BALTIMORE - The UMBC women's lacrosse team welcomes 11 decorated freshmen for the 2008 season, including two All-Americans and two Academic All-Americans. In addition, nine of the newcomers hail from the state of Maryland.

"Our freshman class has been eager to learn all fall, and they are very well-rounded," UMBC head coach Courtney Connor said. "I know that they will add a lot of chemistry to our team, in addition to making a huge impact on our current play."

Casie Boltja, Midfield/Attack, 5-8, Medina, Ohio, Medina – Boltja is a two-time All-Ohio first team selection and a four-year varsity starter at Medina High School in Medina, Ohio, where she led the Bees in scoring with 55 goals as a junior and 69 as a senior, when she was a team captain. She helped lead her team to the Division-II Ohio North championship in 2004. Boltja, who also played for Team Ohio/Ohio Premier, was also selected to the 2006 Great Lakes National Team and the 2006 All-Region/Ohio North first team.

Erika Braerman, Attack, 5-4, Fallston, Md., Fallston – Braerman is a three-time all-county selection, earning first-team honors in each of her last two seasons at Fallston High School in Fallston, Md. She led Harford County in assists in both her junior and senior seasons, and she was a team captain as a senior. Braerman was selected to the 2006 U.S. Lacrosse National Divisional Team-Mid Atlantic.

Meghan Conaway, Attack/Midfield, 5-10, Marriottsville, Md., Liberty – Conaway is a three-time all-conference player from Liberty High School. The Marriottsville, Md., native also earned all-county honors as a junior and senior, and she was named to the All-Galaxy club lacrosse team.

C.J. Durham, Defender, 5-8, Pasadena, Md., Chesapeake – Durham is a three-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American from Chesapeake High School in Pasadena, Md. Named her team's defensive MVP as a senior, Durham was also selected to the all-county first team as a junior and second team as a senior, and she earned CCLAX All-Galaxy first-team honors as a sophomore and junior. She amassed 41 ground balls and caused 21 turnovers as a junior at Chesapeake, and she was selected to the Women's Division National Team 3, and she led her team to the regional finals her senior year.

Meagan Linkous, Midfield, 5-3, Jarrettsville, Md., Pylesville – One of seven players from her Pylesville High School lacrosse team to earn Division I scholarships, Linkous earned first-team all-county honors as a senior after garnering second-team accolades in each of the previous two seasons. She led the Hawks to the 3A/2A state championship in 2007 after taking them to the county championship and regional finals in 2006. Linkous also made the National High School team as a sophomore and junior.

Kristen Milligan, Attack/Midfield, 5-6, Pasadena, Md., Chesapeake – A teammate of C.J. Durham's at Chesapeake High School, Milligan is a two-time U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American and a three-time all-county selection, earning first team honors as a senior, when she was also named to the All-Capitol first team and an honorable mention All-Metro. Milligan was also selected to the National School Girls Team 3 as a junior.

Amanda Pappas, Midfield, 5-6, Pasadena, Md., Chesapeake – The third signee from Chesapeake High School along with Durham and Milligan, Pappas earned honorable mention all-county nods from the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post and Maryland Gazette as a sophomore, then earned second team all-county honors from the same organizations as a junior.

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2007-12-06