New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York New Paltz women's lacrosse program announced its incoming class ahead of its 2025 spring season Thursday. 

The Hawks are coming off their best season to-date, which saw the team set program records in overall (14) and conference wins (6), while earning their highest seeding in the SUNYAC Tournament, along with their first home playoff game and victory to set up their first appearance in the SUNYAC semifinal.
 
A huge part of their ascension last season came on the heels of coach Randy Vite's first recruiting class that saw four of seven first years inserted into the starting lineup. The reigning Coach of the Year hopes to build on that success as she welcomes in nine Hawks in her second recruiting cycle that will elevate the program to new heights in her fourth season.

"I am beyond excited to welcome the incoming freshmen class this fall," she said. "I have high expectations for them, and I can't wait to see what they can do."
 
Maybe even more importantly, the nine incoming Hawks fit the culture the team has built over the course of the last three seasons, which has helped the program reach new heights in each season since Vite has taken over the program.
 
"I can already tell they're going to be a really special group who will fit into the culture and chemistry we built that had carried us through a record-breaking season last year," Vite added. "They're a skilled group of lacrosse players who will give us depth at every position and help us raise our level of play. I truly believe this class will be a great fit for our team and the University. I am so excited to have them a part of the Hawks family."
 
To read more about each incoming Hawk continue reading below:

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Kelsey Foster '28

Defense
St. James, NY
Smithtown East High School
91 Lacrosse Club

High School: Two-year varsity player…LI Lacrosse Journal Top 23 Team…member of 2024 Suffolk County Division One playoff team… member of 2023 Suffolk County Class A finalist…also played field hockey and basketball…member of Student Council… Athletes Helping Athletes… National Science Honor Society.
Foster, who played club for 91 Lacrosse, will vie for playing time on the Hawks stymying defense as she adds depth to a team that returns all but one starter on that side of the field.

Foster was a two-year starter for Smithtown East where she helped the Bulls to a Suffolk County Division I playoff run that included an appearance in the Suffolk County Class A championship. Following suit of Vite's vision of bringing in a highly athletic group, Foster was a three-sport athlete while at Smithtown East, starring for the Bulls' field hockey and basketball programs.

A high-performing student as well, Foster was a member of the Science National Honor Society.
 

Shannon Lewis '28

Attack
Merrick, NY
Sanford H. Calhoun High School
Long Island Jesters Girls United Lacrosse Club

High School: Five-year varsity player…four-year varsity starter…career totals - 10 goals, 41 assists, 150 points…All Conference Two…LI Lacrosse Journal 2024 Players to Watch…member of three Suffolk County playoff teams…also played volleyball and basketball.

Club: Led team in points for four years…team MVP…selected to Brine All American game…Warrior Under Armor game…APEX Lacrosse All Star game…Top 40 Blue Chip selection.

Lewis is a skilled righty-attacker who will likely start immediately for Vite's squad. A highly touted incoming recruit, Lewis starred for Calhoun for five seasons on their varsity squad, including as a four-year starter. She's totaled more than 150 points during her varsity career, and was an All-Conference II selection, along with being named as a LI Lacrosse Journal Players to Watch ahead of her senior season in 2024 and helped lead the Colts to a Suffolk County postseason appearance.

She played club for Long Island Jesters Girls United Lacrosse, and led her club program in points for four-straight years and was named team MVP. The Merrick, NY native was selected to compete in numerous All-Star games throughout her career, as she was selected to play in the Brine All-American Game, Warrior Under Armor Game and APEX Lacrosse All-Star Game, along with being named as a Top-40 Blue Chip selection.

Additionally, Lewis was a multi-sport athlete who starred for Calhoun's volleyball and basketball programs.
 

Maddy Luongo '28

Defense
Massapequa, NY
Farmingdale High School
FLG Lacrosse Club

High School: Two-year varsity player…member of Dalers 2023 and 2024 Nassau County Class A finalists…member 2024 Nassau County Conference One champions…also played soccer and winter track.

Luongo is a long, athletic defender who will fit well in Vite's swarming zone defense. The Massapequa, NY native starred for Farmingdale High School as a two-year varsity member. She was a part of the Dalers 2023 and 2024 Nassau County Class A Championship game run, along with their Nassau County Conference I title in 2024.
A multi-sport athlete, Luongo competed in soccer, track and lacrosse at Farmingdale. Luongo also has a strong family pedigree of collegiate athletes, as her mom Carrie, played soccer at SUNY Cortland for four seasons, while her dad, Carmine, suited up for the Red Dragons varsity football team from 1993-94.

Luongo plans on studying Communication Disorders while at SUNY New Paltz. 
 

Izzy Miragia '28

Goalie
Hardyston, NJ
Sussex County Technical School DEWLax

High School: Started freshman year at Vernon Township High School…transferred to Sussex County Tech, which does not field girls lacrosse…played basketball…High Honor Roll…National Honor Society…coaches youth lacrosse.

Club: Four-year starter for DEWLax.
 
Miragia joins SUNY New Paltz's goalie staff alongside incumbent Gabriella Tommaso, rising junior Mollie Harris and rising sophomore Piper Mascaros. 

