TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's lacrosse head coach Gina Thomas (Oliver) announced Friday the addition of 11 newcomers. The Bearcats will add 10 freshmen and a graduate transfer ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Newcomers
Malia Adams
Devon Cherry
Paige Counts
Hailey Darko
Brinley Hopper
Ally Keith
Ava LaRuffa
Victoria Macres*
Hailey Joy Simpson
Caroline Soller
Lilly Stelzer
*-Transfer
Victoria Macres | 5'6 | Goalie | Sacramento, Calif. | Granite Bay | Denver
Macres is a graduate transfer goalie who drew action in two NCAA tournament games with 2023 Final Four participant Denver last spring. She appeared in 11 games and posted a 4-0 record in 2023. During her time at Denver, she notched a career-high seven saves versus Marquette and recorded a save percentage of 0.529 in 2023. A four-year letter winner at Granite Bay High School, Macres was also a three-time Varsity Scholar Athlete and earned First Team All-League selection in 2018. She was also selected to the Tenacity Elite Lacrosse All-American Team in 2018.
Malia Adams | 5'7 | Midfield | Bethesda, Md. | Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Adams was a two-year team captain and four-year varsity starter for Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and played for the Capital Lacrosse Club. She was First Team All-Montgomery County Midfielder 4A and helped lead her team to their first ever appearance in the Maryland state finals with a team-high 70 goals in her junior season. She was also named to the Under Armour All-America team and played as a Nation United Ambassador. As a senior, she led her team to the regional championship and was named First Team All Montgomery County Midfielder 4A. She earned All-State Midfielder and Player of the Year accolades with 68 goals and 78 percent draw control.
Devon Cherry | 5'6 | Midfield | Clifton, Va. | Robinson Secondary
Cherry was a two-time team captain in 2022 and 2023, helping lead Robinson Secondary School to a Patriot District Championship and an appearance in the 2023 Virginia state quarterfinals. Cherry earned Second Team All-District in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and was named an Under Armour All-American.
Paige Counts | 5'6 | Attack | Oakton, Va. | James Madison
Counts was a key contributor to James Madison High School's three District champion titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She earned First Team All-District, First Team All-Region and First Team All-State honors in her senior season.
Hailey Darko | 5'5 | Goalie | Canton, Ga. | Cherokee
Darko was the starting goalie and four-year team captain for Cherokee High School. She was named MVP All-County Defensive Player of the Year as well as being selected for the All-Star DiVarsity Georgia Team. She helped her team to the program's first ever Elite Eight appearance and concluded her high school career with over 500 career saves. Darko was rated the number one goalie in Georgia two years in a row in 2022 and 2023. She was named to the GHSA 7A All-Area First Team, a two-time US All-American and US All-American watch list.
Brinley Hopper | 5'5 | Midfield | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Eden Prairie
A midfielder from Minnesota, Hopper was a two-year varsity captain for Eden Prairie High School. She received the Robert Morris Award which is awarded for athletic ability, sportsmanship, and clean living. Hopper was also named Academic All-American and Academic All-State. She also earned an All-State Honorable Mention during her high school career.
Ally Keith | 5'6 | Midfield | Millersville, Md. | Archbishop Spalding
The Archbishop Spalding High School product was team captain for three years. She was also named 2021 Capital Gazette First Team All-County and 2022 Capital Gazette Second Team All-County.
Ava LaRuffa | 5'5 | Defender | Clifton, Va. | Centreville
LaRuffa was named a three-time All-District Defender in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She earned back-to-back All-Region Defender and All-State Defender in 2022 and 2023. The Centreville High School alum was a four-time scholar-athlete in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. During her senior year, she was awarded the 2023 Washington Post All-Met Midfielder and 2023 District Defensive Player of the Year. LaRuffa was also named a USA Lacrosse Academic All-American in 2022 and 2023.
Hailey Joy Simpson | 5'9 | Midfield/Draw Specialist | Reston, Va. | Flint Hill
A club and high school team captain, Simpson was named by unanimous midfielder All League Division A team selection in 2023. She helped lead Flint Hill High School to a runner-up finish in the ISL Division A Championship. Simpson is a two-time Under Armour All-American, as well as a member of the UA All-America South Super Regional All-Tournament Team. She also finisihed as the UA All-America South Super Regional "Stat Leader" in goals and was a part of the Under Armour 150 Championship Team.
Caroline Soller | 5'5 | Midfield | Cincinnati, Ohio | Mariemont
The Cincinnati native was a back-to-back OHSAA state champion with Mariemont High School in 2022 and 2023. She earned several accolades including First Team All-League, First Team All-Region, First Team All-State, OHSAA DII Midfielder of the Year and USA All-American over the course of her career.
Lilly Stelzer | 5'7 | Attack | Upper Arlington, Ohio | Upper Arlington
Stelzer was named captain her senior year as well as First Team All-Region and First Team All-State for Upper Arlington High School. She helped lead the Golden Bears to 2023 State Champions, tying her teammate for most points in the state's game. Stelzer also led the state championship game with four goals and two assists. She finished her high school career with 121 goals in three seasons due to a pandemic shortened season. She was also a three-year letter winner and scholar athlete.
