Photo by: Stephen J. Carrera
Amonte Hiller Announces Signing of Eight to Class of 2020
9/7/2016 3:56:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern Combe Family Head Lacrosse Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has announced the signing of eight Wildcats to the Class of 2020.
Meghan Duffy (Cicero, N.Y/Cicero North), Carli Harpel (Princeton, N.J./West Windsor), Riley Johnston (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School), Megan Kinna (Maple Ridge, British Columbia/Samuel Robertson), Julie Krupnick (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes), Lindsey McKone (Bellaire, Texas/St. John's School), Claire Smith (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) and Sara Szynal (Summit, N.J./Summit) will join Chicago's Big Ten Team as it seeks its eighth national title in program history.
"We are very excited about the class of 2020," Amonte Hiller said. "They will add great experience and passion to the current team. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the Wildcat program."
Full bios of the student-athletes are below.
Meghan Duffy
Cicero, N.Y. (Cicero North)
5-6 | Midfield
High School: Five-year letter winner at Cicero North … Three-time US Lacrosse All-American (2014-16) … 2016 American Family Insurance All-USA Girls Lacrosse First Team selection … Three-time Under Armour Underclass Upstate NY Team (2013-15) … Member of the US Lacrosse Nationals Upstate NY Team in 2013 and 2014 … Three-time All-Central NY All-Star Team selection (2014-16) … Five-time Central NY All-League selection … Invited to Team USA U-19 tryouts in 2015 … Recorded a point in 87 of 89 career games over five years … Totaled 376 career points on 212 goals and 164 assists … Led her team with 41 goals, 31 assists and 72 points as a freshman … Increased production to 53 goals and 32 assists as a sophomore … Once again led her team with 85 points on 44 goals and 32 assists as a junior … Capped her high school career with 52 goals and 42 assists for a team-high 94 points her senior year … Four-year letter winner in soccer.
Personal: National Honor Society member … Four-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient in both lacrosse and soccer … Made honor roll in all four years … Mother Chris played soccer at Niagara University … Attended the same high school as Seattle Storm's Breanna Stewart … Plans to major in communications or engineering with a minor in business.
Carli Harpel
Princeton, N.J. (West Windsor)
5-6 | Defense/Midfield
High School: Four-year letter winner at West Windsor … Three-time Girls National NJ South Team selection … Three-time All-Area first-team … Member of the All-State Group 3 team … Three-time All-CVC first-team selection … Named High School North Lacrosse MVP … Finished high school career with 220 goals, 82 assists, 233 ground balls and 318 draw controls … Helped lead West Windsor to a pair of undefeated CVC seasons, one MCT championship and one state final appearance … Played for Ultimate NJ club team and won the Tiger Challenge 7 v 7 championship as well as The Grind Tournament championship … Four-year letter winner in winter track as a sprint and distance runner and four-year letter winner in soccer.
Personal: Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … member of Princeton Girl choir and Westminster choir college … Father Mario wrestled at Bucknell University … Sister of Wildcats midfielder Olivia Harpel … Plans to major in communications with a minor in Spanish.
Riley Johnston
Jupiter, Fla. (The Benjamin School)
5-6 | Midfield
High School: Five-year letter winner and two-time captain at The Benjamin School … 2016 US Lacrosse Academic All-American … 2016 Florida All-State team … Three-time first-team all-conference selection (2013, '14, '16) … Earned second-team all conference honors in 2015 … Two-time All-Region selection (2013-14), Named to the Sun Sentinel first team in 2014 and second team in 2012 and 2013 … Earned Palm Beach Post All Area in 2013 and 2014 … Finished career with 270 career points on 221 goals and 49 assists … Helped lead her school to four district championships, two regional championships and one state semifinal appearance … Played in the 2016 Florida High School All-Star game … three-year letter winner and start on the soccer team … Twice named team's defensive MVP … Earned Palm Beach Post All-Area and Sun Sentinel All-Area honors in 2013 and 2014 ... Played six years for the club team Lax Maniax.
Personal: Father, Richard, played football at the University of Pennsylvania … Brother, McKenna, plays football at Washington and Lee University … Junior class Vice President … Member of the student council … National Honor Society Member … Head of school honor roll … Marshall Benjamin Scholar Award Recipient, School Geometry Award and College Book Award Recipient … High school teammate of Northwestern attacker Hayley Ciklin and club teammate of Northwestern attacker Ellie Yenor.
