Nov. 14, 2014
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt lacrosse coach Cathy Swezey and the Commodore coaching staff went from coast to coast to secure a strong 2015 signing class.
Swezey, entering her 18th year at the helm, announced on Friday the signing of seven student-athletes to national letters of intent. The class includes five players from the lacrosse rich Northeast (two from New Jersey, two from the Baltimore area, one from New York), one player from Georgia and West Coast flavor with a California signee.
“We are so excited about this class,” Swezey said. “The class has national representation, and some of the best talent we saw in their recruiting year. They all have amazing work ethics and will make an immediate impact when they arrive next fall. While we wish them all the best in their senior year, we are anxious to get them down to Vanderbilt!”
The class is midfield heavy with five midfielders but also features an attacker and a goalkeeper (and a pair of high school teammates).
A quick look at all seven signees:
Lily Argyle (Goalkeeper; Medford, N.J.; Shawnee High)
Melanie Becker (Midfielder; Moorestown, N.J.; Moorestown High)
Grace Bell (Midfielder; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Poly Prep)
Julie Blaze (Midfielder; Towson, Md.; Bryn Mawr)
Hadley Brown (Attacker; Baltimore, Md.; Bryn Mawr)
Hannah Davis (Midfielder; Milton, Ga.; Milton High)
Alexandra Rasmussen (Midfielder; San Diego, Calif.; Torrey Pines High)
Melanie Becker hails from Swezey’s hometown of Moorestown, N.J., and helped Moorestown win its fourth straight state championship. The Quakers went 26-0 and were named the 2014 Public School national champions by Brine/Top Lax Recruits.com. Becker was a South Jersey Select First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-South Jersey selection. She is the fourth Moorestown grad in the past two recruiting classes to sign with Vanderbilt as she will join current Commodore freshmen Frankie Angeleri, Jess Dadino and Kayla Pruitt on campus next fall.
Goalkeeper Lily Argyle, like Becker, was named to the Burlington County Times All-County Team. The 5-foot-3 Argyle stood tall in the cage for Shawnee High last year en route to a Group 4 championship and a spot in the Tournament of Champions final. The Commodores stayed in the Northeast to snag another midfielder — Grace Bell from Brooklyn, N.Y. The Poly Prep standout is a three-sport athlete (lacrosse, soccer and squash).
U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-Americans and high school teammates Julie Blaze (midfielder) and Hadley Brown (attacker) will continue their lacrosse careers together. They are seniors at Bryn Mawr, where sophomore defender Eliza Clemens went to school.
Vanderbilt once again had luck at finding talent at Milton High School in Georgia. All-state midfielder Hannah Davis told toplaxrecruits.com she is looking forward to playing again with Vanderbilt junior Amanda Lockwood, a 2012 Milton grad. Davis helped the Bravehearts win their fifth straight state championship last spring.
Alexandra Rasmussen will be the lone player on Vanderbilt’s roster from west of the Mississippi, let alone California. The San Diego native and Torrey Pines senior played in the Under Armour All-America Underclass Games in July.
