DURHAM, N.C. – Coming off of its ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals and 14-6 finish in 2013, head coach Kerstin Kimel and the Duke women's lacrosse program will welcome nine freshmen this fall as the squad begins preparations for the 2014 campaign.
The Class of 2017 features players from four different states and includes Isabelle Montagne of Illinois, Casey Black of Maryland, Stuart Humphrey, Devon Russell, Paige Russell, Maura Schwitter and Hayley Shaffer of New Jersey and Caitlin Carey and Kitty Morrissey of Pennsylvania.
The group was ranked the sixth incoming freshman class in the nation last week by Inside Lacrosse, while Schwitter was tabbed No. 20 on the publication's list of the top 25 rising freshmen. Black, Humphrey and Montagne were all named to Inside Lacrosse's freshmen watchlist.
“Our staff and returning players are excited and proud to welcome the nine members of the Class of 2017 into our Duke Lacrosse family,” Kimel said. “This group represents an incredible mix of talented students, athletes, leaders and lacrosse players who possess a tremendous work ethic, competitive spirit and drive to be the best on and off the field. They will be outstanding additions to our program and we very much look forward to welcoming them to campus this week.”
Here is a closer look at the Class of 2017:
Casey Black - Attack - Lutherville, Md. – McDonogh
Black comes to Durham from Lutherville, Md., where she helped McDonogh earn a No. 1 national ranking and remain undefeated for three consecutive seasons. As a senior, she guided her squad to a 22-0 mark and its fifth consecutive conference championship while collecting Under Armour All-America recognition. Tabbed No. 5 on the ESPN Rise list of the top 50 juniors in the class of 2013, Black concluded her prep career with 105 points on 59 goals and 46 assists.
Caitlin Carey - Midfield - Pittsburgh, Pa. - Peters Township
A US Lacrosse All-American and Academic All-American, Carey joins the Duke program from Peters Township High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. At Peters Township, she totaled 129 goals, 101 assists, 162 draw controls, 179 ground balls and 140 caused turnovers and was named to the 2012 Philadelphia Under Armour All-America team. She was also selected to the WPIAL Division I all-star and all-section squads as well as the WDNT Western Pennsylvania team.
Stuart Humphrey - Midfield - Summit, N.J. - Summit
A product of Summit, N.J., Humphrey garnered All-America honors from US Lacrosse as a senior after tallying 54 goals, nine assists, 54 draw controls, 36 ground balls and 24 caused turnovers this past spring. She was a second team all-league selection her junior year and posted career totals of 87 goals, 11 assists, 84 draw controls, 66 ground balls and 43 caused turnovers. Humphrey also was a two-time member of the US Lacrosse Academic All-American squad during her prep career.
Isabelle Montagne - Defense - Lake Forest, Ill. - Lake Forest
A well-recognized player in the Midwest region and on the national scene, Montagne was twice tabbed an All-American by US Lacrosse and collected Midwest Under Armour Underclassman All-America honors. She participated in the Champion All-American Showcase over the summer, leading her team to the championship game. Montagne was also an All-American honorable mention selection as a sophomore and was twice named to the Chicago Metro National squad.
Kitty Morrissey - Defense/Midfield - Philadelphia, Pa. - Springside
Morrissey also took part in the Champion All-America Showcase over the summer, guiding Team Pride to the showcase title. She concluded her prep career with 144 goals, 72 assists, 110 draw controls and 143 ground balls while earning US Lacrosse All-America honorable mention accolades her final season. A two-time first team all-league selection, Morrissey joins the Blue Devils from Springside School in Philadelphia.
Devon Russell - Midfield/Defense - Chester, N.J. - West Morris Mendham
Devon completed her prep career at New Jersey's West Morris Mendham, leading the squad to the Morris County championship as a sophomore and the New Jersey Group III finals all four years. She recorded a career-best 26 goals as a senior to earn second team all-county and all-conference recognition. A US Lacrosse Academic All-American, Devon also helped her high school team capture four sectional titles and earn a top 10 ranking in the state and a spot in the national rankings each year.
Paige Russell - Midfield - Chester, N.J. - West Morris Mendham
Paige totaled 55 career goals at West Morris Mendham before missing her senior campaign due to injury. A two-time all-conference and all-county selection, she guided her team to the Morris County championship as a sophomore and the New Jersey Group III finals all four years. Paige also was a member of a squad that won four sectional titles and earned a top 10 ranking in the state and a spot in the national rankings each year, in addition to earning US Lacrosse Academic All-America recognition.
Maura Schwitter - Midfield/Defense - Oradell, N.J. - Immaculate Heart
An Under Armour All-American and a two-time member of the Under Armour All-America Underclass all-star squad in New Jersey, Schwitter closed out her prep career with 138 goals, 51 assists and 98 ground balls. She posted 70 goals, 29 assists and 47 ground balls her senior season at Immaculate Heart to garner All-North Jersey, all-state, all-county, all-league and all-suburban first team honors. Schwitter also led her team to second-place showings at the county tournament all four years.
Hayley Shaffer - Midfield/Attack - Summit, N.J. - Oak Knoll
Shaffer joins the Duke program from Oak Knoll in Summit, N.J., where she earned first team NJISAA Prep A Division and NJGLL Stars and Stripes South Division accolades as a senior. She finished her four years with 106 goals, 38 assists, 76 draw controls, 98 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers while guiding Oak Knoll to NJISAA Prep A championships as a sophomore, junior and senior. Shaffer also collected US Lacrosse Academic All-America honors in 2012.
Check back to GoDuke.com throughout the fall for profiles on each of Duke's incoming freshmen.
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