Megan Kinna
Maple Ridge, British Columbia (Samuel Robertson)
5-5 | Attack
High School: Member of the Canadian U-19 National Team that won the 2015 FIL Rathbones World Championships gold medal … Finished World Championships with five goals, four assists and 11 draw controls … Member of Team British Columbia girls box lacrosse and Team BC girls lacrosse … Helped lead Team BC to three box lacrosse national championships (2012, '13, '14) … Also won a field lacrosse national championship with Team BC in 2012 … 2016 Under Armour All-American … Played in the 11th-annual Under Armour All-American Lacrosse Game … 2016 Samuel Roberston Senior Athlete of the Year … Two-time Provincial All-Star MVP … 2014 Provincial field tournament MVP … Played 14 years for the Maple Ridge Burrards, including eight years of boys box lacrosse … Also lettered twice in soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Personal: Honor Roll selection all four years of high school … Mike Keenan Total Titan Award winner (2015-16) … Played on the Canada U-19 team with Northwestern attackers Selena Lasota and Danita Stroup.
Julie Krupnick
Mountain Lakes, N.J. (Mountain Lakes)
5-5 | Goalkeeper
High School: Four-year letter winner and two-time captain at Mountain Lakes High School … 2016 Under Armour All-American … US Lacrosse All-American … US Lacrosse Academic All-American … Named the 2016 Daily Record and Mugs Media Player of the Year … Three-time all-state, all-conference and all-county selection … MVP of the Morris Country Lacrosse Championships in 2014 and 2016 … Named Team MVP of Mountain Lakes in 2015 and 2016 … Played in the New Jersey Senior All-Star game, 2016 Under Armour All-America game … Posted an 18-3 record as a senior in leading Mountain Lakes to a Morris County championship … Finished career with 543 saves … Played five years for Steps Elite New Jersey.
Personal: Sister, Emily, plays lacrosse at Haverford College … Attended the same high school as Northwestern Hall of Famer Lindsey Munday … Played on the same club team as fellow Wildcat Sara Szynal and competed against Northwestern goalkeeper Mallory Weisse in high school … National Honor Society member … National Spanish Honor Society … Honor Roll … AP Scholar … Plans to major in a pre-health track.
Lindsey McKone
Bellaire, Texas (St. John's School)
5-4 | Midfield
High School: Four-year letter winner and team captain at St. John's School … Led St. John's to four-straight Division I state championships … Four-time all-conference selection … three-time all-state selection (2014-16) … Three-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American (2014-16) … Led team to three conference championships (2013, 2015-16) and three city championships (2013, 2015-16) … Named Team MVP three times (2014-16) … Finished high school career with 223 goals and 130 assists … Led her team with 50 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers as a junior and again as a senior with 89 draws and 41 caused turnovers … Played four years for the Texas Rangers club team.
Personal: Father Tim played golf, ice hockey, football and baseball at Williams College … Honor Roll all four years of high school … Academic All-American … National Merit Scholar honorable mention selection … Attended the same high school as former Wildcat Jess Carroll … Played club lacrosse with current Wildcats Nell Copeland and Lyndsey Lafitte … Plans to major in communications.
Claire Smith
Alpharetta, Ga. (Milton)
5-7 | Attack
High School: Four-year letter winner at Milton High School … Named team captain in 2016 … Led Milton to a 39-1 record in four years, three state championships and one state runner up … Two-time first-team All-American (2015-16) … Honorable Mention All-American in 2014 … Named a 2016 top senior to watch by Lacrosse Magazine … Three-time All-State selection (2014-16) … Finished career with 128 goals, 60 assists, 132 ground balls, 42 caused turnovers and 264 draw controls … Played eight years for Eagle Stix club team.
Personal: Father, Dave, played football at University of St. Thomas … Grandfather played baseball at Ryder College and went on to play in the minor leagues … Received the Academic Excellence Award for Constitutional Law … Attended the same high school as Northwestern senior Lydia Cassada … Plans to major in political science.
Sara Szynal
Summit, N.J. (Summit)
5-4 | Attack
High School: Four-year letter winner at Summit High School … Led her team to a 78-11 overall record and four straight state championships … Three-time First-Team All-State selection … Three-time First-Team All-Conference selection … three-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American … 2016 U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American … Named 2016 New Jersey Player of the Year … 2016 U.S. Lacrosse Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year … 2016 Under Armour All-American … Played in the 2016 New Jersey All-Star game and 2016 Under Armour All-America game … Helped lead Summit to 2016 Tournament of Champions championship … Summit finished as the runner-up of the Tournament of Champions in 2014 and 2015 … Team also won four straight Union County championships … Finished career with a school record 293 goals and 68 assists for 361 points … Played seven years for STEPS Lacrosse club team.
Personal: Mother, Rosalie, played lacrosse and won a national championship with Penn State in 1987 … 2016 National Merit Scholarship Commended student … 2016 AP European History Award recipient … Three-time recipient of Mandarin Excellence Award … 2016 Anderson Scholarship honoree for academic and athletic excellence … 2014 Life Science Award recipient for biology … Played with fellow incoming freshman Julie Krupnick on STEPS Lacrosse … Competed against Northwestern goalkeeper Mallory Weisse in high school.
