Women's Lacrosse Signs Seven For 2011
11/17/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
Nov. 17, 2006
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The women's lacrosse team has signed seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent for the 2008 season, announced today by head coach Cathy Nelson Reese. The class includes four women from Maryland and one each from California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
"We are very excited to have this class of talented freshman join the Maryland lacrosse program," Reese said. "These athletes add speed and athleticism to the roster and their competitive nature both on and off the field will immediately have a positive impact."
Reese and associate head coach Jen Adams will begin their first season leading the Terps program in 2007. The Terrapins open the season on February 18 when they host Ohio. Following is more information regarding each incoming student-athlete.
Ellen Cook
Cook guided her team to the IAAM Championship as a junior last season. An all-around athlete, she has lettered in basketball and soccer as well. Cook is a member of the Hero's 2007 lacrosse club.
Sara Cooper
Cooper has been a first-team all-county selection as a sophomore and a junior and was a Washington Post all-state honorable mention this past year. She will serve as the captain of the team in the upcoming season. She also earned four letters in soccer at Centennial, earning all-county recognition as a junior and a senior. Cooper served as the captain of the soccer team as a junior and senior. Her sister, Lynne, is currently a goalie for the Terps and saw action in seven games as a freshman.
Colleen Dawson
Dawson was a first-team all-area and All-Chesmont selection as a junior while leading her team to the District One state championship game. She was voted Offensive Player of the Year at West Chester after scoring 91 goals and assisting on 38 others last season. Cooper also lettered in field hockey as a junior and a senior and was a second-team All-Chesmont honoree. She comes from a lacrosse family as her father played collegiately at UMass-Boston, her sister played at Duquesne, and her brother played at Salisbury.
Brandi Jones
Jones will be the team's only student-athlete who hails from the Golden State. Jones is a three-sport star at Poway, as she also plays volleyball and basketball. She was named the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Player of the Year as a junior and was the San Diego Union Tribune, North County Times, and San Diego Hall of Champions Player of the Year. She was also tabbed a US Lacrosse High School All-American.
Helen McCutcheon
McCutheon has racked up 102 goals and 60 assists in her first three seasons at Chatham High School. She has also secured 77 draw controls and picked up 124 ground balls. She was a second-team all-conference and a first-team all-area selection, and the team's most valuable player as a junior. As a senior, she will serve as the squad's captain.
Alexcia Niumatalolo
Niumatalolo has lettered every season in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse since arriving at Broadneck as a freshman. Niumatalolo led Broadneck to the regular season and county championship while being named first-team all-county by three different outlets. Her father, Ken, is currently an assistant head coach and the offensive line coach for Navy football. Her cousin, Itula Mili, is a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks and another cousin, J.T. Mapu, is a defensive end for the Tennessee Volunteers.
Meredith Zanelotti
Zanelotti served as the captain of River Hill as a junior and will do so again as a senior this season. She earned Second Team All-County honors from the Baltimore Sun and was a Second Team All-Galaxy selection. Zanelotti also plays for the Under Armour Baltimore Team and for the M&D Black club team. Her older sister, Taylor, has played in eight games for the Terps in her first two seasons.
