TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati lacrosse team, which is set to play its first year as members of the American Athletic Conference in 2019, has welcomed eight newcomers to the program this fall, including seven true freshmen and one sophomore transfer. All eight individuals have been on campus this fall training with the team in preparation for the 12th varsity season of Bearcats lacrosse that will get underway in February.
"We are excited about the eight newcomers to our program," seventh-year Head Coach Gina Oliver said. "These ladies are all hard working, competitive and disciplined student-athletes. They all have something that will immediately contribute to our program and help continue to build our culture."
The newest members of the roster include sophomore transfer Lauren Harrison (Oxnard, Calif./Agoura HS), an attacker that played the 2018 season with Mount St. Mary's, and seven true freshmen that hail from Georgia (2), Illinois, Maryland (2), Ohio and Virginia. The rookie class includes one attacker in Brooke Holmstrom (Canton, Ga./Creekview HS); four midfielders in Zoe Antona (Roswell, Ga./Roswell HS), Camille Johnston (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West HS), Kylie Nause (Phoenix, Md./Hereford HS) and Anna Platou (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS); one defender in Isabelle LeJeune (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy); and one goalie in Kate Brocato (Baltimore, Md./Garrison Forest School).
All told, the group boasts two U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans in Antona (2018) and Harrison (2016). Harrison, Holmstrom and Johnston each put up big numbers in their prep careers with Holmstrom netting 365 goals in four years, Harrison with 293 in three years and Johnston joining the century club at the end of her senior campaign.
The eight Bearcats are not the only new faces with the program this year as Caitlyn Prince joined the program as an assistant coach at the end of August. Prince, a four-year player at Duquesne, which included her first two years having Oliver on the coaching staff, graduated from DU in 2014 and spent two years as an assistant at Robert Morris before returning to her alma mater last year.
// 2018 FALL BALL
The 2018 Fall Ball season officially got underway last weekend with the Bearcats traveling to their first of three events when they took part in the Robert Morris Play Day (September 30) in Pittsburgh, Pa. Two more events await UC in the month of October, starting October 13, when the Bearcats will take part in the Delaware Play Day, and ending October 27 with the Notre Dame Play Day. In Delaware, the Bearcats will see action with the host Blue Hens, Army and Iona. In South Bend, Ind., the Bearcats will face the host Fighting Irish and Central Michigan. That event will conclude the fall season for the Bearcats.
// 2019 LACROSSE NEWCOMERS
Zoe Antona • M • Fr. • Roswell, Ga. • Roswell HS
Kate Brocato • G • Fr. • Baltimore, Md. • Garrison Forest School
Lauren Harrison • A • So. • Oxnard, Calif. • Agoura HS • Mount St. Mary's University
Brooke Holmstrom • A • Fr. • Canton, Ga. • Creekview HS
Camille Johnston • M • Fr. • West Chester, Ohio • Lakota West HS
Isabelle LeJeune • D • Fr. • Williamsburg, Va. • Walsingham Academy
Kylie Nause • M • Fr. • Phoenix, Md. • Hereford HS
Anna Platou • M • Fr. • Naperville, Ill. • Naperville North HS
// NEWCOMER BIOS
Zoe Antona • M • Fr. • Roswell, Ga. • Roswell HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Roswell High School (Roswell, Ga.)… four year member of the varsity lacrosse team… selected as a US Lacrosse All-American in 2018… two-time team MVP… helped her team to the state playoffs three times, reaching the second round her junior and senior seasons… member of the USL Georgia National Team that won the Cayuga Division in 2015… USL U15 South East Region Champion with her team qualifying to the US National Tournament.
Kate Brocato, Kate • G • Fr. • Baltimore, Md. • Garrison Forest School
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Garrison Forest School (Baltimore County, Md.)… a three-year member of the lacrosse team, playing goalie as a freshman, sophomore and senior… also ran track as a sophomore and junior, competing in the 800m run, hurdles and 4x400m relay.
Lauren Harrison • A • So. • Oxnard, Calif. Agoura HS • Mount St. Mary's University
2018 (MOUNT ST. MARY'S): Played one season (2018) at Mount St. Mary's University (Emmitsburg, Md.)… appeared in four games for the Mount, scoring twice… collected her first collegiate goal April 22 in an 18-10 win at LIU Brooklyn… added her second one game later (April 27) at home to Central Connecticut… the Mountaineers advanced to the NEC Tournament, falling in the first round to Bryant… earned a place on the 2018 Spring Dean's List.
PRIOR TO UC: A 2017 graduate of Agoura High School (Agoura Hills, Calif.)… member of the Chargers team for four years, playing her first three seasons before an injury sidelined her for her senior season… 2016 USL All-American… helped AHS to the CIF Northern Championship her freshman year and the semifinals her junior season… team won the league title three years in a row… amassed 293 goals in three years, including 111 as a freshman, 101 as a junior and 81 as a sophomore… two-time Marmonte League MVP (2015, 2016) and two-time AHS MVP (2015, 2016)… competed for the Los Angeles national team for two years… earned an Under Armour All-America West Team selection… father Sandy played collegiate lacrosse at Washington & Lee University before playing professionally for the Pittsburgh Bulls (indoor lacrosse).
