Signing Day Roster
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Women's Lacrosse program, led by Head Coach Missy Doherty, welcomed 10 signees to its 2019 signing class.
Among the 10 signees are seven midfielders. The group includes five players from Maryland, four from Pennsylvania and one from New York.
The Nittany Lions open the 2019 season at home on February 9 against Towson. Penn State will take on Drexel in a scrimmage on February 2 at Panzer Stadium.
Penn State returns 26 members from last year's squad, which reached PSU's seventh straight NCAA tournament and finished No. 18 in the IWLCA Poll. The Nittany Lions return two All-America selections in senior attacker Madison Carter and senior midfielder Kayla Brisolari.
Brooke Barger
Midfielder
Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Prep
Barger plays at Notre Dame Prep for head coach Mac Ford… The midfielder led the Blazers to a 17-4 record and an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Championship in 2018, scoring two goals and assisting on another in the championship game…Helped Notre Dame Prep to a No. 1 national ranking by Inside Lacrosse…Joins Sydni Rosa as Notre Dame Prep alums in the 2019 recruiting class.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because everyone was very welcoming and I felt at home as soon as I arrived on campus."
Doherty on Barger: "Brooke is a versatile, competitive player who just keeps getting better and better. We are really looking forward to her bringing her talents to Happy Valley."
Alexandra Bruno
Attacker
Rockville, Md./Academy of the Holy Cross
Bruno competes at Academy of the Holy Cross for head coach Katie Triplin…The attacker helped the Tartans to a 13-7 record in 2018…Bruno is a two-time First Team All-WCAC selection and a two-time All-Metro honoree…Also played field hockey and soccer at Academy of the Holy Cross.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of the great academics, athletics, and amazing coaching staff."
Doherty on Bruno: "Alex is a great attacker with the ability to finish in clutch situations. She will add some great scoring ability to our offense."
Olivia Dirks
Midfielder
Wayne, Pa./The Episcopal Academy
Dirks plays at The Episcopal Academy for head coach Josie Ferri…Rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 5 overall prospect in the 2019 class by Inside Lacrosse, Dirks is a U.S. Lacrosse All-American and a member of the U.S. Lacrosse U-19 National Team…Is a three-time Under Armour Underclass All-American…Helped The Episcopal Academy to an 18-7 record in 2018…In 2018, Dirks was named MVP of the Inter-AC League as well as a First Team All-Conference selection…Named to the 2018 Inside Lacrosse All-High School team after collecting 60 goals, 26 assists and a school-record 212 draw controls…As a sophomore, scored a school-record 80 goals and tallied 13 assists, leading Episcopal Academy to a 21-5 record…Has over 100 goals and 300 draw controls in her high school career…Also plays soccer and was selected for a 2018 High School All-American game in Orlando…Her father, Eric, played basketball and baseball at Penn State, graduating in 1986.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State for its balance between strong academics and athletics. The family atmosphere and sense of school spirit is like no other."
Doherty on Dirks: "Olivia is an outstanding midfielder who has the ability to contribute all over the field. Her hustle and speed are amazing, and we are looking forward to her making an impact in the midfield."
Kayla Kielbasa
Midfielder
Aquebogue, N.Y./Riverhead
Kielbasa plays at Riverhead High School for head coach Ashley Schandel…The midfielder helped the Blue Waves to an 11-6 record in 2018…Holds the Riverhead season records for goals and draw controls…Is a three-time All-County selection and was an All-American honorable mention in 2018…Also plays field hockey and competes in indoor track at Riverhead…Member of the National Honor Society and won Riverhead's Scholar-Athlete award in 2018.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because it offered everything I was looking for academically and athletically. It felt like home."
Doherty on Kielbasa: "Kayla is a smart, fast midfielder who makes big plays all over the field. She is a gritty competitor and has the ability to contribute on both attack and defense."
Kelsey Kimmel
Midfielder
Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg
Kimmel plays at Lampeter-Strasburg High School…Kimmel is a three-year starter for the Pioneers and was named a U.S. Lacrosse All-American as a junior…Is a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and a conference MVP…As a junior, she tallied 94 goals and 109 points in 2018, leading Lampeter-Strasburg to a program-record 13 wins…Collected 104 goals and 25 assists as a sophomore and 66 goals and 27 assists as a freshman…Her sister, Kelsey, attends Penn State…Her mother, Wendy, competed in cross country and track at Iowa.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because they have everything I want in a school, with a strong academic reputation, a great lacrosse program and an incredible coaching staff. I love the athletics atmosphere and can't wait to be a part of the tradition."
