BROOKLYN, N.Y. – LIU Brooklyn head field hockey coach Pat Kennedy has announced that 16 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to start the field hockey program in downtown Brooklyn in the fall of 2016.
 
Lauren Alburg (Holtsville, N.Y.), Alexa Angelini (San Diego, Calif.), Haley Ballard (Hudson, Ohio), Marisa Batista (Conestoga, Pa.), Casey Carrigan (Glenside, Pa.), Madison Cook (Townsend, Del.), Olivia Dennis (Shillington, Pa.), Rochelle Drucker (Lindenhurst, N.Y.), Molly Jannell (Georgetown, Mass.), Kennedy Johnson (Chesapeake, Va.), Jordan Laytos (Dalton, Pa.), Brianne Lynch (Haddon Township, N.J.), Brooke McGinley (Erial, N.J.), Skai Sprenkle (Birdsboro, Pa.), Lydia Trout (Seven Valleys, Pa.) and Gillian Vallaster (Jackson, N.J.) comprise the first-ever class of field hockey student-athetes at LIU Brooklyn.
 
"This first recruiting class is a representation of the student-athletes that we are bringing in, to form the foundation of a competitive program," Kennedy said. "This group represents a class of athletes with multiple athletic talents, high academic achievement and a tremendous amount of character. They are all leaders in their high schools and communities and we are looking forward to starting our program with this great group of young women."
 
2015 LIU Brooklyn Field Hockey Recruiting Profiles

Lauren Alburg – Forward – Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East

• Three-year varsity letterwinner in field hockey at Sachem High School East.
• Helped lead Sachem High School East to a NYS Championship and three Long Island Championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
• Was selected as a player of USFHA Futures three different years.
• Four-year varsity letterwinner in track.

Alexa Angelini – Forward – San Diego, Calif./Del Norte

• Earned spot on Union-Tribune San Diego All-Academic Team.
• Broke school record for most assists in a game.
• Led team to a league title and the Highlander Cup Championship in 2014.
• Was named Best Offensive Player at Del Norte after helping the Nighthawks to the title game of the CIF Division I playoffs in 2015.

Haley Ballard – Defense – Hudston, Ohio/Stowe-Munroe Falls

• Honorable mention All-State selection as a senior.
• Selected to play in the County All-Star Game.
• Earned Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 & 2015
• Played lacrosse for the Bulldogs and was named Offensive MVP in 2014.

Marisa Batista – Midfield/Forward – Conestoga, Pa./Penn Manor

• Helped lead team to No. 2 National Ranking as a senior.
• Was a member of the Pennsylvania State Championship-winning team as a junior and state runner-Up as a sophomore.
• Honorable Mention All-League selection as a junior and senior.
• Led club team to 3^rd place at National Club Championship event.

Casey Carrigan – Forward/Midfield – Glenside, Pa./Archbishop Wood

• Four-year varsity letterwinner in field hockey at Archbishop Wood High School.
• Earned First-Team All Catholic league sophomore year.
• Was Philadelphia Catholic League's leading goal scorer sophomore and junior year, as well as Bucks County area's leading goal scorer as a sophomore.
• Scored season-best 22 goals sophomore year.

Madison Cook – Forward/Midfield – Townsend, Del./Middletown

• Four-year varsity letterwinner in field hockey, only athlete in high school that will have earned 12 varsity letters upon graduation.
• Captain of Middletown High School squad senior year, and helped lead the team to a conference championship in 2015.
• Also earned letters in basketball, track and field, and softball.
• Actively involved in Best Buddies program, working closely with people with intellectual development disorders.

Olivia Dennis – Defense/Midfield – Shillington, Pa./Governor Mifflin

• Named captain, First Team All-Division and to All-Star team as a senior.
• As a junior, was named to All-Berks I First Team and honorable mention All-State.
• Student Council Vice President at high school and was selected to attend two Pennsylvania Association of Student Council summer workshops.
• Created "Dunking 4 Diamonds" faculty basketball game to benefit the 4 Diamonds Foundation for children with pediatric cancer.

Rochelle Drucker – Goalie – Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst

• Was captain of Lindenhurst High School team senior year.
• Earned a spot on First Team All-Conference.
• Leader in saves for Division One in Suffolk County (160 during 2015-16).
• Selected as a USFHA Futures player.

Molly Jannell – Goalie – Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown

• Three-year letter winner in field hockey at Georgetown High School and captain senior year.
• Was nominated for Top 60 in Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association.
• Earned both Cape Ann League All-Star and Newburyport Daily News All-Star in 2014.
• Was a member of Team SOCHI who placed fourth at the USA Field Hockey National Championship.

Kennedy Johnson – Forward – Chesapeake, Va./Western Branch

• Four-year starter and letterwinner at Western Branch HS.
• First Team All-Conference selection.
• Named treasurer of school's National Honor Society.
• Holds school honor as Student Marshall.

Jordan Laytos – Forward/Midfield – Dalton, Pa./Lackawanna Trail

• Four-year varsity letterwinner in field hockey at Lackawanna Trail High School.
• Played in Keystone State games as a part of the Poconos first-team.
• Was selected as a player of the USFHA Futures program in 2014.
• Volunteers at the local animal shelter and plans to major in nursing.

Brianne Lynch – Midfield – Haddon Township, N.J./Haddon Township

• Two-time First Team All-Conference selection as a junior and senior at Haddon Township HS.
• USFHA Futures Player.
• Led high school team to the Central Jersey Division I Finals.
• Volunteers for daycare at Sunday School.

Brooke McGinley – Midfield/Defense – Erial, N.J./Timber Creek Regional

• Four-year varsity letterwinner at Timber Creek Regional High School.
• Captain of South Jersey Edge.
• Helped lead the Edge to a U19 National Indoor Tournament Championship in 2015, and a U19 National Field Hockey Festival Championship in 2014.
• Member of National Honor Society.

Skai Sprenkle – Forward – Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone Area

• Four-year letterwinner at Daniel Boone Area High School and was captain senior year.
• Earned Berks County All-Division First team in 2015, and Second Team in 2014.
• Earned a spot on Berks County All-Star team in 2015.
• Helped lead high school team to the program's first county and district berth in eight years.

Lydia Trout – Midfield – Seven Valleys, Pa./Dallastown Area

• Team captain and All-State nominee, helped Dallastown Area to YAIAA County Championship
• Selected to play in Senior All-Star Game and earned the Playmaker and Character Counts awards.
• Also was a four-year letterwinner in track & field, served as treasurer of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Student Council Officer.
• Mentors freshman in LINK CREW Program and at-risk elementary students.

Gillian Vallaster – Forward/Midfield – Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty

• Named Class B-South Field Hockey Player of the Year in 2015.
• First Team All-Division selection, was chosen to play in the Senior All-Star Game.
• Holds HS record for most assists in a single season.
• Also a four-year letterwinner in indoor and outdoor track & field.