WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J.- Monmouth head coach Kelly Van Zile announced that seven players have signed national letters of intent to play lacrosse for the Hawks starting next season.
Keri Cresbaugh (Sparta, N.J./Sparta), Gianna D'Urso (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex), Marlee Hagan (Broomall, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), Tori Jordan (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.), Julia Miczak (Essex Fells, N.J./West Essex), Emma Taylor (Liverpool, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and Kirstyn Urbas (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) will comprise the class of 2013 for Monmouth University.
“I am very excited to welcome these seven student-athletes to Monmouth University as the lacrosse program's class of 2013,” said head coach Kelly Van Zile. “This is a very balanced class that should impact all areas of our game. I expect these players to be instrumental in future success and positively contribute to Monmouth both on and off the field.”
Cresbaugh, a defender, is a three sport athlete at Sparta High School. She was recently named team captain for the second straight season, coming off her junior season in which she was named team MVP. Cresbaugh was a 2008 all-area honorable mention and earned Co-MVP honors as a sophomore. She competes at the club level for the Tri-State All-Stars. In the classroom, she is a member of the National Honor Society and a high honor roll student while being ranked among Sparta's top-10 students in her class.
D'Urso comes to the Monmouth from West Essex High School where she is a midfielder and defender. As a senior, she captained West Essex's field hockey and basketball teams and will serve as lacrosse captain in the spring. She was a Third Team All-Essex County selection as a sophomore and junior, with West Essex winning the county lacrosse championships in each of those years. D'Urso also helped lead the Knights to four consecutive Group II State Championships. She has been a member of the National School Girls Lacrosse Team. Her brother Mike is a member of Monmouth's football team.
Hagan, another defender, currently is a member of Archbishop Carroll's lacrosse team and will serve as team captain in 2009. She plays her club lacrosse as a member of the Phantastix. The three sport athlete (basketball and field hockey) at Archbishop Carroll is also a USL Academic All-American in the classroom. Hagan is also an honors student and her class treasurer.
Jordan is a midfielder at Washington Township High School and also plays her club lacrosse with the South Jersey Select Team. She was a 2008 Second Team All-Olympic Conference after earning the team's Most Dedicated Player award. Also was a Second Team All-Olympic Conference All-Star in cross country. Academically, she was an Academic All-American and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars.
Miczak is a First Team All-Iron Hills conference midfielder for West Essex High School, also playing her for the STEPS Elite club team. Last season she was the Knights second leading scorer with 51 goals and 46 assists as a junior. Miczak has competed for the prestigious National Tournament Upper Atlantic Team No. 1. She also is a varsity tennis player, coaches third and fourth graders and is a member of the West Essex Key Club.
Monmouth's goaltending will benefit the arrival of Taylor, who is in her senior season at Christian Brothers Academy in Liverpool, N.Y. Taylor, who has captained the CBA lacrosse squad the last two seasons while earning all-league honorable mention. She is a member of both the Central New York State Team and the NYS National School Girls Tournament team. Academically she is a member of the academic honor roll and plays club lacrosse for the Star Riders team.
Urbas wraps up the Hawk newcomers and the attacker comes from Washington Township where she is a teammate of Jordan. Urbas helped the Minutemen to back-to-back conference championships and was a Second Team All-Olympic Conference selection as a junior. The three-year starter also served as team captain. Like Jordan, she plays her club lacrosse team for the South Jersey Select Team. She also is an all-conference tennis player for the Minutemen. The 2008 Academic All-American is a member of the National Honor Society and is active in various clubs.
The 2009 Monmouth University kicks off the season on Sunday, February 22, when they host Fairfield University. The three-time Northeast Conference Champion Hawks will be looking for their 11th straight trip to the NEC Tournament this season.
