Women’s Lacrosse Welcomes Eight Signees
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia women’s lacrosse team had eight players sign National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2022 season, head coach Julie Myers announced on Monday (November 16).
The class includes Rachel Clark (Devon, Pa.), Maureen Duffy (East Quogue, N.Y.), Shannon Garvey (West Chester, Pa.), Abby Jansen (Newtown Square, Pa.), Morgan Koenke (South Riding, Va.), Abby Manalang (Los Angeles, Calif.), Payton Meister (Coppell, Texas) and Kate Miller (Mechanicsville, Va.).
Clark plays varsity lacrosse for Conestoga High School. An Inside Lacrosse High School Preseason Team selection in 2020, she has accumulated 147 goals, 26 assists, 67 ground balls and 53 draw controls in her career. Clark earned US Lacrosse All-American honors in 2019 and is a three-time Under Armour All-American tournament selection. She was selected to the USA U17 Developmental Team in 2019 and became the first sophomore to score 100 career goals in school history at Conestoga. Clark is a two-time WPLL Futures Philadelphia Team selection. She has earned first team All-Philly, All-Main Line, Daily Local News and All-Central League honors. In 2018 she was named to the Maverick Brine National Lacrosse Classic Tournament All-Star Team.
Myers on Clark: “Rachel is a top high school player and a dominate attacker that sees a 1v1 lane as well as the opportunity to cut to the ball. Her creativity and lacrosse IQ will make her a threat both on and off ball. She is super athletic and is very effective across the entire field. She will be a great addition to the attack and will be involved in our transition game as well.”
Duffy plays varsity lacrosse at Westhampton Beach High School. Named team captain, she is a three-time Suffolk County All-Division and four-time Suffolk County Scholar Athlete. Duffy has scored over 100 goals in her varsity career and helped lead the team to Suffolk County Championship Runner-up. She was named Westhampton Beach Rookie of the Year and Midfielder of the Year. Duffy also competes for Yellow Jackets Club Lacrosse and was part of two US Lacrosse National Championship teams (2016 & 2017). She is a four-time Under Armour All-American Team selection, winning a championship in 2017 and finishing runner-up in 2020.
Myers on Duffy: “Maureen one of the best high school players and is a smooth and strong 2-way midfielder. She will help us control both ends of the field with her lockdown defense and her offensive dodges and moves to goal. She is athletic and effective all over the field. Her maturity and lacrosse IQ are exceptional and she will contribute to everything we do on and off the field.”
Garvey plays varsity lacrosse for Unionville High School. She is a two-time Under Armour Tournament selection and two-time Scholl Girls National Tournament selection. Garvey helped lead Unionville to a state championship as a freshman starting on defense. She was named the MVP of the 2017 Penn State Elite Camp and Bruce Vosburgh Girls’ Lacrosse Player of the Year in 2017.
Myers on Garvey: “Shannon is a top high school defender and is a high energy, spunky, gritty defender that will be great at stopping our opponent’s transition, playing settled defense and creating turnovers. Her speed and go mindset will help jumpstart our fast break transition as well. She uses her quickness and athleticism in every play and setting. Shannon will be a great addition to our defense.”
Jansen is a goalie at Radnor High School. A three-time Under Armour All-American, she has competed at the US Lacrosse U17 National Combine, the WPLL Futures (2019) and the National Tournament. She has also been selected for the Nike Elite 120, Under Armour 150, Brine National Tournament Team (Pennsylvania) and the Brine All-Star Game.
Myers on Jansen: “Abby is a midfielder turned goalie that plays with great agility, quickness and athleticism. She is dynamic in and out of the crease and is incredibly steady. She’ll be huge in our transition game and will be an anchor to the defense as well.”
Koeneke plays varsity lacrosse at Freedom High School. Named team captain as a junior and senior, she has helped her team to two Virginia High School League Class 5 State Championships and two Virginia High School League Potomac District Championships. Koeneke earned VHSL Class 5 First Team All-State, VHSL Region 5C First Team All-Region and VHSL Potomac District First Team All-District in 2018. She missed her sophomore year with an injury after accumulating 80 goals, 52 assists, 17 draw controls and 21 ground balls in 2018.
Myers on Koeneke: “Morgan is a shifty attacker that has an explosive first step. She is agile, creative, tough and a true finisher. She will add to the talent on the offensive end of the field right away.”
Manalang plays year-round club lacrosse for LA Aces while attending high school at Da Vinci Science. The midfielder helped lead the LA Aces to a Capital Cup Championship in 2018, earning team MVP honors. Manalang was selected to the Under Armour All-American Team and Max Exposure All-Star Team in 2018. She is a two-time LA Aces Legacy Award recipient, given by seniors, and a 2020 Adrenaline All-American.
Myers on Manalang: “Abby is smart, smooth and very effective all over the field. She competes consistently and does all of the little things well that make her game pop and her teammates shine. There hasn’t been a challenge Abby hasn’t risen to. She will be a tremendous addition and leader on the team.”
Meister played two years of varsity lacrosse at Coppell High School before switching to Episcopal School of Dallas. A two-time team captain selection, she was selected to the Under Armour Southwest Team in 2018 and 2019. Meister is a two-time Most Valuable Defender of the Year, two-time MVP, two-time North Texas All-State Team and two=time Team North Texas selection.
Myers on Meister: “Payton utilizes her size and athletic ability to make an impact all over the field. She is a true lock-down defender that sets the tone for the defense. She works hard, has great balance and will be an awesome addition to our defensive unit.”
Miller plays varsity lacrosse at Atlee High School. She is a 2019 US Lacrosse All-American. Named team captain in 2020, she is a two-time Under Armour Highlight Team selection and a Under Armour Command Team selection. Miller earned Region 5B Co-Player of the Year, State Player of the Year (Virginia Class 5) and All-Metro Player of the Year as a sophomore. As a freshman, she was Region 5B Player of the Year, First Team All-State and First Team All-Metro.
Myers on Miller: “Kate is a top high school player and the state of Virginia Player of the Year since her freshman year. She is a true lefty, a true attacker and a great athlete. Kate is feisty and tough, and she finishes consistently – Kate is an absolute force on the field. Her determination and work ethic are a cut above and she’ll add to our versatility and our ability to get to goal.”