Newcomers
Malia Adams
Devon Cherry
Paige Counts
Hailey Darko
Brinley Hopper
Ally Keith
Ava LaRuffa
Victoria Macres*
Hailey Joy Simpson
Caroline Soller
Lilly Stelzer
*-Transfer
Victoria Macres | 5'6 | Goalie | Sacramento, Calif. | Granite Bay | Denver
Macres is a graduate transfer goalie who drew action in two NCAA tournament games with 2023 Final Four participant Denver last spring. She appeared in 11 games and posted a 4-0 record in 2023. During her time at Denver, she notched a career-high seven saves versus Marquette and recorded a save percentage of 0.529 in 2023. A four-year letter winner at Granite Bay High School, Macres was also a three-time Varsity Scholar Athlete and earned First Team All-League selection in 2018. She was also selected to the Tenacity Elite Lacrosse All-American Team in 2018.
Malia Adams | 5'7 | Midfield | Bethesda, Md. | Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Adams was a two-year team captain and four-year varsity starter for Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and played for the Capital Lacrosse Club. She was First Team All-Montgomery County Midfielder 4A and helped lead her team to their first ever appearance in the Maryland state finals with a team-high 70 goals in her junior season. She was also named to the Under Armour All-America team and played as a Nation United Ambassador. As a senior, she led her team to the regional championship and was named First Team All Montgomery County Midfielder 4A. She earned All-State Midfielder and Player of the Year accolades with 68 goals and 78 percent draw control.
Devon Cherry | 5'6 | Midfield | Clifton, Va. | Robinson Secondary
Cherry was a two-time team captain in 2022 and 2023, helping lead Robinson Secondary School to a Patriot District Championship and an appearance in the 2023 Virginia state quarterfinals. Cherry earned Second Team All-District in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and was named an Under Armour All-American.
Paige Counts | 5'6 | Attack | Oakton, Va. | James Madison
Counts was a key contributor to James Madison High School's three District champion titles in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She earned First Team All-District, First Team All-Region and First Team All-State honors in her senior season.
Hailey Darko | 5'5 | Goalie | Canton, Ga. | Cherokee
Darko was the starting goalie and four-year team captain for Cherokee High School. She was named MVP All-County Defensive Player of the Year as well as being selected for the All-Star DiVarsity Georgia Team. She helped her team to the program's first ever Elite Eight appearance and concluded her high school career with over 500 career saves. Darko was rated the number one goalie in Georgia two years in a row in 2022 and 2023. She was named to the GHSA 7A All-Area First Team, a two-time US All-American and US All-American watch list.
Brinley Hopper | 5'5 | Midfield | Eden Prairie, Minn. | Eden Prairie
A midfielder from Minnesota, Hopper was a two-year varsity captain for Eden Prairie High School. She received the Robert Morris Award which is awarded for athletic ability, sportsmanship, and clean living. Hopper was also named Academic All-American and Academic All-State. She also earned an All-State Honorable Mention during her high school career.
Ally Keith | 5'6 | Midfield | Millersville, Md. | Archbishop Spalding
The Archbishop Spalding High School product was team captain for three years. She was also named 2021 Capital Gazette First Team All-County and 2022 Capital Gazette Second Team All-County.
Ava LaRuffa | 5'5 | Defender | Clifton, Va. | Centreville
LaRuffa was named a three-time All-District Defender in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She earned back-to-back All-Region Defender and All-State Defender in 2022 and 2023. The Centreville High School alum was a four-time scholar-athlete in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. During her senior year, she was awarded the 2023 Washington Post All-Met Midfielder and 2023 District Defensive Player of the Year. LaRuffa was also named a USA Lacrosse Academic All-American in 2022 and 2023.
Hailey Joy Simpson | 5'9 | Midfield/Draw Specialist | Reston, Va. | Flint Hill
A club and high school team captain, Simpson was named by unanimous midfielder All League Division A team selection in 2023. She helped lead Flint Hill High School to a runner-up finish in the ISL Division A Championship. Simpson is a two-time Under Armour All-American, as well as a member of the UA All-America South Super Regional All-Tournament Team. She also finisihed as the UA All-America South Super Regional "Stat Leader" in goals and was a part of the Under Armour 150 Championship Team.
Caroline Soller | 5'5 | Midfield | Cincinnati, Ohio | Mariemont
The Cincinnati native was a back-to-back OHSAA state champion with Mariemont High School in 2022 and 2023. She earned several accolades including First Team All-League, First Team All-Region, First Team All-State, OHSAA DII Midfielder of the Year and USA All-American over the course of her career.
Lilly Stelzer | 5'7 | Attack | Upper Arlington, Ohio | Upper Arlington
Stelzer was named captain her senior year as well as First Team All-Region and First Team All-State for Upper Arlington High School. She helped lead the Golden Bears to 2023 State Champions, tying her teammate for most points in the state's game. Stelzer also led the state championship game with four goals and two assists. She finished her high school career with 121 goals in three seasons due to a pandemic shortened season. She was also a three-year letter winner and scholar athlete.