Bulldog lacrosse welcomes nine freshmen to 2020 squad

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State lacrosse head coach Jessica Giglio announced the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2020 season. The Bulldog lacrosse team welcomes four attackers, three midfielders and two defenders.

The group of freshmen will join 13 returning letterwinners from the 2019 team. In those returners are six attackers, three midfielders, three defenders and goalkeeper Laurel Maunder. The Bulldog newcomers will accompany a decorated group of returning student-athletes as the 'Dogs earned six All-MPSF selections, two All-MPSF Tournament team selections and tabbed the program's second-ever MPSF Rookie of the Year in Sydney Skalstad in 2019.

"I am elated for these freshmen to enhance a culture that we have been dedicated to improve since last year," said Giglio. "We had a strong year last year and, with the addition of these athletes and our returners, I am sure that we will have another strong campaign in 2020. We want to compete for a championship. This class comes from all over the country but they are truly Bulldog born and Bulldog bred. I cannot wait for our first team practice in August."

Hennessey Evans (Midfield)
Hometown: Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
High School: Trabuco Hills High School

Hennessey Evans was a four-year varsity lacrosse team member at Trabuco Hills High School. In her career, she accumulated 401 goals, 52 assists and 453 points, while averaging five goals per game over the four year span. As a senior midfielder and team captain, Evans fired 116 goals and added 15 assists. Evans was also a member of the cross country and track teams where she was a three mile runner in cross country and a part of the relay team for track.

Emerson Johnson (Midfield)
Hometown: Lakewood, Colo.
High School: Mullen High School

Emerson Johnson was a four-year starting varsity midfielder for Mullen High School who finished its 2019 season with a 11-6 record. As a senior, Johnson totaled 60 goals, 35 ground balls and more than 20 caused turnovers. She led the league with 25 goals and added 16 ground balls as a junior in 2018. In her first pair of high school lacrosse seasons, she totaled 45 goals and 78 ground balls. Johnson was a two-time first team All-State and first team All-Conference honoree in her high school career, while earning one second team All-Conference honor. She was named the Mullen High School girls lacrosse team Most Valuable Player twice and was a part of a team who went on to win the Centennial league. She also appeared in the Best of the West All Star game and was named an Adrenaline All-American. Was a member of the Team 180 Lacrosse program.

Danielle Westerman (Midfield)
Hometown: Centerville, Utah
High School: Viewmont High School

Danielle Westerman was a four year varsity letter winner as a midfielder for Viewmont High School. As a freshman in 2016, she was a second team All-State selection and the Viewmont High School lacrosse Most Valuable Player. She continued her success a year later as she was named a US Lacrosse All-American, earned first team All-State honors and was her team's MVP for the second consecutive season. In 2018, she garnered her second US Lacrosse All-American honor, her second first team All-State accolade, her third Viewmont High School lacrosse team MVP award and was the Utah Lacrosse Midfield MVP. In her career, she accumulated 199 goals, 66 assists, 197 ground balls, 51 caused turnovers and won 60.3 percent of her draw controls for 291 total. Westerman was a member of the Utah Mamaci Elite team, the Tenacity Mamaci Elite team, the U15 Utah National team, and the U17 and U10 National Team.

Sarah Watts (Attack)
Hometown: Murrieta, Calif.
High School: Murrieta Mesa High School

Sarah Watts was a three-year varsity attacker for Murrieta Mesa High School. She saw a strong start of her high school lacrosse campaign, being named the team's offensive Most Valuable Player of her sophomore and junior years. In her senior season in 2019, and as a team captain, she finished with 62 goals and 16 assists for 78 points, and added 14 interceptions. Watts set the program record for goals and points in a single season in 2019. Watts was named the CBAADA 2019 Athlete of the Year. She was also a four year varsity tennis player while being an all-league selection for three seasons.

Portia Card (Attack)
Hometown: American Fork, Utah
High School: American Fork High School

Portia Card was a four-year varsity letter winner for American Fork High School, primarily in the attack and midfield positions. She was selected as a team captain as a junior and a senior. Card, a two-time All-American and Most Valuable Player as an attacker in 2017 and 2019, recorded 191 goals in her career while contributing 148 assists. She was a first team All-State selection as a sophomore attacker, a junior midfielder and a senior attacker. In her career, she also recorded 133 draw controls, 75 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers. Card was also a member of the Utah Mamaci team, the Tenacity Mamaci 2019 Blue team, the U17 Utah National Team and the U15 Utah National Team.

Bailey Truex (Attack)
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
High School: Chatfield Senior High School

Bailey Truex was a dual sport athlete at Chatfield Senior High School as a member of the basketball and lacrosse teams. Truex posted 180 goals, 75 assists and 164 ground balls in her four-year varsity career with Chatfield Senior High School. She took over with draw controls as a senior, grabbing 126 in 2019. Truex was a four-time second team All-Conference selection in her freshman through senior seasons. The Chargers went on to win the conference in 2019 with a 12-4 overall record and Truex was selected as a first team All-Conference athlete that season. She was named the 2019 Most Valuable Lacrosse Player of the Year and her high school's Female Athlete of the Year upon graduation. Truex capped her high school lacrosse career with a second team All-State nod and a first team All-State academic honor. She was also named the 2019 Jeffco League 5A Girls Lacrosse MVP and Player of the Year.

Katelyn Trainor (Attack)
Hometown: Del Ray Beach, Fl.
High School: Saint John Paul II Academy

Katelyn Trainor was a four year varsity letter winner of Saint John Paul II Academy in both lacrosse and soccer. She was a two time team captain in lacrosse as she contributed 300 goals, 130 assists, 380 draw controls, 400 ground balls and 61 caused turnovers in her career. As a freshman, she was a first team All-Region, first team All-District and first team All-County selection. In her sophomore through senior seasons, Trainor was selected as an All-Region and All-State midfielder. In 2017 she was named an All-American. Trainor set the program record in draw controls and leaves the program ranked second in ground balls and third in goals and caused turnovers. Trainor was also a member of the Florida Select team and South Florida National Team.

Katie Rice (Defense)
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
High School: Howard High School

Katie Rice was a four-year varsity lacrosse attacker and defender for Howard High School. In her lacrosse career, Rice compiled 67 caused turnovers and 81 ground balls on defense while adding 14 goals and six assists as an attacker. Outside of her high school lacrosse endeavours, Rice played at the club level for the Rebels Lacrosse Club and the Hero's Lacrosse Club. She was also selected to play in the Women's All-Star Game and was named the Defensive MVP of the game in 2017. In addition to being a staple in the lacrosse program, Rice was also a vital member of the Howard High School field hockey team as she contributed 15 goals and 20 assists in a three-year stint with the team. She was named the 2017 field hockey Offensive MVP and the 2018 field hockey Unsung Hero. Rice was also a member of the indoor track and field team in 2017 and 2019 as a sprinter. To cap off her senior year, Rice was named the 2019 Howard High School Female Athlete of the Year.

Taylor Anders (Defense)
Hometown: Lake Oswego, Ore.
High School: Lake Oswego HS

Taylor Anders was a four-year varsity letter winner as a lacrosse defender at Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. Anders was a part of a very decorated squad all four years as a Laker. Being a highly decorated lacrosse player herself, Anders finished her high school career as a two-time All-League and All-State defender. In addition to being a member of the Laker lacrosse team, Anders played a key role as a varsity starting forward in basketball.

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Bulldog lacrosse welcomes nine freshmen to 2020 squad

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