University of Massachusets Athletics
Women's Lacrosse Signs Four To National Letters of Intent
November 18, 2004 | Women's Lacrosse
Nov. 18, 2004
AMHERST, Mass. - Holly Drown (Nashua, N.H.), Kaytlin McCormick (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.), Julie Pasquantonio (Plainville, Mass.), and Jamie Whiteway (Billerica, Mass.) have all signed National Letters of Intent to play women's lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts head coach Carrie Bolduc announced.
The quartet is highlighted by two high school All-Americans in McCormick and Drown.
"This class is a very strong, athletic, and experienced group," said Bolduc who enters her third season as head coach. "We are very excited about the impact they will make on our program. They are a very coachable group with a great work ethic - two of the most important characteristics a successful collegiate student-athlete could possess."
An honorable mention All-American selection, Drown joins her sister, assistant coach Tracey Drown, at UMass.
Drown was the 2004 New Hampshire Telegraph Player of the Year and a two-year All-New Hampshire selection. The midfielder will even take on a familiar number when she suits up for the Maroon and White wearing number 22 which was last worn by her sister.
"Holly is a versatile player who has good footwork and reads the field well," said Bolduc. "She is committed and very familiar with the program. She has the potential to improve greatly throughout her career and I think she will surprise a lot of people with her development."
Older sister Tracey, a third-team All-American for the Minutewomen last season, is excited about having her younger sister at UMass and feels the family reunion will be beneficial to the program.
"I couldn't be happier with Holly's decision to attend UMass and play lacrosse," said Tracey. "We both have a passion for improving this program and that is reinforced by her love for the school and the team. I'm very excited about having the opportunity to coach her, and I know she's going to be a great player."
McCormick, an All-American selection in both her prep field hockey and lacrosse careers, will also compliment the UMass corps of midfielders. The senior at Saratoga Springs High School led the Blue Streaks to its first New York Section II title since 1994 this season. As a junior, she posted 66 goals leading her team to the section finals.
"Kaytlin has a very competitive edge to her that we like," said Bolduc. "She is very technically sound with a strong shot. She is a great one-on-one player who is quick and powerful on the attack."
Pasquantonio, who was also recruited by Syracuse, was the Hockomock League Player of the Year. She led King Philip Regional High School last season with a conference-best 86 points after moving into the midfield from the defensive back. Her play as a junior guided King Philip to a league title and a trip to the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association South sectional quarterfinals.
"Julie is a well-rounded attacker/defender," said Bolduc. "She reads the field well and is a good transitional player. She is very sharp mentally and comes from the same high school as Erica Shapiro (sophomore at UMass) which has produced some very good Division I student-athletes."
Joining Pasquantonio from the MassElite club team is Whiteway who was the Merrimack Valley Player of the Year as a goalkeeper. A two-time Lower New England selection and member of the Massachusetts Elite team, Whiteway was also the team captain of the cross country team and a member of the indoor track team. Her quickness in goal is enhanced by her black belt in Kung Fu - the highest level of the martial art form.
"She has a great work ethic and is so determined to better herself as both a student and an athlete," said Bolduc. "She has been well coached in her prep career and is a definite presence in the cage. Her defense plays for her and everywhere we go we hear about how much other players enjoy her as a teammate."
Bolduc and the Minutewomen will kick-off the season on February 26 when UMass hosts Holy Cross at Garber Field.