Meghan Duffy (Cicero, N.Y/Cicero North), Carli Harpel (Princeton, N.J./West Windsor), Riley Johnston (Jupiter, Fla./The Benjamin School), Megan Kinna (Maple Ridge, British Columbia/Samuel Robertson), Julie Krupnick (Mountain Lakes, N.J./Mountain Lakes), Lindsey McKone (Bellaire, Texas/St. John's School), Claire Smith (Alpharetta, Ga./Milton) and Sara Szynal (Summit, N.J./Summit) will join Chicago's Big Ten Team as it seeks its eighth national title in program history.
"We are very excited about the class of 2020," Amonte Hiller said. "They will add great experience and passion to the current team. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the Wildcat program."
Full bios of the student-athletes are below.
Meghan Duffy
Cicero, N.Y. (Cicero North)
5-6 | Midfield
High School: Five-year letter winner at Cicero North … Three-time US Lacrosse All-American (2014-16) … 2016 American Family Insurance All-USA Girls Lacrosse First Team selection … Three-time Under Armour Underclass Upstate NY Team (2013-15) … Member of the US Lacrosse Nationals Upstate NY Team in 2013 and 2014 … Three-time All-Central NY All-Star Team selection (2014-16) … Five-time Central NY All-League selection … Invited to Team USA U-19 tryouts in 2015 … Recorded a point in 87 of 89 career games over five years … Totaled 376 career points on 212 goals and 164 assists … Led her team with 41 goals, 31 assists and 72 points as a freshman … Increased production to 53 goals and 32 assists as a sophomore … Once again led her team with 85 points on 44 goals and 32 assists as a junior … Capped her high school career with 52 goals and 42 assists for a team-high 94 points her senior year … Four-year letter winner in soccer.
Personal: National Honor Society member … Four-time Scholar-Athlete Award recipient in both lacrosse and soccer … Made honor roll in all four years … Mother Chris played soccer at Niagara University … Attended the same high school as Seattle Storm's Breanna Stewart … Plans to major in communications or engineering with a minor in business.
Carli Harpel
Princeton, N.J. (West Windsor)
5-6 | Defense/Midfield
High School: Four-year letter winner at West Windsor … Three-time Girls National NJ South Team selection … Three-time All-Area first-team … Member of the All-State Group 3 team … Three-time All-CVC first-team selection … Named High School North Lacrosse MVP … Finished high school career with 220 goals, 82 assists, 233 ground balls and 318 draw controls … Helped lead West Windsor to a pair of undefeated CVC seasons, one MCT championship and one state final appearance … Played for Ultimate NJ club team and won the Tiger Challenge 7 v 7 championship as well as The Grind Tournament championship … Four-year letter winner in winter track as a sprint and distance runner and four-year letter winner in soccer.
Personal: Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society … member of Princeton Girl choir and Westminster choir college … Father Mario wrestled at Bucknell University … Sister of Wildcats midfielder Olivia Harpel … Plans to major in communications with a minor in Spanish.
Riley Johnston
Jupiter, Fla. (The Benjamin School)
5-6 | Midfield
High School: Five-year letter winner and two-time captain at The Benjamin School … 2016 US Lacrosse Academic All-American … 2016 Florida All-State team … Three-time first-team all-conference selection (2013, '14, '16) … Earned second-team all conference honors in 2015 … Two-time All-Region selection (2013-14), Named to the Sun Sentinel first team in 2014 and second team in 2012 and 2013 … Earned Palm Beach Post All Area in 2013 and 2014 … Finished career with 270 career points on 221 goals and 49 assists … Helped lead her school to four district championships, two regional championships and one state semifinal appearance … Played in the 2016 Florida High School All-Star game … three-year letter winner and start on the soccer team … Twice named team's defensive MVP … Earned Palm Beach Post All-Area and Sun Sentinel All-Area honors in 2013 and 2014 ... Played six years for the club team Lax Maniax.
Personal: Father, Richard, played football at the University of Pennsylvania … Brother, McKenna, plays football at Washington and Lee University … Junior class Vice President … Member of the student council … National Honor Society Member … Head of school honor roll … Marshall Benjamin Scholar Award Recipient, School Geometry Award and College Book Award Recipient … High school teammate of Northwestern attacker Hayley Ciklin and club teammate of Northwestern attacker Ellie Yenor.
Megan Kinna
Maple Ridge, British Columbia (Samuel Robertson)
5-5 | Attack
High School: Member of the Canadian U-19 National Team that won the 2015 FIL Rathbones World Championships gold medal … Finished World Championships with five goals, four assists and 11 draw controls … Member of Team British Columbia girls box lacrosse and Team BC girls lacrosse … Helped lead Team BC to three box lacrosse national championships (2012, '13, '14) … Also won a field lacrosse national championship with Team BC in 2012 … 2016 Under Armour All-American … Played in the 11th-annual Under Armour All-American Lacrosse Game … 2016 Samuel Roberston Senior Athlete of the Year … Two-time Provincial All-Star MVP … 2014 Provincial field tournament MVP … Played 14 years for the Maple Ridge Burrards, including eight years of boys box lacrosse … Also lettered twice in soccer, basketball and volleyball.
