STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford head coach Danielle Spencer and her staff have signed nine promising high school seniors to compete for the Cardinal starting in 2021.
Stanford's incoming class consists of Allison Baldwin (Bethesda, Md.), Kate Bellissimo (Darien, Conn.), Sophia Brindisi (Sudbury, Mass.), Jordyn Case (Charlotte, N.C.), Annabel Frist (Nashville, Tenn.), Maddigan Miller (Bayport, N.Y.), Rita Peterson (Alexandria, Va.), Erin Schaefer (Sayville, N.Y.) and Ashley Thurston (Orlando, Fla.).
"This group of young women marks my first full recruiting class as the head coach at Stanford," said Spencer, who is now in her second season at the helm of the program. "I am incredibly proud to welcome them to our program. This class is packed full of athleticism, speed, passion, and competitive fire. Most importantly, the young women in this class have great character. I can't wait to see what they do with this opportunity, and hope each makes our lacrosse alumni and the university community very proud."
Allison Baldwin • Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School • Bethesda, Md.
- Two-time team captain
- Two-time ISL champions
- Two-time Under Armour All-American DC Regional Team (2018, 2019)
- Two-time Women's National Tournament DC Regional Team (2018, 2019)
- Plays for M&D Lacrosse Club
Kate Bellissimo • Darien High School • Darien, Conn.
- Team captain
- Team ranked No. 4 in the nation by Inside Lacrosse
- 2019 Connecticut state champions
- 2018 Connecticut state runners-up
- Two-time FCIAC champions (2018, 2019)
- Two-time Under Armour All-American CONNY Highlight Team (2019, 2020)
- 2018 Under Armour All-American CONNY Command Team
- Plays club for Sound Lacrosse
Sophia Brindisi • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School • Sudbury, Mass.
- Team captain
- Two-time Dual County League Division I champions (2018, 2019)
- Two-time North Sectional Finalists (2018, 2019)
- Two-time Under Armour All-America Underclass Tournament New Engaland Highlight Team (2019, 2020)
- 2018 Under Armour All-America Underclass Tournament New England Command Team
- 2019 Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic
- 2019 First Team Eastern MA Girls Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Star
- 2019 First Team Dual County League Division I All-Star
- Led high school team in goals and points in 2018 and 2019
- 51 goals and 24 assists as a freshman and 61 goals and 45 assists as a sophomore
- Plays club for Mass Elite
- Mass Elite 2021 Red Team ranked No. 1 in the national by US Club Lacrosse (2019 and 2020)
Jordyn Case • Weddington High School • Charlotte, N.C.
- Two-time undefeated conference champions (2018, 2019)
- Qualified for state playoffs in 2018 and 2019
- 2019 US Lacrosse All-American
- Four-time Under Armour All-American
- 2018 Under Armour All-American All-Tournament Team
- 2020 Preseason All-Inside Lacrosse
- 2019 Inside Lacrosse Top 40 Juniors
- Two-time conference MVP (2018, 2019)
- Two-time all-conference (2018, 2019)
- Two-time team MVP (2018, 2019)
- 2019 Weddington High School Female Athlete of the Year
- Played club for Long Island Yellow Jackets and Charlotte Style
- Two-time national champions with the Yellow Jackets
Annabel Frist • Ensworth/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School • Nashville, Tenn.
- 2019 state champion
- 2018 state runners-up
- 2018 US Lacrosse All-American
- 2018 Tennessean Sports Award Female Lacrosse Player of the Year
- 2018 all-state and all-region
- Set Ensworth records for goals (102), points (126) and draw controls (193) in 2018
- Attending St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School for her senior year with fellow commit Rita Peterson
- Plays club for Ultimate PA Blue 2021
Maddigan Miller • Bayport-Blue Point High School • Bayport, N.Y.
- Team captain
- 2019 Long Island Class C County champions
- 2019 Bayport-Blue Point Unsung Hero Award
- Two-time Under Armour Long Island All-Tournament Team (2018, 2020)
- 2020 All-North Super Regional Team - Girls Highlight Division
- Two-time US Lacrosse Long Island Metro School Girls Team
- Spent time with USA National Development Program - Combine champion in 2019
- 2019 WPLL Futures National Championships Summit selection
- 2016 and 2017 US Lacrosse national champion
- Plays club for Long Island Yellow Jackets Blue/Rose
Rita Peterson • St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School • Alexandria, Va.
- 2019 state and league champions
- 2018 state runners-up
- Ranked No. 2 in the nation by US Lacrosse Magazine (2020)
- Two-time Under Armour All-American (2018, 2019)
- 2019 All-American, all-state first team, All-Met second team and all-conference
- Inside Lacrosse Top 30 2021 recruits list
- Plays club for Capital Blue 2021
Erin Schaefer • Sayville High School • Sayville, N.Y.
- Team captain
- Played varsity lacrosse since seventh grade, earning six letters
- 2020 Under Armour All-America LI Highlight Team
- 2019 all-county
- Two-time U.S. National Schoolgirls Long Island Metro Team (2018, 2019)
- Two-time all-division (2017, 2018)
- Two-time Nike elite 120 (2017, 2018)
- 2017 Under Armour All-American Team LI Command
- 2016 Suffolk County Section 11 Varsity All-Rookie Team
- 2016 Sayville Varsity Rookie of the Year
- Led team with 63 regular season points and was second in Suffolk County with 42 assists in 2019
- Spent time with U.S. National Team Development Program
- US Lacrosse National Combine for U17 U.S. National Team
- 2017 US Lacrosse Club Championship U14 - won national championship with YJ 2021 team
- 2016 US Lacrosse Club Championship U13 - won national championship with YJ 2021 team
- Plays for Long Island Yellow Jackets
Ashley Thurston • Lake Highland Preparatory School • Orlando, Fla.
- Team captain
- 2019 state champions
- 2018 state runners-up
- Inside Lacrosse Top 40 2021 recruit
- Three-time Under Armour All-American (2018-20)
- 2019 US Lacrosse Magazine Player to Watch
- 2019 Orlando Sentinel Sophomore Standout
- 2019 Under Armour 150 Camp MVP
- Two-time National Lacrosse Classic Team/camp MVPs (2018, 2019)
- Two-time National Lacrosse Classic national team member (2018, 2019)
- 2019 single season record holder for draw controls
- Played club for Eagle Stix, LaxManiax and M&D