Doherty on Kimmel: "Kelsey is a smooth, gifted midfielder who has incredible game sense. She is a goal scorer who also makes the players around her better."
Kara Nealon
Midfielder
Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley
Nealon plays at Garnet Valley High School for head coach Jenny Purvis…Sister, Regan, is also a member of the 2019 recruiting class… Led the Jaguars to a 22-3 record, District and Conference titles and an appearance in PIAA 3A Semifinals in 2018…As a junior, collected 16 goals and 34 assists, earning All-League honors…Helped the Jaguars to a 19-7 record and a state semifinals appearance as a sophomore with 21 goals and 22 assists…Helped Garnet Valley to a state semifinals appearance in 2016…Nealon is rated a four-star prospect by Inside Lacrosse… Grandfather, Tom, and father, Denny, played football at Navy. Brother, Denny, plays lacrosse at Lehigh.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because I love the atmosphere of the campus and the team along with great academics. It has everything I want in a school!"
Doherty on Nealon: "Kara has a great feeding ability and sees her teammates really well. She is a very mature and smart player and could contribute both at the midfield or the attack."
Regan Nealon
Midfielder/Attacker
Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley
Nealon plays at Garnet Valley High School for head coach Jenny Purvis…Sister, Kara, is also a member of the 2019 recruiting class…Led the Jaguars to a 22-3 record, District and Conference titles and an appearance in PIAA 3A Semifinals in 2018…As a junior, tallied 63 goals, 10 assists and 19 caused turnovers, leading to All-America, All-Conference and All-Delco honors…As a sophomore, helped Garnet Valley to a 19-7 record, recording 46 goals and 36 assists… Helped Garnet Valley to a state semifinals appearance in 2016…Nealon is rated a four-star prospect by Inside Lacrosse…Grandfather, Tom, and father, Denny, played football at Navy. Brother, Denny, plays lacrosse at Lehigh.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because it's the full package between the campus, the education, the athletics and the coaches. It is everything I could hope for in a college."
Doherty on Nealon: "Regan is a quick attacker with a great stick and nose for the cage. She has been an impact player on both her club and high school team. It is going to be great to have her and her sister work together in Happy Valley!"
Sydni Rosa
Midfielder
Towson, Md./Notre Dame Prep
Rosa plays at Notre Dame Prep for head coach Mac Ford…Rated a four-star prospect by Inside Lacrosse…The midfielder led the Blazers to a 17-4 record and an Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland A Championship in 2018…Helped Notre Dame Prep to a No. 1 national ranking by Inside Lacrosse…Joins Brooke Barger as Notre Dame Prep alums in the 2019 recruiting class…Her father, Rich, played football, graduating in 1991. Her mother, Tracey, and sister, Jordan, also attended Penn State.
Why Penn State: "I chose Penn State because it is a great academics and athletics school. It is a big school with everything I was looking for. Both my parents went to Penn State and my sister is currently a student at the University. I know Penn State will be a perfect fit for me!"
Doherty on Rosa: "Sydni is a workhorse in the midfield and does a fantastic job getting possession on the draw. She is an intelligent player who is very efficient all over the field."
Rachel Spilker
Defender/Midfielder
Severna Park, Md./Severna Park
Spilker plays at Severna Park High School for head coach Kaitlyn Hines…Helped the Falcons to a 12-9 record in 2018…Spilker is a three-time All-County selection and served as a team captain in 2018…Her sister, Erika, played lacrosse at Penn State, graduating in 2017…Her brother, Logan, plays lacrosse at Navy…Also plays basketball and soccer at Severna Park.
Why Penn State: "Penn State feels like home and there truly is no better place to be."
Doherty on Spilker: "Rachel is a very smart defensive middie who has the ability to organize the players around her. She is a great leader and will contribute at either the midfield or defense."
Haley Urgo
Midfielder
Davidsonville, Md./Archbishop Spalding
Urgo plays at Archbishop Spalding High School…Helped the Cavaliers to a 13-5 record in 2018…Also plays field hockey at Archbishop Spalding…Haley's uncle, Keith Urgo, is the Penn State Men's Basketball Associate Head Coach.
Why Penn State: "I loved the family atmosphere on and off campus."
Doherty on Urgo: "Haley is a very fast attacking midfielder who uses her speed to run by opponents. She has a great shot and her speed will be an asset in re-defending."
2019 Recruiting Class