Miragia, from Hardyston, NJ, starred at Vernon Township High School before transferring to Sussex County Technical School where she played basketball and was named team captain. Additionally, she was a high-excelling student, earning a spot on the High Honor Roll and National Honor Society.
 
She played club for DEWLax where she was a four-year starter.
 
While at Sussex Tech, she helped build a human powered submarine, winning an international award for the design. She plans on studying Mechanical Engineering while at SUNY New Paltz.

Catherine Picarello '28

Defense
Stony Point, NY
North Rockland High School
Metro Lacrosse Club

High School: Team captain (2023, 2024) ...three-year varsity player…two-year starter…All League (2023, 2024) ...All Rockland County (2023, 2024) ...All Section One (2023-Honorable Mention, 2024- 2nd Team) ... Lohud First Team (2024) ...scored 15 goals and 15 assists in 2024… Section One Sportsmanship and Leadership Award…Rockland County Scholar Athlete…also played varsity soccer and basketball (team captain) ...member of five academic honor societies…AP Scholar…top 5% of senior class…hosted youth lacrosse and basketball tournaments.

Another top-level recruit, Picarello is primed to be a game-changing type player for the Hawks. A true two-way midfielder, the Stony Point, NY native is versatile to play at any spot on the field.

Competing for a perennial program in North Rockland lacrosse, Picarello was a two-year team captain and starter, and three-year varsity player for the Raiders. She was a two-time All-Rockland County selection, named All-Section I, while earning an honorable mention nod in 2023 before landing on second team as a senior this past spring, along with being a first-team All-LoHud pick. She finished with 30 points during her senior season, totaling 15 goals and 15 assists.

An elite student as well, Picarello was named as a Rockland County Scholar Athlete and was a member of five different academic honor societies, along with being an AP Scholar and finishing in the top 5 percent of her class.

An incredible athlete and leader, Picarello starred for both North Rockland's varsity soccer and basketball program's while captaining the latter as well. Following her senior year, she was named as the recipient of the Section I Sportsmanship and Leadership Award.

Picarello also starred for Metro Lacrosse Club. She plans on studying biology while at SUNY New Paltz.

 

Chiara Rutigliano '28

Midfield/Defense
Oyster Bay, NY
Oyster Bay High School
Long Island Top Guns Lacrosse Club

High School: Team captain…three-year starter at midfield…career record 33 goals, 11 assists, 44 points…LI Lacrosse Journal 2024 Watch List…All Conference (2024) ...helped lead Baymen to three Nassau County Class B playoffs, including 2023 Nassau County Class B finals…also played soccer.

Club: Five-year player at defense.

Rutigliano, hailing from Oyster Bay, NY, will also vie for playing time on the Hawks midfield line, solidifying some depth at the position.

She was a three-year starter at Oyster Bay High School and captained the Baymen as a senior last spring. She totaled 33 goals and 11 assists over her career, while helping her team to three Nassau County Class B playoff runs including an appearance in the Nassau County Class B finals in 2023.

Rutigliano, who was a dual-sport athlete while at Oyster Bay, starring on her high's school varsity soccer team, was named as an All-Conference selection and named to the LI Lacrosse Journal Watch List in 2024.

Additionally, she suited up for Long Island Top Guns Lacrosse club where she was a five-year player on defense.

 

Mia Umbro '28

Defense
Trumbull, CT
Trumbull High School
 
High School: four-year varsity player.

Umbro is another incoming Hawk who will add depth to an already stout defensive unit for the Hawks.

The Trumbull, NY native starred for Trumbull High School for four seasons on the girls varsity team. She isn't the only one in her family playing collegiately, as her brother, Daniel, stars for the Plattsburgh men's lacrosse team as well.

Umbro plans on majoring in education while at SUNY New Paltz.





 

Grace Vience '28

Defense
Massapequa Park, NY
Massapequa High School
Recon Lacrosse Club

High School: Two-year varsity player…member of Chiefs 2023 and 2024 Nassau County Class A champions…2023 and 2024 Long Island Class A champions…2023 NYS Class A finalist…also played soccer and basketball.

Vience is another athletic incoming defender who played multiple sports during her high school career.

The Massapequa Park, NY native starred for Massapequa High School, competing in lacrosse, soccer and basketball. She helped the Chiefs girl's lacrosse program to back-to-back Nassau County Class A crowns in 2023 and 2024, along with consecutive Long Island Class A titles during her junior and senior campaigns. Vience also was on the team's 2023 New York State Class A Championship run.

Additionally, Vience played for Recon Lacrosse Club.

 

Tiana Zarcone '28

Attack
Holbrook, NY
Sachem High School East
Empire Lacrosse Club

High School: four-year varsity player…has been playing lacrosse since second grade.
 
Zarcone looks to provide additional depth to a young attacking line for the Hawks. The Holbrook, NY native played four seasons for Sachem High School East's varsity lacrosse team, while also starring on its field hockey program for one year.
 
Not the only Zarcone who played collegiately, Zarcone's dad, Christian, starred for Farmingdale and ILU.
 
Additionally, Zarcone competed for Empire Lacrosse club. 





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