Buffs Add Seven To 2022 Roster

BOULDER — With the start of another school year, University of Colorado Head Lacrosse Coach Ann Elliott Whidden has announced the addition of seven newcomers for the 2022 season. Of the seven, six are freshmen and one is a graduate transfer; all seven are east coast athletes with four hailing from New Jersey.
 
 

 
Complete bios for student-athletes are below:
 
Katie Giordano
WHIDDEN ON GIORDANO: We love Katie's athleticism and speed in the midfield. She is a solid all-around lacrosse player who does all the little things on the field. She is a worker, who is committed to getting better every day and we are very excited about her potential.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Montclair High School in 2021 … played midfield and attack on the lacrosse team … named to the Stars and Stripes Conference All-Stars 2021 North Division First Team … following her senior year she also earned All-America honors, was selected the team's MVP, named SEC All-Conference and all-league first team … during her career she recorded 141 points, 111 goals, 30 assists, 100 ground balls and 154 draw controls … played soccer as well for MHS … helped the soccer team win the state championship in 2021.

CLUB TEAM: Played for STEPS.
 
IN THE CLASSROOM: Undecided on a major.

PERSONAL: Kathleen Muriel Giordano … nickname is KK … born on May 27, 2003 … father, Don, played lacrosse at Yale … lists her favorite food as strawberries … favorite movie is Finding Nemo … enjoys playing sports … has worked soccer and lacrosse camps in the summer … was also recruited by Virginia Tech.
 
Sophie Halus
WHIDDEN ON HALUS: Sophie is a tremendous athlete with great speed. Sophie has been coming to our camps for many years and we have been so impressed with her continuous growth from year to year. She is a strong midfielder who can make an impact on both ends. She is a dynamic player and knows how to use her speed/quickness to her advantage. We are really excited about Sophie's potential and looking forward to the impact she is going to make on our team.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: 2021 graduate of East Chapel Hill High School … lettered in lacrosse, track and field, basketball and field hockey … played midfield on the lacrosse team which won the 2021 conference and state championship while recording a 16-2 record … recorded 200 career points, 145 goals, 55 assists and 245 ground balls … lists the biggest moment of her prep career when her lacrosse team beat their rival (and four-time state champions) in the 2021 quarterfinals before moving on to win the state championship … named to the 2021 all-conference and all-state first teams … 2021 Conference Player of the Year and U.S. Lacrosse All-American … 2021 U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-Ameican … as a sophomore she was named an Under Armour All-American … school record holder in the 100-meter dash (12.5 seconds) on the track … member of the honor roll.
 

CLUB TEAM: Played for Carolina Fever.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Undecided on a major.

PERSONAL: Sophie Grace Halus … born on December 1, 2002 … enjoys hiking, spending time with friends and being outside … lists her favorite foods as bagels and acai bowls … favorite professional team is the USWNT and her favorite athlete is Serena Williams … also recruited by North Carolina, Dartmouth, Highpoint, Cornell, Penn, UConn, Villanova and Davidson.
 
Katie McLean
WHIDDEN ON MCLEAN:  We watched Katie a lot in the recruiting process and every time noticed another thing we liked about her. Katie will make an impact on the draw for us as well as in the midfield. She is a dynamic player offensively and has good instincts defensively. We look forward to Katie's potential at CU.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Voorhees High School in 2021 … played field hockey, lacrosse and ran track … was a member of the lacrosse team for four seasons, playing midfield and specializing in draw controls … her team recorded a 13-4 record in 2021 … was named first team all-county and first-team All-Skyland Conference in 2021 … also named to the second team All-Group in 2021 … named the 2021 Lehigh Lacrosse Player of the Year and Hunterdon Warren Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

CLUB TEAM: Played for DEWLAX.
 
IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in speech pathology.  

PERSONAL: Katherine McLean … born on August 3, 2003 … father, Bill McLean, played football at Pittsburgh … sister, Megan, played golf at Penn State … uncle, Joe McLean, played basketball at Arizona … uncle, Mark McLean, played volleyball at George Mason … enjoys skiing, traveling, music, fishing and hiking … has worked as a lifeguard in the summer … favorite athlete is Katie Ledecky … favorite professional team is the Pittsburgh Penguins … was also recruited by Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Navy, Lehigh, High Point, Rutgers, Elon, Duke and West Point.
 
Samantha Lipka
WHIDDEN ON LIPKA: Samantha is a playmaker on the offensive end. As a lefty, she will help balance our offense and generate offense. She sees the field well and is always looking to make her teammates better. We are excited about Sam's lacrosse IQ and skill set. We look forward to the impact she will have for us offensively.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Academy of the Holy Cross in 2021 … lettered in lacrosse and field hockey … scored 38 goals and 14 assists in 2021 during a shorted season … had three goals and three assists in 2020 before the season was canceled … as a sophomore in 2019, she helped her team to a 12-8 record with 41 goals and 77 assists … in 2018 she collected 29 goals and 51 assists as a freshman while the team went 13-7 … served as a team captain in 2021 and earned all-conference honors following the 2018 and 19 seasons … all-time assists leader for Academy of the Holy Cross … led the league and the conference in assists.

