BERKELEY, Calif. - The California lacrosse program signed 12 players to National Letters of Intent, Golden Bears head coach Theresa Sherry announced today. The large recruiting class includes England under-19 national team player Camilla Hayes, four players from the state of California and Clemmy Little, the younger sister of current Cal senior midfielder Ghillie Little.

The Californians are Gina Holslag (attack), Melissa Humphrey (midfield) and Kelly McCarthy (goalkeeper), all from the San Diego area, and Ana Cyr (midfield), from nearby Livermore. Sherry also signed defender Sarah Milik; Molly Crawford, Carter Ellerman, Ali Ellickson, Megan Takacs, who will play in midfield; Little and Alexa Rozelle, who will play in the attack; and Hayes, who could play in midfield and in the attack.

"Every one of the 12 girls we are bringing in next year will add something right away to the Cal lacrosse program and the UC Berkeley campus," Sherry said. "The student-athletes we are bringing in all have the mental toughness, inner drive, and talent to contribute our team's quest for excellence both on and off the field."

Here is a look at all 12 signees:

Molly Crawford, a native of Leawood, Kan., will be joining the Bears from Notre Dame de Sion High School. She was a member of the X-Team Club program before joining the Skywalkers during her junior year. Crawford will add strength and power to the Bears' midfield.

Ana Cyr, a Northern California native from Livermore, will be staying close to home as she joins the Bears from Grenada High School. Cyr brings tremendous speed and determination to Cal's line up. She will be a presence in the midfield as a ball-carrier in transition, and also in her dominance on the re-defend.

Carter Ellerman hails from one of the hotbeds of girls' lacrosse: the Maryland/ Virginia/D.C. area. Currently a student-athlete at Holton Arms School in Bethesda, Md., Ellerman resides with her family in Arlington, Va. As a very well-rounded midfielder, Ellerman should make an immediate impact for the Bears at both ends of the field.

Ali Ellickson from Centennial, Colo., is joining the Bears from four-time state champion Cherry Creek High School. Ellickson's strength, speed, and footwork will help deepen Cal's defensive midfield.

Camilla Hayes, a native of Kent, England, will be Cal's first international player in the history of the program. She has been involved with the national teams in England and participated on the U-19 team. Most recently, she competed for England in the Lacrosse European Championships last August in Finland. Hayes will boost the expectations of her teammates every time she steps on the field with her unmatched mental toughness and overall athleticism.

Gina Holslag comes to Cal from San Diego. She collected 83 goals, 27 assists and 110 points during the 2007-08 season for Scripps Ranch High School, at which she is the all-time leader in points and assists. Her quickness and ability to finish will add a huge spark to the Cal attack.

Melissa Humphrey is also joining Cal from Coronado in the San Diego area. A product of perennial power Coronado High School, Humphrey earned academic All-American honors last year from U.S. Lacrosse. Her speed and ability to put the ball in the net will bring tremendous depth to Cal's attacking midfield.

Clemmy Little, a native of Darien, Conn., comes to Cal from Darien High School, one of the premier programs in the state. Her speed, field awareness and playmaking ability will add a new dimension to the Cal attack. Little's sister, Ghillie, is a senior captain for the Bears this year.

1 2    Next  »

2008-11-20