CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Queens University of Charlotte's Womens Lacrosse Head Coach Meghan Dennehy is pleased to announce she has added five new players to the class of 2014. The new additions include Jessica Rooney, Brittani Biddinger, Arika Zimmerman, Emily Balmer, and Akasha Kasper.
“We couldn't be more excited about these five student-athletes.”, said Coach Dennehy. “They all carry the qualities that we look for in players, and they have tremendous work ethic both on the field and off the field. These five have a lot of speed, talent, and heart to bring to the Royals lacrosse team.”
Rooney hails from Orlando, Fla., where she attends Timber Creek High School. She is a four-year member of the Timber Creek team and has played both the attack and midfield positions. Her efforts on the field helped her team become the Girl's Lacrosse District Champions from 2007-2009, Regional Quarterfinalists in 2007 and 2009, and Regional Semifinalists in 2008. As the team captain, she led the team with the most draw controls, 52, in 2009 and was named a US Lacrosse Academic All-American. Rooney comes to Queens with many recognitions having been named to the Central Florida Lacrosse All-District Team three times, the Central Florida Lacrosse All-Metro Team twice, the Florida Lacrosse Honorable Mention All-Region Team in 2008, and the Honorable Mention Inaugural deBeer Lacrosse/Florida All-State Team in 2008. She is also a two-time member of the US Lacrosse National Team for Florida. Rooney holds the record for most goals in a game, season, and career at Timber Creek with nine, 84, and 146 respectively. Outside of sports, Rooney is a member of the National Honor Society.
Biddinger, a native of Severna Park, Md., is a goalie from Severna Park High School. The dual sport athlete plays both lacrosse and soccer for her high school. Her performance in the goal helped lead her lacrosse team to three straight Maryland state championships. Biddinger is expected to make an immediate impact upon her arrival at Queens.
Zimmerman will be coming from Fulton, Md., where she attends Reservoir High School. She plays the midfield position for both her high school field hockey and lacrosse teams. Zimmerman stands to have eight varsity letters at the completion of her high school career. The two-year captain won the Golden Nugget Award during her sophomore season which is a form of a coach's award. Last season she picked up 42 ground balls which ranked her sixth in the county. Her field hockey awards include the Most Valuable Player this past season. Zimmerman was named to the Honor Roll, and she is in DECA Marketing and Best Buddies.
Balmer is another midfielder joining Queens from Damascus, Md., where she is a student at Damascus High School. Balmer was named to the Maryland 4A/3A All-Division, All-Montgomery County, and All-Gazette teams in 2009. She was also given the Most Valuable Offensive Player and the Most Valuable Player awards in 2009. Balmer holds her high school record for the most goals in a season with 68. She is part of the Creative Problem Solving Club and Destination Imagination. She is also a point guard on the basketball team and a defender on the field hockey team.
Kasper will come to Queens from Greensboro, N.C., where she attends Western Guilford High School. She is a midfielder on the lacrosse team and she is also on the swim team. Western Guilford has won three conference championships with her on the field. As the team captain, she won the Most Valuable Player award during her senior year. Kasper also won the Team Before I Award, and she was named to the All-State Second Team and the West Central All-Conference Team after her junior season. The Academic All-American is part of Beta Club, Student Council, the National Art Society, and the National Honor Society.
