Nov. 18, 2003
Notre Dame, Ind. – Notre Dame women’s lacrosse coach Tracy Coyne has announced the signing of five high school lacrosse players to national letters-of-intent to attend the University for the 2004-05 season. The five players bring speed and outstanding lacrosse skills to the Irish roster as they will replace eight Irish players who will graduate in May of 2004.
Signing letters-of-intent in the early signing period are: Heather and Lindsey Ferguson (Newtown Square, Pa.), Julie Foote (Suffern, N.Y.), Caitlin McKinney (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) and Becky Ranck (Radnor, Pa.).
In making the announcement, Coyne said, “I’m thrilled to have five players of this caliber joining our program at Notre Dame. All five selected Notre Dame over some of the top academic and lacrosse programs in the country. We are attracting a higher-level recruit because of the success we have experienced the last few seasons. They are coming here, believing in the lacrosse program at Notre Dame. All five are outstanding students and have accepted the challenge of making Notre Dame lacrosse one of the top programs in the country.”
This year’s recruiting class has a Philadelphia flavor to it as four of the five players come from the Philadelphia area.
Heather and Lindsey Ferguson are the first set of twins to play lacrosse at Notre Dame. The talented duo are standout lacrosse and field hockey players at Archbishop Carroll High School.
Heather Ferguson, an attacker, has proven goal-scoring skills as she netted 76 goals and added 40 assists last season in leading Archbishop Carroll to a 22-3 record and the Philadelphia Catholic League title. A two-time all-Catholic selection (as a sophomore and junior), she was also an all-Delco and all-Main Line choice in 2003 while being selected an honorable mention all-American following her junior year. During her three seasons at Archbishop Carroll, Heather has helped her team to three consecutive Catholic League lacrosse titles. In field hockey, Heather was the Philadelphia Catholic League most valuable player in 2002 and has been a member of two league championship teams (2001 and 2003). She also played for the Upper Atlantic 2 team at the U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament in 2003 and is a member of three gold-medal winning teams at the Keystone State games.
“Heather Ferguson is a hard-working player with outstanding lacrosse skills. She has excellent vision and a great field sense as the play develops around her. Heather has competed successfully at the highest level. Her tenacity, determination and work ethic will make her a solid contributor in the years to come. She gives us a player who knows how to score and isn’t afraid to step up when the game is on the line,” says Coyne.
Lindsey Ferguson is a versatile player who can play both midfield and attack. A member of the three-time Philadelphia Catholic League champions at Archbishop Carroll, she had 39 goals and 27 assists as a junior while grabbing 59 ground balls and 51 draw controls. She was a second team all-Main Line selection and an honorable mention all-Delco choice in her junior season. She also played on three gold-medal winning lacrosse teams at the Keystone State games in 2001. Lindsey also played in the 2003 U.S. Lacrosse National Tournament as a member of the Upper Atlantic 3 team. A four-year member of the Archbishop Carroll field hockey team, Lindsey has been a key player in three league championships and one second-place finish.
“Lindsey Ferguson brings versatility to our lineup with the way she plays. She’s a player that you notice all over the field. She forces turnovers, comes up with key ground balls and is strong off the draw. She really does all the little things that lead to a team’s success. Lindsey’s style of play really complements Heather’s. We know they will bring the competitive edge they learned at Carroll to our program. ” says Coyne.
Julie Foote will join her sister, Crysti, who enters her sophomore year at Notre Dame in 2003-04. A four-year starter at Suffern High School, she has been a member of two teams that were ranked in the national top 20 (2001 and 2002) by U.S. Lacrosse Magazine. As a junior, Foote scored 37 goals and added 21 assists in helping Suffern reach the section finals. An all-county and all-section choice in 2002 and 2003, Foote was a high school academic all-American for 2003. She was a member of the bronze-medal winning Hudson Valley team at the 2003 New York Empire State Games and also played on the New York State team in the 2003 U.S. National Tournament. She has also played field hockey and basketball at Suffern.
“We are very happy to have Julie joining the program,” says Coyne. “She is a versatile player who can contribute at both ends of the field. She comes into the program with a strong knowledge and understanding of the expectations of playing lacrosse for Notre Dame. She plays for a very competitive high school program so she understands what it takes to win. She has the potential to be a regular contributor during her career at Notre Dame.”
Caitlin McKinney joins the Irish from Germantown Academy outside of Philadelphia where she is a standout soccer and lacrosse player. Known for her intensity on the field, McKinney will bring speed, quickness and toughness to the Notre Dame midfield. In two seasons at Germantown Academy, where she is the team captain in both lacrosse and soccer, McKinney has scored 74 goals with 29 assists. A two-year teammate of Heather and Lindsey Ferguson at Archbishop Carroll (1999-2001), McKinney had 75 goals and 51 assists in two seasons there. A first team all-Philadelphia Inter-Academic League selection last season at Germantown Academy, the highly-skilled midfielder was also a two-time first team all-Catholic League selection at Archbishop Carroll while also taking all-Main Line and all-Delco honors.
“Caitlin McKinney is an outstanding addition to our roster. We love her style of play. She plays with such intensity on the field. She’s a spark that ignites the attack. The combination of speed, quickness, and toughness makes Caitlin a very exciting player to watch.” says Coyne. “Caitlin has a proven drive to succeed that we believe will lead to an outstanding career at Notre Dame.”
Becky Ranck joins the Irish from perennial state lacrosse power Radnor High School in Radnor, Pa., where she is a soccer and lacrosse standout. She will join former teammates, sophomore Mary McGrath and freshman Kristen Hopson in 2004-05. A standout defensive midfielder, Ranck has outstanding stick skills and is a solid defensive player. In 2003, she was a first team all-Central League and first team Main Line selection while scoring 14 goals and 14 assists and leading her team in checks and turnovers. In soccer, she was selected first team all-Main Line in 2002 and 2003.
“Becky Ranck is a true competitor who has a definite presence on the field. Becky’s athleticism along with great defensive instincts gives us a player who will create turnovers and spark the transition. Becky has learned the game from one of the best high school coaches in the country, Phyllis Kilgour. She comes to play expecting to win. That’s what happens when you come from a nationally ranked program like Radnor’s.” says Coyne.
2004-05 Notre Dame Women's Lacrosse Recruits
Player Pos. Ht. Hometown/SchoolHeather Ferguson A 5-4 Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop CarrollLindsey Ferguson M 5-4 Newtown Square, Pa./Archbishop CarrollJulie Foote M/A 5-6 Suffern, N.Y./SuffernCaitlin McKinney M/A 5-1 Lafayette Hill, Pa./Germantown AcademyBecky Ranck M/D 5-8 Radnor, Pa./Radnor