Personal: Honor Roll selection all four years of high school … Mike Keenan Total Titan Award winner (2015-16) … Played on the Canada U-19 team with Northwestern attackers Selena Lasota and Danita Stroup.
Julie Krupnick
Mountain Lakes, N.J. (Mountain Lakes)
5-5 | Goalkeeper
High School: Four-year letter winner and two-time captain at Mountain Lakes High School … 2016 Under Armour All-American … US Lacrosse All-American … US Lacrosse Academic All-American … Named the 2016 Daily Record and Mugs Media Player of the Year … Three-time all-state, all-conference and all-county selection … MVP of the Morris Country Lacrosse Championships in 2014 and 2016 … Named Team MVP of Mountain Lakes in 2015 and 2016 … Played in the New Jersey Senior All-Star game, 2016 Under Armour All-America game … Posted an 18-3 record as a senior in leading Mountain Lakes to a Morris County championship … Finished career with 543 saves … Played five years for Steps Elite New Jersey.
Personal: Sister, Emily, plays lacrosse at Haverford College … Attended the same high school as Northwestern Hall of Famer Lindsey Munday … Played on the same club team as fellow Wildcat Sara Szynal and competed against Northwestern goalkeeper Mallory Weisse in high school … National Honor Society member … National Spanish Honor Society … Honor Roll … AP Scholar … Plans to major in a pre-health track.
Lindsey McKone
Bellaire, Texas (St. John's School)
5-4 | Midfield
High School: Four-year letter winner and team captain at St. John's School … Led St. John's to four-straight Division I state championships … Four-time all-conference selection … three-time all-state selection (2014-16) … Three-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American (2014-16) … Led team to three conference championships (2013, 2015-16) and three city championships (2013, 2015-16) … Named Team MVP three times (2014-16) … Finished high school career with 223 goals and 130 assists … Led her team with 50 draw controls and 23 caused turnovers as a junior and again as a senior with 89 draws and 41 caused turnovers … Played four years for the Texas Rangers club team.
Personal: Father Tim played golf, ice hockey, football and baseball at Williams College … Honor Roll all four years of high school … Academic All-American … National Merit Scholar honorable mention selection … Attended the same high school as former Wildcat Jess Carroll … Played club lacrosse with current Wildcats Nell Copeland and Lyndsey Lafitte … Plans to major in communications.
Claire Smith
Alpharetta, Ga. (Milton)
5-7 | Attack
High School: Four-year letter winner at Milton High School … Named team captain in 2016 … Led Milton to a 39-1 record in four years, three state championships and one state runner up … Two-time first-team All-American (2015-16) … Honorable Mention All-American in 2014 … Named a 2016 top senior to watch by Lacrosse Magazine … Three-time All-State selection (2014-16) … Finished career with 128 goals, 60 assists, 132 ground balls, 42 caused turnovers and 264 draw controls … Played eight years for Eagle Stix club team.
Personal: Father, Dave, played football at University of St. Thomas … Grandfather played baseball at Ryder College and went on to play in the minor leagues … Received the Academic Excellence Award for Constitutional Law … Attended the same high school as Northwestern senior Lydia Cassada … Plans to major in political science.
Sara Szynal
Summit, N.J. (Summit)
5-4 | Attack
High School: Four-year letter winner at Summit High School … Led her team to a 78-11 overall record and four straight state championships … Three-time First-Team All-State selection … Three-time First-Team All-Conference selection … three-time U.S. Lacrosse All-American … 2016 U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American … Named 2016 New Jersey Player of the Year … 2016 U.S. Lacrosse Mid-Atlantic Player of the Year … 2016 Under Armour All-American … Played in the 2016 New Jersey All-Star game and 2016 Under Armour All-America game … Helped lead Summit to 2016 Tournament of Champions championship … Summit finished as the runner-up of the Tournament of Champions in 2014 and 2015 … Team also won four straight Union County championships … Finished career with a school record 293 goals and 68 assists for 361 points … Played seven years for STEPS Lacrosse club team.
Personal: Mother, Rosalie, played lacrosse and won a national championship with Penn State in 1987 … 2016 National Merit Scholarship Commended student … 2016 AP European History Award recipient … Three-time recipient of Mandarin Excellence Award … 2016 Anderson Scholarship honoree for academic and athletic excellence … 2014 Life Science Award recipient for biology … Played with fellow incoming freshman Julie Krupnick on STEPS Lacrosse … Competed against Northwestern goalkeeper Mallory Weisse in high school.
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