May 5, 2009

DAVIS, Calif. - A total of nine prospective student-athletes representing six states signed National Letters of Intent (NLI) during the 2008-09 academic year, committing themselves to UC Davis women's lacrosse, it was announced by head coach Elaine Jones.

Alphabetically, the signing class comprises Tess Alekna of Dover, Mass.; Casey Bowles of Danville, Calif., Molly Carstensen of Littleton, Colo.; Kellie Considine of Wantagh, N.Y., Elizabeth Datino of Littleton, Colo.; Anna Geissbuhler of Worthington, Ohio; Stephanie Guercio of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Natasha Markham of Coto de Caza, Calif. and Hannah Mirza of Mill Valley, Calif.

Other than Considine, who is a sophomore at Mira Costa College, all prospects are seniors at their respective high schools and are expected to enroll at UC Davis in the fall of 2009.

"We're very excited to welcome these talented student-athletes to our team next year," said Jones. "Every one of them brings speed, a competitive attitude, a great work ethic, and most importantly, the desire and enthusiasm to compete for UC Davis. "

As we continue to build our program, we feel this group will be a great fit with our returning players, and will have an immediate positive impact for our team both on the field and in the classroom."

Alekna earned second-team All-Tri-Valley League honors as a sophomore, then added first-team distinction in her junior season at Dover-Sherborn High School in Dover, Mass. She scored 39 goals in each of the last two seasons, amassing a total of 35 assists in that span. Alekna also garnered all-league accolades in soccer, while helping her ski team capture the small-school state championship. She is also active in student government, serving as class vice president for three years.

Bowles, team captain of her San Ramon Valley High School squad, is a defensive midfielder who scored 23 goals with six assists to earn team MVP honors as a junior in 2008. She also plays for Triple Threat Lacrosse, helping the club advance to the Mid-Atlantic Region title game last fall. Bowles also has claimed Scholar-Athlete distinction from her school and the North Coast Section for the past three years.

Carstensen enjoyed a breakout season for J.K. Mullen High School in 2008, earning team MVP and first-team All-Centennial League honors. She scored 35 goals and 31 assists, ranking second in the state in the latter category. Carstensen previously captured second-team all-conference distinction as a sophomore, totaling 30 goals and 13 assists in her first two years. She also played for the Mountain Region team at the U.S. Lacrosse national tournament. An outstanding student, Carstensen earned academic all-state, all-conference and U.S. Lacrosse All-Academic awards.

Considine played all 19 games and started three as a freshman at Marist in 2008. She scored 15 goals with four assists, while picking up 12 ground balls and 13 draw controls, helping the Red Foxes qualify for an NCAA tournament play-in game. As a senior at Wantagh High School, Considine earned three All-Nassau County honors plus All-America honorable mention in 2007, during which she set a school scoring record. She also was selected as the school's Most Outstanding Athlete in her final two years, lettering in lacrosse, soccer and track.

Datino scored 65 goals as a junior at Heritage/Littleton High School, a total good for second in the Continental League last season. She captured All-Continental League honors in each of the past two seasons, while adding all-state and Best Offensive Player acclaim in 2008. Her individual contributions also translated to team success, as she helped the Gryphons post a 16-3 record and a berth in the Colorado state title game that year.

Geissbuhler has been a three-year lacrosse and field hockey standout for Thomas Worthington High School. In lacrosse, she earned first-team all-district and All-Ohio Capital Conference in 2007 and 2008, then highlighted her 2009 season by netting her 200th career goal. She scored 65 goals with 38 assists as a sophomore, then followed that with a 71-goal, 30-assist season as a junior last year. Geissbuhler also played for the Great Lakes team at U.S. Lacrosse nationals, including the region's top team in 2008. On the field hockey turf, she tallied 26 goals and 14 assists to earn all-state and All-OCC distinction as a senior. Geissbuhler was later slected as Player of the Year by the Surburban News Publications (covering 23 communities). She has also captured numerous scholar-athlete awards, including Academic All-Ohio and a nod on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association National Academic Squad.

Guercio earned 10 letters in four sports for Connetquot High School. She has served as team captain for her lacrosse team for three years, earning team MVP and All-Suffolk County honorable mention in 2008, and Section XI all-division accolades in 2007. Entering her senior year, she has totalled 73 goals with 54 assists, including 40 goals and 24 assists as a junior. Guercio, who plays club ball for Long Island Lacrosse, also starred in indoor track, having competed at the 2009 National Scholastic Indoor Championships in the 4x55 hurdles. She earned additional letters in volleyball and cross country during her prep career.

Markham garnered All-South Coast League honors in each of her last two seasons at Tesoro High School. As a junior, she posted stats of 30 goals, 15 assists, 15 ground balls and 15 draw controls to pick up second-team All-SCL merit. As a sophomore, she was a first-team All-SCL honoree and her team's Best Attack Player, finishing with 24 goals and three assits. Markham also played club ball for Element 5 Lacrosse.

Originally from California's Marin County, Mirza stars in lacrosse, basketball and soccer at Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Conn. She scored 32 goals with eight assists to earn Founder's League All-Prep All-Star honors as a junior, one year after being named as the team's Most Improved Player. Mirza also captured All-Prep All-Star distinction in soccer (twice) and in basketball (once), earning team MVP honors in the latter.

UC Davis finished fourth at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship.