PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's Lois S. Leitner head women's lacrosse coach,
Karin Corbett, has announced the addition of eight women who will join the program as members of the Class of 2027.
"This incoming freshmen class hits all positions from attack to goalkeeping," Corbett said. "Several have won state championships and bring a winning mentality to a team that will compete to win the Ivy League once again. We bring in two prolific scorers on the attack as well as more depth to our midfield while rounding it out with a defender and a goalie. We believe that there is a great deal of versatility and competitiveness in this group. We are excited to begin working with this class and see how they can contribute."
MAGGIE BANKOWSKI
Midfield // Loomis Chaffee School (Conn.) // Portland, Ore.
High School: Lettered as a freshman at Oregon Episcopal School before lettering three years at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut … Two-time First-Team All-NEPSAC … Adrenaline All-American … Also played basketball and soccer … Academic All-American … High Honor Roll all three years at Loomis Chaffee … Math Honors …. Language Honors.
Club: Played for 3D Oregon from 2015-23 and 3D Colorado from 2018-23 … Also played on the 3D National Team … Under Armour West Team … American Select West Team … WPLL Futures 2019.
Personal: Daughter of Susan and Brandon Bankowski … Father played football at Cornell, and mother played lacrosse and field hockey at Johns Hopkins … Brother, Ethan, plays lacrosse at Connecticut College … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Why She Chose Penn: "I was looking for top academics and lacrosse in an urban setting and Penn was the perfect combination. The supportive team environment pushed Penn over the top for me."
Coach Corbett Says: "Maggie is our first player ever from Oregon. She is a well-rounded midfielder who excels at both ends of the field. One of her greatest strengths is her lacrosse IQ. She understands the game both offensively and defensively. We are looking to have Maggie give us depth in the midfield."
CATHERINE BERKERY
Attack // Bronxville // Bronxville, N.Y.
High School: Lettered four years at Bronxville … Team captain … State Champion … Two-time Regional Champion … Three-time Sectional Champion … All-American … All-State … Three-time All-Section … Three-time All-League … Lower Westchester Player of the Year and US Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week during junior season … In final two seasons, totaled 112 goals and 116 assists … Also lettered entire high school career in soccer and basketball … In soccer, won a state championship, a regional title, and three sectional titles … In basketball, named All-Section and two-time All-League … Autism Awareness Club … One Love Club … Athletic Council Vice President.
Club: Played for PrimeTime for seven years.
Personal: Daughter of Joanie and Drew Berkery … Sister, Allie, plays lacrosse for Northwestern … Brother, Andrew, played football for Bryant … Three high school teammates play at Ivy League schools: Kiki Tormey (Brown), Anna Becker (Columbia), Mia Puccio (Dartmouth) … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn not only because of the incredible location and academics but the amazing team and coaching staff! Everyone makes you feel so welcome and truly cares for one another and I can't wait to be part of it!"
Coach Corbett Says: "Catherine has great size and tremendous ability to get to goal. She has good lacrosse IQ and vision to impact either at X or up top on our attack. We are excited to add more depth and more options for scoring to our attack."
MADDIE ECKERT
Goalkeeper // Manheim Township // Lancaster, Pa.
High School: Lettered all four years at Manheim Township … Team captain … Two-time 3A State Championship runner-up … Two-time District 3A Champion … Three-time Lancaster Lebanon (LL) League Champions … Two-time All-American … LL League MVP during senior year … Three-time LL League All-Star … Also lettered in field hockey and swimming … Two-time LL League All-Star for field hockey … First Honor Roll all four years with 4.0 GPA … Academic All-American … Co-Head and Co-Founder of Manheim Township's Morgan's Message Club … Mini Thon Food Head and Member.
Club: Played for Xtreme Lacrosse PA.
Personal: Daughter of Meghan and Marc Eckert … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences with a biology focus.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn because of the balance between competitive athletics and academics. I always knew I wanted to play at the D1 level, but I also knew I wanted to play with peers who understood the importance of getting good grades. The atmosphere here at Penn is like no other, so I knew I could thrive both on the field and in the classroom."