Brooke Holmstrom • A • Fr. • Canton, Ga. • Creekview HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Creekview High School (Canton, Ga.)… played on the varsity lacrosse team all four years… averaged just over 91 goals per season, scoring a career-high 99 in both her sophomore and senior seasons… added 90 as a junior and 77 as a freshman… also contributed 75 assists in her career, including a season-high 23 as a rookie and 21 as a senior.
Camille Johnston • M • Fr. • West Chester, Ohio • Lakota West HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Lakota West High School (West Chester, Ohio)… played four years of varsity lacrosse for the Firebirds… also competed for the cross country and swim teams… scored 115 goals in her career… helped LWHS earn the first OHSAA tournament win in school history in 2018… named the team's MVP her final three years after being named its Rookie of the Year as a freshman… named second team all-region in 2018… twice earned most improved honors during her career, once each from the cross country and swim programs.
Isabelle LeJeune • D • Fr. • Williamsburg, Va. • Walsingham Academy
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Walsingham Academy (Williamsburg, Va.)… played on the varsity lacrosse team four years and served as a team captain all four years… twice named to the all-state second team… four-time all-conference honoree as well, earning first-team accolades her final three years after being named to the second team as a freshman… named her team's co-MVP her sophomore season… statistically, led her team in four categories each of her four years playing, including assists, ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls.
Kylie Nause • M • Fr. • Phoenix, Md. • Hereford HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Hereford High School (Parkton, Md.)… member of the varsity lacrosse and indoor track & field teams all four years… four-time all-county selection in lacrosse, including first-team honors her final three years of play… helped team to the state championship game as a senior after reaching the state semifinals her freshman year… team captured the county championship her sophomore season… named a USL Academic All-American in 2016… on the track, helped the team to three state titles (2014-16) along with three regional crowns and four county titles as well… individually, won a state title as a member of the victorious 4x800m relay in 2017.
Anna Platou • M • Fr. • Naperville, Ill. • Naperville North HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Naperville North High School (Naperville, Ill.)… member of the lacrosse team four years, playing her first three seasons before an injury sidelined her as a senior… also was a member of the cross country team as a freshman… two-time all-state selection and three-time all-conference honoree… also earned league all-academic honors three times… two-time team MVP and three-time midfielder of the year honoree at NNHS… team placed eighth in the state her freshman and junior years with a seventh-place showing as a sophomore and fourth in her senior year… selected to the Under Armour 150 Team… played for the Illinois-Wisconsin National Team and the True Lacrosse National Team… has a twin sister (Lauren).
"We are excited about the eight newcomers to our program," seventh-year Head Coach Gina Oliver said. "These ladies are all hard working, competitive and disciplined student-athletes. They all have something that will immediately contribute to our program and help continue to build our culture."
The newest members of the roster include sophomore transfer Lauren Harrison (Oxnard, Calif./Agoura HS), an attacker that played the 2018 season with Mount St. Mary's, and seven true freshmen that hail from Georgia (2), Illinois, Maryland (2), Ohio and Virginia. The rookie class includes one attacker in Brooke Holmstrom (Canton, Ga./Creekview HS); four midfielders in Zoe Antona (Roswell, Ga./Roswell HS), Camille Johnston (West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West HS), Kylie Nause (Phoenix, Md./Hereford HS) and Anna Platou (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS); one defender in Isabelle LeJeune (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy); and one goalie in Kate Brocato (Baltimore, Md./Garrison Forest School).
All told, the group boasts two U.S. Lacrosse All-Americans in Antona (2018) and Harrison (2016). Harrison, Holmstrom and Johnston each put up big numbers in their prep careers with Holmstrom netting 365 goals in four years, Harrison with 293 in three years and Johnston joining the century club at the end of her senior campaign.
The eight Bearcats are not the only new faces with the program this year as Caitlyn Prince joined the program as an assistant coach at the end of August. Prince, a four-year player at Duquesne, which included her first two years having Oliver on the coaching staff, graduated from DU in 2014 and spent two years as an assistant at Robert Morris before returning to her alma mater last year.
// 2018 FALL BALL
The 2018 Fall Ball season officially got underway last weekend with the Bearcats traveling to their first of three events when they took part in the Robert Morris Play Day (September 30) in Pittsburgh, Pa. Two more events await UC in the month of October, starting October 13, when the Bearcats will take part in the Delaware Play Day, and ending October 27 with the Notre Dame Play Day. In Delaware, the Bearcats will see action with the host Blue Hens, Army and Iona. In South Bend, Ind., the Bearcats will face the host Fighting Irish and Central Michigan. That event will conclude the fall season for the Bearcats.
