Baltimore, MD – Baltimore-based STX, LLC, a global sporting goods leader, announced today the signing of eight new members to Team STX, the first elite post-collegiate women’s lacrosse team. Syracuse All-American Alyssa Murray highlights the list of new signees, along with standouts Kirkland Locey, also of Syracuse, and Taylor D’Amore and Sammy Cermack, both from Johns Hopkins. Alternates include Nikki Boltja (Louisville), Sloane Serpe (UNC), Abbey Friend (UNC) and Sydney Peterson (Duke).
As members of Team STX, the athletes will compete at the highest levels of women’s lacrosse, lead youth camps and clinics, and help to expand the reach of the game.
“The goal of Team STX is to spread the love of the game across the country by playing and demonstrating lacrosse at the highest level,” said Kadie Stamper, STX Women’s Lacrosse Marketing Manager. “By signing an elite group of players – led by All-American Alyssa Murray – Team STX is in a great position to succeed.”
The new athletes join captain Josie Owen and 14 players from last year’s inaugural Team STX, along with Kelly Barnes who signed earlier this year.
Bios for new members of Team STX:
· Alyssa Murray (West Babylon, NY) – Recently earned a spot on the 2014-15 U.S. Women’s National Team. During her career at Syracuse, Murray was a two-time Tewaaraton Award Nominee, and three-time First Team All-American, among many other awards, including three-time Big East All-Academic Team.
· Kirkland Locey (Timonium, MD) – Syracuse’s former draw specialist, Locey ranks third on the Orange in draw controls, totaling 130 during her college career. She helped lead Syracuse to two national finals and was named to the Big East honor roll three times.
· Taylor D’Amore (Canandaigua, NY) – A former Johns Hopkins University standout, D’Amore is the NCAA statistical leader in assists, assists per game and points per game. A member of the U.S. National Team, D’Amore was named IWLCA First Team All-American in 2014 and is the second to earn the honor at Hopkins since the program moved to Division I. The midfielder was one of 15 women named to the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America® Women's Division I At-Large team. Additionally, D’Amore is a volunteer coach with the University of Pennsylvania.
· Sammy Cermack (Ridgewood, NJ) – A two-time captain at Hopkins, Cermack earned the 2014 Blue Jays Unlimited Award, which recognizes the JHU varsity athlete who best demonstrates team spirit and leadership. While at Hopkins, the midfielder was named First Team All-ALC, Second Team All-ALC, Third Team All-American, and Mid-Atlantic Regional All-American. Cermack is currently a coach with Stick2Stick lacrosse.
· Nikki Boltja (Medina, OH) – Boltja completed her final season at the University of Louisville ranked third in the nation in goals, goals per game and points per game; and fourth in overall points. During her impressive career, Boltja was named two-time IWLCA All-American, Big East Attack Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-Big East. In 2013, she received the Big East Conference Scholar-Athlete Sports Excellence Award.
· Sloane Serpe (North Caldwell, NJ) – A two-time captain for the University of North Carolina, Serpe has been named First Team All-American, First Team All-ACC and First Team South All-Region. In addition, the former Tar Heels defender recently earned a spot on the 2014-15 U.S. Women’s National Team.
· Abbey Friend (Canandaigua, NY) – A dominant player during her career at the University of North Carolina, Friend helped the Tar Heels capture the 2013 National Championship. She currently holds the record at UNC for most games started, goals in a season and goals in a career. Friend also led Team Canada to Silver in the 2013 World Cup. Friend also co-founded Friendly.Lax, a group of camps and clinics based in upstate New York.
· Sydney Peterson (Towson, MD) – Peterson is actively involved in growing lacrosse and educating youth athletes. A former attack for Duke University, Peterson traveled to Vietnam with Coach for College’s global initiative to promote higher education through sports. Currently, Peterson is a coach for a TLC 2019 team.
Team STX will defend its championship title as it kicks off the season at the 42nd Vail Lacrosse Shootout in Vail, Colorado from July 3-6. This season, Team STX will also compete in the Lake Placid Classic and will expand its youth skills clinics nationwide.
To learn more about the latest Team STX athletes, follow STX women’s lacrosse at http://www.stx.com/teamstx2014