CLUB TEAM: Played for Capital Lacrosse Club.
 
IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in neuroscience.  
 
PERSONAL: Samantha Lipka … born on October 23, 2002 … father, Bruce, played professional tennis … bother, David, played lacrosse at Syracuse and is now at Notre Dame … hobbies include hiking, dodgeball, paddle boarding and drumming … favorite athlete is Roger Federer … favorite professional team is the New York Jets.  
 
Sam McGee
WHIDDEN ON MCGEE: We are really excited to welcome Sam to our CU family. We recruited Sam back when she was in high school. She is a great player, who has gained a lot of experience playing at St. Joe's over the last four years. We expect Sam to make an immediate impact in our program and believe her experience and composure will be great assets to our attack.
 
AT SAINT JOSEPH'S: Two-time team captain … named to the 2018 Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team and All-Rookie Team … in 2021, scored in every game except the final one, ending a 29 game scoring streak … played in 49 games, starting in 31 … recorded 85 goals, including a career-best 36 as a senior … scored four goals six-times, the last time against Richmond on April 30, 2021, in the A-10 Semifinals … handed out three assists on two occasions … recorded a career-high of seven points against Delaware on March 17, 2021.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Recorded 334 career points (253 goals, 81 assists) at Abington Senior High School… Scored 50-plus goals every season, including 85 as a junior, when she led the Suburban One League in points (107)… Two-time U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American (2016-17)… 2017 U.S. Lacrosse All-PASLA Team pick… Two-time Intelligencer Player of the Year (2016-17)… Three-time All-Intelligencer First Team selection and earned Honorable Mention recognition as a freshman… 2017 Suburban One League MVP… Three-time Suburban One League First Team selection and earned Second Team recognition as a freshman… Twice named to the National Tournament Philly Team (2015-16) and Under Armour Underclassman Philly Team (2015-16)… 2016 Heather Leigh Albert Award finalist… Led squad to 55 wins over four-year career… Also lettered in field hockey… Two-time Suburban One All-League Honorable Mention for field hockey

CLUB TEAM: Played for Phantastix Lacrosse Club.         
 
IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to pursue a master's of science in organizational leadership … graduated Cum Laude from Saint Joseph's and was a member of the Dean's List.     

PERSONAL: Samantha McGee … born on October 11, 1998 … father, Jason, played lacrosse at West Chester… enjoys skiing … favorite food is chips and guacamole … favorite professional athlete is Simone Biles and her favorite book is The Glass Castle.
 
Cooper Palm
WHIDDEN ON PALM: Cooper has a great lacrosse IQ and is able to anticipate well on the defensive end. She has great footwork and will be a solid player for us on the defensive end. Cooper is also strong in between the 30s and will help us create a transition offense. We are excited to welcome her to the Buffalo family.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 graduate of Glen Ridge High School … lettered in lacrosse, field hockey and track … recorded 28 goals, three assists, 53 ground balls, 38 draw controls and 34 caused turnovers during her career … her team won the 2021 Group 1 North Sectional Championship for the first time in 12 years, which she lists as the biggest moment of her high school career … named to the 2021 Stars and Stripes Conference All-Stars North Division First Team, First Team Essex County, Third Team All-Group 1 and Most Spirited Player as a senior … as a sophomore she was named honorable mention all-league Stars and Stripes and Super Essex County while her team won the Essex County Championship … member of the honor roll throughout high school … earned the Rotary award all four years … also recruited by Oregon, Louisville and Virginia Tech.
 
IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in communication and is interested in sports media.
 
PERSONAL: Cooper Palm … born on May 19, 2003 … has spent time working as a lifeguard and coaching … enjoys skiing, hiking and hanging out with friends … favorite book is Born A Crime by Trevor Noah … would like to pursue a career working with professional sports teams in the media after graduation … also recruited by Oregon, Louisville and Virginia Tech.
 
Morgan Zimmerman
WHIDDEN ON ZIMMERMAN: Morgan is a stronger, athletic a  with a great work ethic. She has great stick work and great IQ on both ends of the field. Morgan's style of play will fit well into our systems and we cannot wait for her to be on campus.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2021 Sachem East High School graduate … played midfield on her lacrosse team which recorded an 11-3 mark her senior year … was also a member of the field hockey team that won the 2019 and '20 Long Island Championship and qualified for state … earned all-county, all-state and all-state tournament honors during her high school career as a member of both the lacrosse and field hockey teams … named the scholar-athlete her freshman-senior years … member of the honor roll all four years.

CLUB TEAM: Played for Legacy Lacrosse.  
 
IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in environmental studies.

PERSONAL: Morgan Zimmerman … born on January 6, 2003 … father, Marc, played lacrosse at Maryland … hobbies include fishing, surfing and hiking … her favorite food is sushi … her favorite musical group is Dan and Shay … her favorite athlete is Simone Biles … intends to become a marine biologist after graduation.