Nov. 17, 2005
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s lacrosse coach Tracy Coyne has announced the signing of six high school lacrosse players to national letters-of-intent to attend the University for the 2006-07 season. The group of six will replace the current senior class of seven that will graduate in May of 2006.
Signing letters-of-intent in the early-signing period are: Maria Brooks (Timonium, Md.), Rachel Guerrera (Wantagh, N.Y.), Blair Santaspirt (Moorestown, N.J.), Gina Scioscia (Summit, N.J.), Amy Winik (Freehold, N.J.) and Maggie Zentgraf (Charlottesville, Va.).
In making the announcement, Coyne said, “I’m very excited about this year’s class. They all picked Notre Dame for the right reasons. They understood what we were looking for from our student-athletes and they bring a high level of talent to our program. I expect them to make an impact on our success in the coming years.”
This year’s recruiting class includes three New Jersey natives and one each from Maryland, New York and Virginia. The group includes three attack players, two defenders and a goalkeeper.
Maria Brooks, an attack player, joins the Irish from one of the top high school programs in the country – Notre Dame Prep where she plays field hockey and lacrosse. A former teammate of current Irish freshman Beth Koloup, at Notre Dame Prep, Brooks was a member of the Skywalkers Club team and was a member of the Mid-Atlantic 3 team last spring that participated in the U.S. National Lacrosse Championship. She was also selected to the honor roll for the National Developmental Program. She is currently the team captain for Notre Dame Prep’s field hockey team.
Coyne on Brooks: “Maria has outstanding speed and quickness that she uses to exploit her opponent’s weaknesses. She has solid stick skills and an excellent knowledge of the game. Maria comes from a great high school program at Notre Dame Prep and one of the top club programs so she understands what it takes to compete at this level. She will make an immediate contribution next season.”
Rachel Guerrera is a two-sport standout at Wantagh High School where she plays on both the soccer and lacrosse teams. A two-time all-County selection in soccer, she was an all-County pick last spring in lacrosse. She played in the championship game of the U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament in the spring of 2005 for the New York Team 1. She also captained the Long Island region team in the 2005 Empire State games. Guerrera was selected as the Most Valuable defender at the 2004 National Draw Tournament and was named to the all-tournament team at the Star Spangled Tournament in Baldwinsville, N.Y., in 2004. An outstanding student, Guerrera won the New York State Journalism Gold Award for News Story in 2005 and a Bronze Award for Sports Writing in 2002. She has received the Dartmouth College Award for Leadership Excellence and was a HOBY Leadership Ambassador for the Long Island Region.
Coyne on Guerrera: “Rachel is a tough, tenacious defensive player with quick feet who plays an aggressive style of defense. I expect her to come in and contribute right away. She is confident in her abilities and has outstanding defensive instincts. Rachel is an excellent student who will reap the benefits of all that Notre Dame has to offer.”
Blair Santaspirt joins the Irish after playing soccer and lacrosse at Moorestown High School. A goalkeeper in soccer, she has helped lead Moorestown to the South Jersey Group 3 title game this season while recording 12 shutouts. As a junior, Santaspirt was the South Jersey Coaches goalkeeper of the year as she led Moorestown to the Group 3 title. This season she has been named all-State, all-South Jersey, all-Group III, all-County and all-League on the soccer field. She will go into her final lacrosse season in the spring looking to help Moorestown win its seventh consecutive New Jersey State title. During her junior year, Santasprit was a member of their sixth state title team that went 22-1 overall and gave up five goals or less in 17 of their 23 games.
Coyne on Santasprit: “Blair is a hard-working athletic player with a solid understanding of defensive tactics. She knows what it takes to be a winner, playing on championship teams in soccer and lacrosse at Moorestown. Whenever you have the opportunity to recruit a player like Blair who has been an integral part of so much success you know it will be a great four years. Blair should work herself into our defensive rotation as she adapts to the collegiate game.”
Gina Scioscia joins the Irish on attack after playing lacrosse and soccer at Summit High School in Summit, N.J. A two-time first team all-Galaxy League and all-Iron Hills Conference selection in 2004 and 2005, Scioscia was the Summit High School MVP last season as a junior. She also was a member of the Mid-Atlantic I team that participated in the U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament and a member of the Metro Club team. A second team all-New Jersey selection as a junior, Scioscia is an outstanding student as she received high school Academic All-American honors following the 2005 campaign. In soccer, she served as the team captain this season, coming off a 2004 campaign that saw her named third team all-county by the Newark Star Ledger and second team all-Iron Hills Conference. Scioscia was also named to the County Coaches all-star team and the State Coaches Association all-State team for 2004.
Coyne on Scioscia: “Gina is the type of player who is involved in every scoring play. She’s either setting up a teammate or working to get in position to score. She’s always around the ball and making things happen. She catches well in a tight space and isn’t afraid to go against anyone. Gina will be in the mix and should play in her first season.”
Amy Winik will join the Irish in the fall of 2006 after playing lacrosse and field hockey at Freehold Township High School. A four-year starter in goal, Winik will serve as the team captain this spring. Last season, she was selected to the all-Division team and was first team all-Galaxy League after turning in the highest save percentage (.643) in the conference. She set school records as a sophomore and a junior for saves in a game (28) and in a season (272). She was a member of the Tri-State All-Stars travel team where she played for current Irish volunteer assistant coach and former All-American Kathryn Lam last summer.
Coyne on Winik: “Amy has excellent goalkeeper skills and the ability to make the big save. She has had an outstanding high school career and has been her high school’s go-to player on defense. I expect her to come in and compete with Erin Goodman for the top goalkeeper’s spot in 2007.”
Maggie Zentgraf is the third attack player to join the Notre Dame roster for the 2006-07 season. She is no stranger to Notre Dame, as she will join her sister, Lena, a midfielder on the women’s lacrosse team in the fall of 2006. A two-time first team all-District, all-Regional and all-Central Virginia selection the last two seasons at Charlottesville High School, Zentgraf was the team captain and midfield MVP as a junior. She also participated in the U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament for Mid-Atlantic 4 last spring. Zentgraf also has played field hockey and ran indoor track during her high school career. She is the niece of current Irish men’s lacrosse coach, Kevin Corrigan, and Notre Dame associate athletic director, Boo Corrigan. Her grandfather, Gene Corrigan, is a former director of athletics at Notre Dame.
Coyne on Zentgaf: “Maggie has tons of potential and that excites me the most. She has all the tools to be an outstanding lacrosse player. It’s just a matter of learning the game and being exposed to a higher level of lacrosse. I expect Maggie to fit very well into our program.”
2006-07 Notre Dame Women's Lacrosse Recruits
Player Pos. Ht. Hometown/SchoolMaria Brooks A 5-2 Timonium, Md./Notre Dame PrepRachel Guerrera D 5-7 Wantagh, N.Y./WantaghBlair Santaspirt D 5-4 Moorestown, N.J./MoorestownGina Scioscia A 5-4 Summit, N.J./SummitAmy Winik GK 5-8 Freehold, N.J./Freehold TownshipMaggie Zentgraf A 5-6 Charlottesville, Va./Charlottesville