June 4, 2007

EASTON, Pa. - Head softball coach Jeanine Gunther announced a recruiting class of five on Friday afternoon. Players from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey are set to join the Leopards' roster, adding depth to both the infield and pitching staff for the 2008 season.

"I am very excited about our incoming class. We signed several highly recruited players. All 5 freshmen will compete for starting positions right away and will improve our offensive production as a team. Ali Henry and Christine Hilcken will add a tremendous amount of depth to our pitching staff."

A pair of decorated pitchers will join All-Patriot League Second Team right hander Kasey Karr and Aimee Dassner in Gunther's rotation, as Christine Hilcken (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) and Ali Henry (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) join the staff.

Hilcken brings five years of varsity experience to Lafayette boasting an ERA under 0.50. The right hander owns 351 strikeouts over the last two seasons alone and put up a record of 35-8 in nearly 300 innings pitched over that time. A two-time All-NYS selection, Hilcken led Seaford to the Section 8 Championship in 2004 and 2006. She was named the Nassau County Pitcher of the Year in 2006 and played summer ball for the Jersey Nightmare Gold and L.I. Riptide UK. Hilcken hit .689 at the plate with an on-base percentage of .765 as a junior. A National Honor Society and high honor roll member, she also lettered in basketball and field hockey.

Henry comes to College Hill as the second player on the Lafayette roster to call Warrington, Pa. home. Junior first baseman and All-Patriot League First Team selection, Kristen Ruckno, also hails from the Warrington area. A four-year varsity letterwinner, Henry also has experience in the outfield and served as a captain her senior year. She led Central Bucks South to back-to-back Suburban One League titles in 2005 and 2006, while earning honorable mention status as a junior. Henry throws for the Tuff-N-Tuffer GOLD travel team. She is a National Honor Society member and won the President's Award for Academic Excellence.

With Stacey Kushner (Norristown, Pa./Methacton), Lafayette inherits a versatile infielder that can play at catcher, second base or as a utility player. Kushner was a four-year varsity starter at second, third and catcher, earning All-Suburban American First Team honors and all-area first team honors at second base. She will be an option for the job left open by First Team All-Patriot League second baseman Jill Masterton '07. Kushner has played for a number of travel teams, including the 18-U East Norriton Heartbreakers, Blazing Angels Gold and North Penn Eclipse. A four-year starter on the field hockey team and two-year starter in basketball, Kushner earned Distinguished Honors and the M Award for a 93 percent or higher.

Gunther hopes to continue dipping into a strong recruiting pool in the Garden State, home to four returning starters including 2007 Patriot League Rookie of the Year Christina Giambrone (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy). Third baseman Kristin Garganio (Florence, N.J./Florence Township) and shortstop Kerry Griffin (Allenhurst, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) both hail from New Jersey.

Garganio comes to Lafayette as a Trustee scholar, one of Lafayette's highest accolades for incoming freshmen. She lettered all four years at third base and earned First Team All-Freedom Division honors in 2005 and 2006. The senior captain was named First Team All-Burlington County and Florence High School Gatorade Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Garganio was named to the Florence Principal's List for four years and also played four years as a center back on the field hockey team.

The starting shortstop on the 2005 New Jersey State Championship club, Griffin comes to College Hill offering solid defensive skills and power potential hitting .403 as a senior for Red Bank Catholic. She was a four-year letterwinner and was named to the All-Shore Third Team and the Newark Star Ledger All-Non Public First Team. She plays travel ball with the New Jersey Intensity Gold Showcase Team.

Lafayette returns 13 players from last year's roster, including four All Patriot League selections, for the 2008 campaign. The team will open the 2008 campaign with a home game vs. Penn on March 1, before traveling to the Tarheel Invitational on March 6-8 at the University of North Carolina.