Coach Corbett Says: "Maddie has great size within the net. She has quick hands and is confident in clearing and outside the net. We are excited to have Maddie add to our goalkeeping unit."
ALEX GLOMB
Midfield // William Penn Charter // Wyndmoor, Pa.
High School: Lettered all four years at Penn Charter … Team captain … 2022 PAISSA State Champions … Coaches Award … Also lettered in squash, field hockey, and cross country/track and field … Ranked 13th nationally as a team for squash … Coaches Award in squash and field hockey … High Honors all four years … Cum Laude … Clerk of Women in Business Club … Participated in the musical Mama Mia … Science Peer tutor.
Club: Played for Big 4 HHH for six years … Two-time American Select Team … 2019 Champions Cup … Top 20 US Club Lacrosse.
Personal: Daughter of Frances and John Glomb … Mother played field hockey and lacrosse at Penn … Father rowed at Penn … Brother, James, is a rower at Penn … Brother, George, plays lacrosse for Villanova … Brother, Jack, wrestles club at Georgetown … Played high school lacrosse with two current Penn teammates: Grace Turner and
Vanessa Ewing … Has eight other teammates that are playing Division I lacrosse including Charlotte Hodgeson at Ivy League foe Harvard … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn because of the prestigious academic opportunities that couple with top of the country athletic programs, creating an unmatched institution. The community that the team and school exhibits is something I strive to be a part of."
Coach Corbett Says: "Alex doesn't travel far to play for Penn. A graduate from Penn Charter here in Philly, Alex will give us depth in our midfield. Her strength lies in her abilities between the 30s. She has speed and brings confidence with the ball in transition."
GRACE MATTER
Midfield // Summit // Summit, N.J.
High School: Lettered all four years at Summit … Team captain … Two-time Group 2 State Champions … Three-time Section North Group 2 Champions … 2022 Tournament of Champions … Two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American … Also lettered in soccer and winter track and field, including captain for both … Summa Cum Laude … Summit Boost Scholar-Athlete Award.
Club: Played for Steps Blue from 2014-22.
Personal: Daughter of Kourtney and Clinton Matter … Mother was a swimmer at Penn, Class of 1998 … Father was a wrestler at Penn, Class of 1997 … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn because of the camaraderie of the women's lacrosse team, the exceptional coaching staff, and the excellent educational opportunities that the university has to offer."
Coach Corbett Says: "Grace is a competitive midfielder with speed. Her lateral quickness and foot speed will impact her the most on the defensive end. She is aggressive and wants the ball, and her communication on defense helps the unit succeed. We are excited to see how Grace can impact this season."
REGAN O'BRIEN
Attack // Bedford // Bedford, N.H.
High School: Lettered three years at Bedford … Team captain … 2023 NHIAA Division I State Champion … Two-time US Lacrosse All-American … Three-time First-Team All-State Division I … 2023 Inside Lacrosse Top 60 Class of 2023 … 2022 USA Lacrosse National Team Development Program Combine Invite … Three-time NHHS Media First-Team All-State … Bedford High School Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year … Two-time Sportsmanship Award … Also lettered in field hockey … National Honor Society … New Hampshire Senior Scholar-Athlete Award … High Honor Roll all four years … National Math Honor Society … National Spanish Honor Society … Class Student Council Public Relations Officer … Unified Basketball-Special Olympics Partner … Distributive Education Clubs of America Member … Volunteer Youth Lacrosse Coach.
Club: Played for New Hampshire Tomahawks … Two-time American Select Massachusetts … Two-time Under Armour 150 … 2020 Under Armour All-American, New England.
Personal: Daughter of Christine and Bill O'Brien … Father played lacrosse at Army, Class of 1991 … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn because I wanted to compete at the highest level athletically while continuing to challenge myself academically. I know I can be successful and contribute to this already incredible family that the team has cultivated. The coaches and girls bring an unmatched energy."
