July 9, 2004

The Siena College women's lacrosse team has signed six players to National Letters of Intent, according to Head Coach Jake McHerron. Nikki Burger, Jacqueline Dorosz, Andrea Johnson, Kathryn Marcantonio, Amy Schoonmaker and Beth Zimmer will each begin their Siena career as freshman this fall.

"As a group, this is a talented class that can help take Siena lacrosse to the next level," McHerron said. "I expect each of the six to compete for playing time from the start."

Burger makes the short trip to Loudonville after a stellar high school career at nearby Shenendehowa where she garnered Honorable Mention All-Capital Region honors. As a senior she scored 31 goals and contributed 20 assists from her post at attack. "Nikki is an extremely talented and athletic player who has a nose for the back of the net," McHerron commented.

Dorosz joins the Saints after a standout career at powerhouse Liverpool High School in Syracuse where she helped her team to a league championship as a sophomore, junior and senior. A two-sport athlete, Dorosz also excelled in field hockey earning honorable mention recognition as a junior and senior. "Jackie is a skilled midfielder with great speed who will help us transition to our attack," McHerron noted.

Johnson's route to Siena requires a few more coins at the Thruway checkpoint, as she was a decorated high school athlete at Webster just outside of Rochester. A captain as a senior on the lacrosse team, Johnson led the squad in ground balls and was selected Second Team All-County. In addition, she played in the Senior All-Star game and was a captain for the soccer team as a junior. "Andrea is a hard-nosed defender who can lock down the opposition's top scoring threat," McHerron said.

Marcantonio is another Capital Region native who will further her education at Siena. As a senior at Guilderland, Marcantonio scored 41 goals and added 12 assists racking up Second Team All-Capital Region accolades. "Kathryn is a high-scoring midfielder with great speed and groundball capability," McHerron said.

Schoonmaker, a native of Simsbury, Conn., was a Second Team All-State selection in the Constitution State. She is a versatile talent who played mostly attack in high school, but could be moved to midfield at Siena. "Amy is a hard worker with great offensive ability who could make an immediate impact on our front line," McHerron said.

Rounding out the class of 2008 is Beth Zimmer of Skaneateles, N.Y. Zimmer is regarded as one of the top goalies in Central, N.Y. by McHerron who cites her 100 saves and 51% save percentage as a senior as evidence. Over her career at Skaneateles High School, she registered 362 saves and compiled a 53.3% save percentage. "Beth has tremendous instincts in the net and great leadership skills," McHerron said "I believe she will develop into a great goalie at our level."

The Saints posted their winningest season ever in McHerron's initial year this spring, posting a 3-3 conference mark and narrowly missing out on the program's initial Conference Tournament bid.