// 2019 LACROSSE NEWCOMERS
Zoe Antona • M • Fr. • Roswell, Ga. • Roswell HS
Kate Brocato • G • Fr. • Baltimore, Md. • Garrison Forest School
Lauren Harrison • A • So. • Oxnard, Calif. • Agoura HS • Mount St. Mary's University
Brooke Holmstrom • A • Fr. • Canton, Ga. • Creekview HS
Camille Johnston • M • Fr. • West Chester, Ohio • Lakota West HS
Isabelle LeJeune • D • Fr. • Williamsburg, Va. • Walsingham Academy
Kylie Nause • M • Fr. • Phoenix, Md. • Hereford HS
Anna Platou • M • Fr. • Naperville, Ill. • Naperville North HS
// NEWCOMER BIOS
Zoe Antona • M • Fr. • Roswell, Ga. • Roswell HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Roswell High School (Roswell, Ga.)… four year member of the varsity lacrosse team… selected as a US Lacrosse All-American in 2018… two-time team MVP… helped her team to the state playoffs three times, reaching the second round her junior and senior seasons… member of the USL Georgia National Team that won the Cayuga Division in 2015… USL U15 South East Region Champion with her team qualifying to the US National Tournament.
Kate Brocato, Kate • G • Fr. • Baltimore, Md. • Garrison Forest School
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Garrison Forest School (Baltimore County, Md.)… a three-year member of the lacrosse team, playing goalie as a freshman, sophomore and senior… also ran track as a sophomore and junior, competing in the 800m run, hurdles and 4x400m relay.
Lauren Harrison • A • So. • Oxnard, Calif. Agoura HS • Mount St. Mary's University
2018 (MOUNT ST. MARY'S): Played one season (2018) at Mount St. Mary's University (Emmitsburg, Md.)… appeared in four games for the Mount, scoring twice… collected her first collegiate goal April 22 in an 18-10 win at LIU Brooklyn… added her second one game later (April 27) at home to Central Connecticut… the Mountaineers advanced to the NEC Tournament, falling in the first round to Bryant… earned a place on the 2018 Spring Dean's List.
PRIOR TO UC: A 2017 graduate of Agoura High School (Agoura Hills, Calif.)… member of the Chargers team for four years, playing her first three seasons before an injury sidelined her for her senior season… 2016 USL All-American… helped AHS to the CIF Northern Championship her freshman year and the semifinals her junior season… team won the league title three years in a row… amassed 293 goals in three years, including 111 as a freshman, 101 as a junior and 81 as a sophomore… two-time Marmonte League MVP (2015, 2016) and two-time AHS MVP (2015, 2016)… competed for the Los Angeles national team for two years… earned an Under Armour All-America West Team selection… father Sandy played collegiate lacrosse at Washington & Lee University before playing professionally for the Pittsburgh Bulls (indoor lacrosse).
Brooke Holmstrom • A • Fr. • Canton, Ga. • Creekview HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Creekview High School (Canton, Ga.)… played on the varsity lacrosse team all four years… averaged just over 91 goals per season, scoring a career-high 99 in both her sophomore and senior seasons… added 90 as a junior and 77 as a freshman… also contributed 75 assists in her career, including a season-high 23 as a rookie and 21 as a senior.
Camille Johnston • M • Fr. • West Chester, Ohio • Lakota West HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Lakota West High School (West Chester, Ohio)… played four years of varsity lacrosse for the Firebirds… also competed for the cross country and swim teams… scored 115 goals in her career… helped LWHS earn the first OHSAA tournament win in school history in 2018… named the team's MVP her final three years after being named its Rookie of the Year as a freshman… named second team all-region in 2018… twice earned most improved honors during her career, once each from the cross country and swim programs.
Isabelle LeJeune • D • Fr. • Williamsburg, Va. • Walsingham Academy
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Walsingham Academy (Williamsburg, Va.)… played on the varsity lacrosse team four years and served as a team captain all four years… twice named to the all-state second team… four-time all-conference honoree as well, earning first-team accolades her final three years after being named to the second team as a freshman… named her team's co-MVP her sophomore season… statistically, led her team in four categories each of her four years playing, including assists, ground balls, caused turnovers and draw controls.
Kylie Nause • M • Fr. • Phoenix, Md. • Hereford HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Hereford High School (Parkton, Md.)… member of the varsity lacrosse and indoor track & field teams all four years… four-time all-county selection in lacrosse, including first-team honors her final three years of play… helped team to the state championship game as a senior after reaching the state semifinals her freshman year… team captured the county championship her sophomore season… named a USL Academic All-American in 2016… on the track, helped the team to three state titles (2014-16) along with three regional crowns and four county titles as well… individually, won a state title as a member of the victorious 4x800m relay in 2017.
Anna Platou • M • Fr. • Naperville, Ill. • Naperville North HS
PRIOR TO UC: A 2018 graduate of Naperville North High School (Naperville, Ill.)… member of the lacrosse team four years, playing her first three seasons before an injury sidelined her as a senior… also was a member of the cross country team as a freshman… two-time all-state selection and three-time all-conference honoree… also earned league all-academic honors three times… two-time team MVP and three-time midfielder of the year honoree at NNHS… team placed eighth in the state her freshman and junior years with a seventh-place showing as a sophomore and fourth in her senior year… selected to the Under Armour 150 Team… played for the Illinois-Wisconsin National Team and the True Lacrosse National Team… has a twin sister (Lauren).