Aug. 22, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's lacrosse head coach Missy Doherty has announced the signing of seven recruits for the 2011 season. The class, which was ranked No. 9 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, is regionally derived with all of the players hailing from Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New Jersey and is comprised of four midfielders, one attacker, one attacker/midfielder, and one goalkeeper.
"I am extremely excited about that incoming class here at Penn State," said Doherty. "They are a talented group of athletes and I am looking forward to having them contribute quickly. This will be an exciting year for our program, and it is great to start my career here with such a talented group of athletes."
Midfielder Lizzy Carney comes to Penn State following an accomplished career at Unionville High School in Kennett Square, Pa. Earning a total of 10 varsity letters, she was named First Team All-Chester County in lacrosse, soccer, and basketball. Carney helped lead the Indian lacrosse squad to two consecutive state semifinal appearances and to a 43-8 record over her junior and senior seasons. She emerged as major force as a senior, setting the school record for draw controls in a season (78) and registering 76 goals and 56 assists en route to First Team All-Ches Monts recognition. Carney shined in a state playoff contest versus powerhouse Radnor, totaling six goals and two assists to receive game MVP honors.
Avery Curley, an attacker/midfielder, starred at Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pa., contributing to four-straight Inter-Academic League championships. Despite missing her senior year due to an injury, the Berwyn native posted stellar numbers for the Churchmen, totaling 113 goals and 72 assists in three varsity seasons. Also a four-year varsity letterwinner in field hockey, Curley was a two-time First Team All-Inter Ac and All-Main Line selection and earned All-American Honorable Mention and Second Team All-Delco and All-Phillylacrosse.com honors in 2009.
An attacker from Westminster, Md., Mackenzie Cyr, the No. 6-ranked incoming prospect in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, was a prolific point scorer as a four-year varsity starter at Winters Mill High School. Helping the Falcons to 58 wins and county, conference, regional and state championships in 2008 and 2010, she recorded 427 points during her career, totaling 202 goals and 225 assists. Cyr's impressive list of honors and awards includes four-time First Team All-Chesapeake Conference and all-county, three-time Under Armour All-Star, and two-time US Lacrosse All-American. As a senior, she was named the Carroll County Times Player of the Year, All-Tewaaraton, First Team All-Metro, and Carroll Eagle Athlete of the Year. An all-around outstanding athlete, Cyr won 12 total varsity letters in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse.
Twins Ali and Evan Foulsham will carry on a long-standing tradition of sisters playing together at Penn State. The midfield duo from Madison, N.J. brings their game to Happy Valley after standout careers at Madison High School, where they won Northern Hills Conference titles in 2007, 2008, and 2009. A four-year varsity starter, Ali was selected First Team All-NJAC and All-Morris County and co-MVP in addition to earning Honorable Mention All-American accolades as a senior after tallying 62 goals, 21 assists, and 77 ground balls. A 211-career goal scorer, she also excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-American honors in 2009 and 2010. Evan was also a First Team All-NJAC and All-Morris County honoree in 2010, posting 54 goals and 10 assists. In three years as a varsity player for the Dodgers, she scored 167 goals and notched 41 assists. A two-time Daily Record All-Area Team selection, Evan was also a top notch student, receiving Academic All-American honors in her junior and senior years.
A teammate of fellow Nittany Lion freshman Lizzy Carney at Unionville High School, goalkeeper Melissa Lloyd will join her older brother Billy, a senior midfielder on the men's team, as a member of the Penn State lacrosse family. A four-year varsity starter who helped lead the Indians to 68 wins during her career, Lloyd was a four-time First Team All-Chesmont selection, a three-time first team all-area honoree, a two-time First Team All-American, and a two-time First Team All-Phillylacrosse.com choice. She graduated from Unionville as the school's all-time leader in season (272) and career saves (840) and amassed a 60.42 save percentage.
Ranked as the No. 11 freshman in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, Lauren Purvis, a midfielder from Maple Glen, Pa., will be a two-sport varsity athlete at Penn State, also playing for the Nittany Lion field hockey team with her older sister, Jenny. At Hatboro-Horsham High School, Purvis was a dominant force, putting together a highly decorated and productive career. Totaling 247 goals and 179 assists as a four-year starter, she capped off a brilliant career by earning First Team All-American accolades for the second consecutive year and Suburban One Continental Conference Player of the Year honors as a senior. Purvis was also a four-time all-conference and three-time all-area selection in addition to a three-time team MVP. As a member of the Phantastix Elite club team, she won two national championships, earning all-star honors in 2010 and All-American Under Armour recognition in 2008 and 2010. At the 2010 US Lacrosse All-American ESPN Showcase, she was named team MVP and to the All-ESPN Rise Team.
In 2011, Penn State will return 21 letterwinners, eight starters, and 76 percent of its offense from a 2010 squad that won 10 games, defeated three ranked opponents, and advanced to the semifinals of the ALC Championship.
2011 Penn State Women's Lacrosse Recruiting Class
Lizzy Carney, Midfielder, West Chester, Pa.
Avery Curley, Attack/Midfielder, Berwyn, Pa.
Mackenzie Cyr, Attack, Westminster, Md.
Ali Foulsham, Midfielder, Madison, N.J.
Evan Foulsham, Midfielder, Madison, N.J.
Melissa Lloyd, Goalkeeper, West Chester, Pa.
Lauren Purvis, Midfielder, Maple Glen, Pa.