WLAX Completes Recruiting Class
Dec 12 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Rutgers women's lacrosse team has released its recruiting class to join the roster in 2016 , head coach Laura Brand-Sias announced Friday.
The class, comprised of Abigail Lee Brooks (Moorestown, N.J.), Tess Howland (Glen Ridge, N.J.), Devon Kearns (Cherokee, N.J.), Dakota Pastore (Somerville, N.J.), Emily Santana (Springfield Delaware County, Pa.) and Regina Sharp (Suffern, N.Y.), will make an immediate impact on the program as it competes in the Big Ten Conference.
Abigail Lee Brooks
Attack | 5-1
Moorestown, N.J./ Moorestown
Prior to Rutgers: A three-year varsity letterwinner in girls lacrosse and soccer at Moorestown HS ... in lacrosse, helped team to consecutive undefeated seasons in 2013 and 2014 en route to two Tournament of Champions titles under head coach Deanna Knobloch ... team won three-straight state championships from 2012-14 ... was named second team All-South Jersey ... played club lacrosse for South Jersey Select Lacrosse under head coach Kacey Knobloch ... in soccer, served as captain in her senior season ... a 2014 All-South Jersey second team selection ... participated in the girls soccer All-South Jersey Senior All-Star Game ... named to the 2013 Burlington County Scholastic League All Star Second Team ... the women's soccer team won the South Jersey Group 3 State Championship in 2012 and 2014, appearing in the finals from 2012-14.
Personal: Daughter of Lance and Sandra ... has three sisters: Rosie, Emily and Megan ... her cousin, Amber Brooks, plays soccer at the University of North Carolina ... born on Oct. 4, 1996.
Brand-Sias on Brooks: "Abbey will add a level of quickness and deceptive dodging to our offense that is hard to ignore. She works particularly well from X, but I see her helping us in many areas including our ride."
Tess Howland
Midfield | 5-10
Glen Ridge, N.J./ Glen Ridge
Prior to Rutgers: A three-sport athlete at Glen Ridge HS, starting for three years on the girl's lacrosse team, four years on the field hockey team and running three years of track ... will serve as captain of the lacrosse team as a senior ... in lacrosse, named first team All-Super Essex Conference as a junior ... placed on the All-Essex County Tournament Team and 2014 Under Armour All-American Team ... notched double-digits goals and assists in her sophomore and junior seasons ... selected to the Second Team Super Essex Conference All-American Division in 2013 ... helped team to an NJSIAA Group I State Championship as a freshman ... a decorated field hockey player, earning first team All-Super Essex Conference, first team All-Essex Union Conference and second team All-North Jersey as a senior ... led field hockey team in scoring with 11 goals in 2014 ... her 4x400 meter relay team advanced to the group finals in 2013 and 2014 ... president of the Girls' Club of Glen Ridge.
Personal: Daughter of Sean and Kyle ... has one sister, Liza ... born on Feb. 15, 1997.
Brand-Sias on Howland: "Tess brings an all-around skillset and good use of her height. I see her making an impact in multiple areas, particularly our draw controls."
Devon Kearns
Goalie | 5-10
Marlton, N.J./ Cherokee
Prior to Rutgers: Captain and three-year letterwinner of the Cherokee girls lacrosse team ... also a two-year member of the Cherokee girls soccer team.
Personal: Daughter of Thomas and Angela ... has two siblings, Maggie and Kristen ... both of her sisters ran track and cross country at Monmouth University ... born on April 11, 1997.
Brand-Sias on Kearns: "We have watched Devon develop exponentially over the years. She has great height and a commanding presence in cage. That coupled with her quickness promises her a bright future as a Scarlet Knight."
Dakota Pastore
Midfield | 5-7
Branchburg, N.J./ Somerville
Prior to Rutgers: A three-year varsity letterwinner at Somerville HS ... a 2014 Under Armour All-American ... racked up 299 goals and 113 assists in three seasons ... re-set her own school record for goals (128) and total points (158) in a single season as a junior ... an NJ.com Preseason Top 25 Player in New Jersey ... named first team all-area, all-county and all-conference as a junior ... notched 154 points as a sophomore, scoring 102 times to go with 52 assists ... mark was the school record until her junior campaign ... selected as a Brine All-American and was named the player that most impressed in the Brine All-American Championship Game ... a first-team all-conference, all-county and all-area selection in 2013 ... as a rookie, scored 71 goals and set the school record for most goals in a single game (nine) ... named first team all-conference and was a Top 150 North Start Invitational participant ... also a three-year member of the swim team ... earned All-Skyland Conference honors in the 200 IM and 50 freestyle events ... will serve as captain in her senior season ... excelled in the classroom, earning the Academic Honors Award three times along with High Honor Roll recognition through her first three years.
Personal: Daughter of Kelly and B. Vincent ... has one sibling, Kyanna, who attends Ohio State University and plays on the club lacrosse team ... intends to major in pre-veterinary medicine ... born on May 23, 1997.
Brand-Sias on Pastore: "Dakota plays a very fluid game. She possesses great stick skills and unwavering composure. I look forward to her work ethic and development as a Scarlet Knight."
Emily Santana
Midfield/Attack | 5-8
Springfield Delaware County, Pa./ Springfield
Prior to Rutgers: A three-year letterwinner on the Springfield Delco HS girls lacrosse team ... a US Lacrosse All-American and Heather Lee Albert Award finalist ... named first team all-Central League and first team all-Delco ... has compiled 190 goals, 77 assists and 186 draw controls through three seasons ... owns the school record for most assists and goals in a single-season ... selected to the final round of the USA U-19 National Team trials ... also played four years of soccer, three years of track and a year of basketball ... an honor roll student.
Personal: Daughter of Nelson and Mary ... has one brother, Nicholas ... intends to major in criminal justice ... born on Sept. 23, 1996.
Brand-Sias on Santana: "Emily is an explosive, high impact player. Whether she is snagging draw controls or scoring points at critical moments, she has a direct impact on every game she plays in. I see that translating right into our game."
Regina Sharp
Midfield | 5-6
Suffern, N.Y./ Suffern
Prior to Rutgers: A five-year varsity girls lacrosse participant at Suffern HS ... an all-league and all-section member in all five seasons ... scored 96 goals, tallied 40 assists and collected 112 draw controls to go with 65 ground balls ... named to the all-tournament team during the state playoffs as a sophomore.
Personal: Daughter of Sheila and Chris ... has four siblings: Maggie, Peter, Thomas and Daniel ... her brothers, Peter and Tom, play lacrosse in college ... her sister, Maggie, also competed at the college level ... born on April 24, 1997.
Brand-Sias on Sharp: "Regina is the true definition of a middie. She has an impact in every aspect of the game and consistently gets the job done. We have been impressed with her play for a very long time and we look forward to that impact helping us here at Rutgers."
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