thanks to Daniel Supraner, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications – Florida Tech Athletics for the press release!

Five NLI signees will join the Panthers’ roster for the 2016-17 athletic year MELBOURNE, Fla. (Women’s Lacrosse) – Florida Tech is excited to announce the signing of five student-athletes to the 2016 class. Head coach Corinne Desrosiers’ fall signings include players from Florida, Maryland, Minnesota and New York. The new additions will join the Panthers’ roster during the 2016-17 athletic year.   Aleah Fjelstad Attack/Midfield, 5’3” Prior Lake High School (Prior Lake, Minn.) Fjelstad is a three-year starter for Prior Lakes’ varsity lacrosse team. During her freshman season with the Lakers in 2013, she was named the Rookie of the Year and Most Improved. The next season Fjelstad garnered the Best Attack award for her team in addition to collecting All-South Suburban Conference and All-American honors. As a junior last season, Fjelstad was the Best Attack award and Anna Bird Award recipient, as well as earning West Fargo All-Tournament Team, SSC All-Conference, All-Brine Team and Honorable Mention All-American recognition. Fjelstad has racked up 93 goals in three seasons with the Lakers. She plays her club lacrosse for MNElite. Fjelstad plans to major in chemical engineering at Florida Tech. “Aleah is a natural athlete, she’s quick, has solid stick work, and an eye for the offense,” said head coach Corinne Desrosiers. “I can’t wait to see her grinding out there, pushing from the midfield and into the attacking zone. I believe she will provide us with some speed needed on the offensive half, as well as a natural flow of the transition. Our first player from Minnesota, hopefully she likes the warm Florida sun as much as we’re going to like having her down here in the heat with us!”   Olivia Going Defense, 5’2” West Islip High School (West Islip, N.Y.) Going is a member of the varsity lacrosse and cheerleading teams at West Islip. She was a starting defender on the Lions’ 2014 team that finished runner-up at the New York State Championships, and the 2015 squad that won the state championship. Going plays for the Long Island Yellow Jackets Lacrosse Club. She intends to major in business at Florida Tech. “Olivia is coming off a championship season with West Islip HS, out from Long Island,” said Desrosiers. “The kids from the island play like no other – they are true aggressors of the game, and she is a very athletic defender that we are hoping will jump right into the mix here and hold her ground as a strong, quick, proactive defender with an offensive mind. Too frequent are the reactive defenders in recruiting, we were looking for someone who didn’t want to simply keep the ball out, we wanted someone who wanted it in her stick. We think we have that with Olivia.”   Alexis Townsend Attack, 5’4” Damascus High School (Damascus, Md.) Townsend is a member of the varsity lacrosse and poms teams at Demascus. As a sophomore, she finished the season with 35 goals and 25 assists en route to earning Honorable Mention All-Gazette Team honors. The following season Townsend served as the Hornets’ team captain. She recorded 37 goals and 28 assists her junior year and was named an Academic All-American. Townsend plays club lacrosse for Rebels Black. She is set to major in computer science at Florida Tech. “When we first started watching Alexis, we saw a humble kid with great fitness, a solid work-ethic and an excellent track record with every coach she has played under,” Desrosiers said. When we continued to watch her, we saw a void of our field potentially getting filled – she is an excellent re-defender as opposed to just an attacker who can push the ball. As defensive as she is offensive, Alexis’s job next fall will be to come in, seize offensive opportunities, and create a higher CT ratio on the first half of the field than we currently have. We’re excited to throw her into the mix as we will not graduate any offensive power this spring.”   Lauren Tybor Midfield, 5’10” Bartram Trail High School (St. John’s, Fla.) Tybor is a member of the lacrosse and basketball teams at Bartram Trail, playing both sports all three years. She is a three year starting midfielder for the Bears’ lacrosse team. During her freshman season, Tybor helped her team to a state championship game appearance, in which she tallied two goals and one assist in the final. In 2014, she finished as an All-County selection after posting 32 goals, 122 draw controls, 21 assists, 56 groundballs and 15 forced turnovers. Last season, Tybor returned to the All-County Team in addition to taking home Academic All-American honors. She plays club lacrosse for the North Florida Wave. Tybor plans to major in aviation management at Florida Tech. “Lauren will provide some immediate depth needed in our midfield zone, with a specialization on the draw control,” stated Desrosiers. “We set very high standards for our middies, and as a high schooler she already hits those standards. Having her out there on the circle will give us more strength in the most important area on the field. We are looking forward to her possession skills to impact our overall momentum and rate of play next fall.”   Chloe Zador Goalie, 5’7” Bartram Trail High School (St. John’s, Fla.) Zador plays lacrosse and soccer for Bartram Trail. She was honored with the Spirit of the Bear award for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons for her leadership and enthusiasm. During her first season on the varsity squad, Zador averaged a 50 percent save rate.  She has helped the Bears to the district finals in 2014 and 2015. Zador plays club lacrosse for the North Florida Wave where she is the starting goalkeeper for the team. As a member of the Wave, Zador has won the Florida Heatwave 7v7 tournament and attended other high profile tournaments in the President’s Cup and Capital Cup. Zador intends to major in psychology at Florida Tech. “Chloe is another Bartram pickup – highly touted from her HS and Club Coach, she played behind a stellar goalie the past couple years as she is new to the game,” explained Desrosiers. “We saw in that opportunity for a fresh mentality, a kid who was willing to work hard to be better each day, and someone who could come in and push our current starting goalie for some time. I don’t believe anybody should ever get comfortable in their spot and it’s our hope that Chloe can come in and make Steph really uncomfortable – both goalies will respond for the better that way and when we add a 2017 keeper to the mix, we will have a core of athletes that can control the backfield with confidence, quickness and power.”   Florida Tech is thrilled to welcome Aleah, Olivia, Alexis, Lauren and Chloe to the Panther Family and excited to see all five don the Crimson and Gray for the 2016-17 season.   Women’s Lacrosse Home: http://www.floridatechsports.com/wlacrosse/   Daniel Supraner Assistant Director of Athletic Communications Florida Tech Athletics 150 W. University Blvd. Melbourne, Fla. 32901 Work: 321-674-7484 Fax: 321-984-8529