ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell women's lacrosse program will add 12 players to the roster for the upcoming season as the Big Red eyes its second Ivy League title in four years . Head coach Jenny Graap '86 will add six U.S. Lacrosse high school All-Americans and six Scholastic All-Americans to replace four decorated seniors. Included among the class will be 11 freshmen and one sophomore transfer.

The Big Red will have six midfielders, three defenders, two attackers and a goalkeeper to supplement what looks to be an already strong returning roster that includes eight returning starters, including second-team All-America defender Tissy O'Connor and second-team all-region pick Libby Johnson on attack.

"We are excited about our incoming class of talented scholar-athletes," Graap said. "We believe this group embodies the work ethic and energy our program needs to fight for championships."

M Morgan Axenfeld – 5-9 - Manlius, N.Y. (Fayetteville-Manlius HS)

Axenfeld was a two-time All-Central New York selection at Fayetteville-Manlius HS and joins former high school teammates Caroline Helmer, Shannon McHugh and Ali O'Neil on the Big Red roster. She had a team-high 43 goals and added nine assists for 52 points in leading the Hornets to a top 20 state rankinf and earning team her team's most valuable player honors as a senior captain. The first-team all-league and all-CNY pick in 2009 helped her squad to a sectional title as a junior. She was a second-team All-Central New York pick that year in 2008. She also was part of the Empire State Games team that won a bronze medal. Axenfeld was a second-team all-league pick as a sophomore. She also was a four-year letter winner in basketball, earning all-league honors three times and directing the team to a sectional title as a senior captain. Axenfeld was a sectional scorer and was first-team all-league as an eighth grade varsity swimmer before giving up the sport to concentrate on lacrosse. Her grandfather, Ed Tibbits, was a member of the Cornell football team.

A Christie Fredericks – 5-7 - Upper Saddle River, N.J. (Academy of the Holy Angels)

The all-time leading scorer in Bergen County history with 327 goals and 414 points at the Academy of the Holy Angels, Fredericks is a two-time high school All-American. The four-year letter winner served as captain her junior and senior years and helped her squad to a league title in her final campaign. A three-time first-team all-league pick, Fredericks had her lacrosse jersey retired in 2009. She was named North New Jersey Player of the Year in 2008 by the Associated Press. Fredericks also played four seasons of varsity basketball. She was elected team captain her senior year after directing her team to a spot in the state semifinals. Fredericks was a second-team all-conference pick. As a sophomore, she helped her team to a county title. As a senior, Fredericks was given the New Jersey Women in Sports Award. Her father, Thomas, played football at Saint Peter's. Her cousin, John Fairchild, played basketball at Seton Hall, while her cousins Noelle and Ronnie Carter each were members of the Wagner College basketball program.

GK Courtney Gallagher – 5-5 - Yardley, Pa. (Notre Dame HS)

Gallagher was a first-team all-league pick by The Trentionian and an all-area selection by the Trenton Times as a senior at Notre Dame HS. An honorable mention all-league pick as a sophomore and junior, she earned the Trentonian's Unsung Hero award as a junior. The four-year starter and four-year letter winner earned the team's Coach's Award as a junior and senior. She was a two-year letter winner as a defender in field hockey and earned second-team all-conference honors for her club team in 2007.

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2009-07-21