacolone enters her senior season ranked third in program history with 33 career wins and fourth with 467 career saves. Last season, Giacolone collected 146 saves and a team-high 43 ground balls to be named IWLCA Second Team All West/Midwest Region. Her .469 save percentage in 2018 also paced the ACC.

The Maddie Howe File
Position: Attack
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Fairport, N.Y.

Howe is coming off of a freshman campaign in which she led the Irish with 40 goals and 55 points in 19 contests. She combined with Aldie Aldave to be the first freshman duo in program history to score 30+ goals in a single season. Howe’s 55 points also rank third all-time in school history for most points as a freshman. Howe’s efforts in the classroom last year also earned her ACC Academic Honor Roll accolades.

The Samantha Lynch File
Position: Attack
Class: Senior
Hometown: Huntington, N.Y.

A two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll member, Lynch enters her senior season having totaled 41 goals and 45 points in 33 career games. Before an injury-shortened 2018, Lynch scored 37 goals, fired 65 shots on goals and recorded 15 draw controls as a sophomore in 2017. Lynch graduated in 2015 from Huntington High School, where she lettered four years in lacrosse, soccer, and basketball.

The Kaci Messier File
Position: Midfield
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Victor, N.Y.

A 2018 ACC Academic Honor Roll member, Messier played in 12 contests for the Irish as a freshman in 2018. She tallied four goals, four ground balls and caused two turnovers from the midfield last season. Messier’s first collegiate goal came in a 14-8 win over Michigan in April 3rd. Before coming to Notre Dame, Messier graduated from Victor High School, where she led her lacrosse team to three sectional championships.

The Nikki Ortega File
Position: Attack
Class: Senior
Hometown: Centereach, N.Y.

Ortega is coming off a junior season in which she recorded career-highs in goals (21), assists (20) and points (41). Ortega’s 20 assists were a team-high, and she also recorded three or more points in seven games as a junior. The senior attacker competed for Team USA at the 2015 U19 World Championships, netting 19 goals in seven starts to be named to the All-World Team. In her three seasons at Notre Dame, Ortega has scored 60 goals and added 52 assists in 59 career contests.

The Kirsten Scutaro File
Position: Defense
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Mount Sinai, N.Y.

Kirsten Scutaro comes to Notre Dame from Mount Sinai High School after earning varsity letters in both lacrosse and volleyball. Scutaro helped her high school earn three state titles while also taking home the crown at the 2017 Under Armour Underclass Lacrosse Tournament. She tallied 38 ground balls, 35 clears and deflected 20 passes in her senior season.

The Meaghan Scutaro File
Position: Defense
Class: Freshman
Hometown: Mount Sinai, N.Y.

The twin sister of fellow freshman Kirsten, Meaghan also joins the Irish from Mount Sinai High School. Scutaro was a varsity letterwinner in lacrosse, cross country and volleyball and was a two-time Under Armour All-American in lacrosse. A 2017 Under Armour Underclass Lacrosse Tournament Champion, Scutaro also helped her team win three state titles.

The Haley Schultz File
Position: Midfield
Class: Junior
Hometown: Burnt Hills, N.Y.

Schultz enters her junior season after appearing in five games, collecting three draw controls and netting a goal for the Irish in 2018. Before coming to Notre Dame, Schultz graduated from Ballston Lake High School, where she earned six letters in lacrosse, three in soccer and two in basketball.  Schultz captained her lacrosse team there for her junior and senior seasons and also was named to the Under Armour Upstate New York Team.

Get To Know: Illinois native Katie Enrietto

The Katie Enrietto File
Position: Midfield
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Winnetka, Ill.

In 2018, Enrietto played in 18 games for the Irish as a freshman while earning ACC Academic Honor Roll accolades. The midfielder totaled 16 goals last season, including a three-goal performance on the road against Louisville. Enrietto was one of three freshman (Andie Aldave, Maddie Howe) to score 10+ goals for Notre Dame in 2018. Before coming to Notre Dame, Enrietto graduated in 2017 from Loyala Academy, where she led her team to two lacrosse state championships.

Get To Know: North Carolina native Sydney Anderson

The Sydney Anderson File
Position: Defense
Class: Junior
Hometown: Durham, N.C.

A two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll member, Anderson enters her junior season for the Irish in 2019. The defender helped the Irish earn a pair of road wins at Jacksonville and Stetson as a sophomore after playing in four games her freshman year. Before coming to Notre Dame, Anderson graduated in 2016 from Cardinal Gibbons High School, where she was a two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American and captained her team to a state title as a senior.

Get To Know: Pennsylvania natives Nicole Massimino & Hannah Proctor

The Hannah Proctor File
Position: Defense
Class: Senior
Hometown: Radnor, Pa.

Named a preseason Honorable Mention All-American by Inside Lacrosse, Proctor started all 19 games on the back line for the Irish in 2018. She was third among Irish defenders in ground balls (28) and caused turnovers (16). Proctor helped the Notre Dame defense limit opponents to less than 10 goals eight times last season, with the Irish holding a 7-1 record in those contests. She was also named an IWLCA All West/Midwest Region Second Team All-Star and Second Team All-ACC All-Star last season.

The Nicole Massimino File
Position: Midfield/Defense
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Villanova, Pa.

Massimino was named to the 2018 ACC Academic Honor Roll as a freshman. Like Proctor,  Massimino hails from Radnor High School, where she graduated in 2017 and earned four varsity letters in three sports (lacrosse, soccer and basketball). Nicole’s sister Megan played lacrosse at Georgetown, and mother Chrissy played lacrosse at Delaware and Villanova.

Get To Know: Washington native Olivia Jacobsen

The Olivia Jacobsen File
Position: Midfield
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Sammamish, Wash.

Jacobsen enters her sophomore season having appeared in nine games for the Irish as a freshman. In those nine contests, Jacobsen caused a pair of turnovers while collecting three shots on goal. The midfielder graduated from Eastside Catholic High School in 2017, where she earned four varsity letters in both lacrosse and volleyball. Jacobsen helped guide her team to a pair of lacrosse state titles.