Coach Corbett Says: "Regan is our first player to come from New Hampshire. We are so excited to have a lefty attacker of her caliber. Regan has tremendous vison at X and has a nose to get to goal. Having a lefty adds a great deal to an offense, and Regan is a competitor who will bring a new look to our attack."
CLARE RUFF
Defense // Honeoye Falls-Lima // Honeoye Falls, N.Y.
High School: Lettered five years at Honeoye Falls-Lima … Team captain … 2022 NYS Class C State runner-up … 2023 NYC Class C State semifinalist … Three-time NYS Class C Regional Champion … Four-time Section Five Class C Champion … Two-time MVP of Section Five tournament … Two-time NYSPHAA Class C All-Tournament team … 2022 First-Team All-Monroe County … Led team in caused turnovers and goals final two seasons … US Lacrosse Academic All-American … Also lettered four years in basketball … Unanimous Monroe Country Player of the Year … Led Monroe County in assists in 2023 and broke school record for most assists in a single game … First-Team All-Monroe County … Led Monroe County in steals and assists in 2022 and broke school record for steals in a single season … Class President … Editor of school newspaper … National Honor Society … French National Honor Society.
Club: Played for FCA Upstate Lacrosse from 2019-22 … FCA National Team in 2021 … 2021 Under Armour Highlight Team … Named Inside Lacrosse Magazine "Player to Watch".
Personal: Daughter of Renee and Raymond Ruff … Brother, Garrett, played lacrosse at Cornell … Sister, Lexie, played lacrosse at Vermont … Father played basketball at Hartwick … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences with an English focus.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn because it is the best of both worlds- I am able to receive the best education in the country while playing lacrosse at the highest level."
Coach Corbett Says: "Clare is a tough 1-v-1 defender. She is strong and thrives on the defensive end. She has speed on the clear and is confident with the ball. Clare will give us more depth on the defensive end."
EDEN WELCH
Midfield // Phillips Exeter Academy // Danvers, Mass.
High School: Lettered all four years at Phillips Exeter … Team captain … All-American … Two-time Class A All-NEPSAC … Team MVP … 2021 Exeter Full Fifty Award … Finished senior year with 53 goals, six assists, 22 caused turnovers, 17 ground balls, and 56 draw controls … Also lettered all four years in field hockey and ice hockey … Two-time Class A NEPSAC Honorable Mention in field hockey … High Honors all four years … 2023 Sadler Cup Award … Cum Laude … 2023 Academic Achievement Award in Economics … PG Mentor.
Club: Played for Bay State Bullets '21 Silver from 2019-21 … Played for Laxachusetts '23 Black from 2021-22.
Personal: Daughter of Lisa and Peter Welch … Father played lacrosse and hockey at Harvard, Class of 1992 … Mother played field hockey at Vermont, Class of 1992 … Brother, Kyle, rowed at Georgetown, Class of 2022 … Brother, Ryan, plays hockey at Tufts … Has eight teammates playing lacrosse at Division I including two in the Ivy League: Marymegan Wright (Yale) and Tia Reaman (Princeton) … Enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences with an Economics focus.
Why She Chose Penn: "I chose Penn because it felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus and watched practice on a sunny Saturday in October. The energy was incredible, and I immediately saw how committed everyone was to working hard, pushing each other, and putting the team first. I knew I wanted to be a part of that culture. As a school, Penn offers the best of both worlds for someone like me, who grew up and went to high school in the suburbs. I love that I can explore a big city like Philly while also settling into a self-contained campus. The opportunities for growth and pursuing my passions at Penn are endless, and there are so many resources and support systems to help me thrive here. Playing lacrosse at the highest level, receiving a world-renowned education, and immersing myself in such a lively and tight-knit community is a dream come true!"
Coach Corbett Says: "Eden brings strength and power to the midfield. She loves to go to goal, and her stature makes her a force to reckon with. Eden will help to bring depth to our midfield and her height could help on the draw circle."
#FightOnPenn
