Grand Junction, Colo. – Head women's lacrosse coach, Shannon McHale announces 11 new 2022 additions to the program.

The recruiting class includes a trio of in-state standouts, joined by teammates who make their way from California, Missouri, Oregon and New Zealand. Bios and quotes for each of the players are below. 


Justine Anderson
5'9 | Midfield | The Classical Academy | Colorado Springs, Colo.
Personal: Parents are Marc and Kristen Anderson…Has one sibling Peyton…
Prep: Academic letterman 2019-22
Academic All state First team 2019-22
National Honors Society 2019-2022
Varsity Letterman 2019-2022
All Conference 2020
Team Colorado- National Team 2020
American Select - 2021
Captain / Most Inspirational Player (Basketball ) 2019
Summer Team: Club 180 – Coach Sam Barton
Why I chose CMU: Colorado Mesa checked all of the boxes for me in terms of proximity to home, medium school size, and the lacrosse program feels like a second family," said Anderson.
Coach McHale on Justine: We are excited to welcome Justine to our lacrosse family! She has good size, speed and versatility. She has a great work ethic, competitive nature and strong desire to excel and her persistence, resiliency and good nature make her a great teammate and leader."
 


Sophie Astone
5'6 | Midfield | Chatfield Senior HS | Littleton, Colo.
Personal: Parents are Gretchen and Brian Astone…Has one sibling, Andrew…Plans to major in Kinesiology
Prep: Played for Jess Hanson and the Chargers of Chatfield Senior High School…2019 All-Conference Honorable Mention…2021 First Team All-Conference
Why I Chose CMU: "I choose CMU because of the amazing opportunities that are available for me to continue my academic and lacrosse career. The location and campus size are two of the biggest reasons I choose Mesa. I also love being outdoors and Grand Junction has amazing hiking, biking and camping spots. I am most excited to be a part of the lacrosse program because of the potential the team has to become a top ranked program in the NCAA. The team chemistry seems very strong leading to a fun, successful atmosphere on and off the field. The school's support for athletics in general is another aspect that really caught my eye. I can't wait to be a part of this team and compete with some amazing girls."
Coach McHale on Sophie: "Sophie is a very solid athlete with great vision, speed and a good stick. She is a playmaker with a strong work rate, who will continue to build the competitiveness of the program daily. Sophie is a team-first player with strong leadership, we are excited to have her at Colorado Mesa!"



Stella Cardenas
5'5 | Goalie | Davis Senior HS | Davis, Calif.
Personal: Parents are Stephany Cavatoni and Juan Cardenas…Has one sibling, Lucas…Plans to major in Biology
Prep: Played for Coach Jennifer Morris and the Devils of Davis Senior High School
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose Colorado Mesa because it felt like the right fit for me. I loved the amazing atmosphere of the lacrosse team, the campus and the beautiful surroundings. It is the perfect place for me to continue my lacrosse and academic career," said Cardenas.
Coach McHale on Stella: "We are happy to welcome Stella to our program! She has good communication and presence in cage, she is athletic with quick hands and is always working to improve her game. She has high standards accompanied by a competitive and fun demeanor."
 


Carson Dickey
5'7 | Midfield/Attack | Murrieta Mesa HS | Murrieta, Calif.
Personal: Parents are Pam & Scott Dickey…Has one sibling, Logan…Played for Molly Sovacool and the Rams of Murrieta Mesa High School
Prep: 1st team All-League, 1 team All CIF, 4-year varsity, lead goal scorer (58 goals in a season)
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose Colorado Mesa University because everyone on campus made me feel so welcome and at home. I loved the beauty of the campus and all the majors offered, as well as the area and the opportunity for a variety of outdoor activities. It was a perfect fit for me!" said Dickey.
Coach McHale on Carson: "We are looking forward to Carson being a part of our lax family!
She has improved dramatically in the past year - with her desire to be a presence at the collegiate level and her strong work ethic, Carson has unlimited potential. She is always smiling and a great teammate."
 


Sidney Edmonds
5'5 | Defensive/Midfield | Holy Family HS | Westminster, Colo.
Personal: Parents are John & Robin Edmonds…Has one sibling, Evelyn
Prep: Played for Sarah Brown and the Tigers of Holy Family High School…Second Team All-State selection…All-Conference.
Why I Chose CMU: "I was uncertain where I wanted to attend college; however, my first visit to CMU was all I needed to be sure. I fell in love with Western Colorado, the campus, the academics, the variety of activities, the welcoming students and the women's lacrosse team. The players and the coaching staff made it clear that they are a highly competitive program with a fun-loving atmosphere. I could not ask for a better fit and I am so excited to further my academic and athletic career at Colorado Mesa University!" said Edmonds.
Coach McHale on Sidney: "Sidney is humble and hard-working, has good vision and knows the game. She is a good defender with a great deal of potential at the collegiate level. She is a caring and supportive teammate with a quiet competitiveness that will continue to raise the level of our program."
 
 

Cameron Flynn
5'6 | Midfield | Fort Zumwalt South HS | Saint Peter, Missouri
Personal: Plans to major in Environmental Science…Played for Fort Zumwlat South High School
Why I Chose CMU: "I Chose Colorado Mesa for the location, the Environmental Science program and the intensity of the lacrosse program."
Coach McHale on Cam: "We look forward to Cam making an impact with our program! She is an athlete who has speed and natural dodging abilities. She is a competitive and always striving to improve every aspect of her game."
 


Ella Freemon
5'8 | Midfield | Epson Girls Grammar School | Hunua, Auckland
Personal: Parents are Helen McLean and Mark Freemon…Has one sibling, Joseph
Prep: Played for the Lions of Epson Girls Grammar School…Most Improved Player (2017)…Recipient of colours and sporting scholarship for outstanding performance in Lacrosse (2019-2021)…Most Valuable Player (2020, 2021)…College Sport Auckland's Young Sportsperson of the Year (Lacrosse) – 2021.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose Colorado Mesa because it felt like a second home to me - coming from the other side of the world, that was extremely important to me. The players and the coaching staff have been so supportive and when speaking with them, I knew it would be such a great environment to be a part of. CMU has been very helpful in preparing for my transition to be an international student-athlete. I am certain the next 4 years will be really special," said Freemon.
Coach McHale on Ella: "We are so happy to welcome Ella to our CMU family! She is an exceptional athlete with an incredible drive to become the best student-athlete in her time as a MAVERICK. Her experience with the New Zealand National Women's team has built her IQ and passion, she will be a great addition to our program!"
 

 
Courtney Havel
5'5 | Attack | Lake Oswego HS | Lake Oswego, Ore.
Personal: Parents are Melissa and Paul…Has one sibling, Paige
Prep: Played for Lauren Anderson and the Sailors of Lake Oswego High School…First Team All-League selection…Enjoys skiing, hiking and fashion.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because of the beautiful campus and views on your short walk between classes. I love the outdoor activities and all the amazing hiking within minutes of campus. I am excited to be part of the Women's Lacrosse program; the team is so welcoming and are each other's family away from home. I cannot wait for the next 4 years as a student-athlete Colorado Mesa!" said Havel.
Coach McHale on Courtney: "Courtney has great vision and good speed, she will bring a strong dynamic to our transition game. She is a solid athlete with a good stick as well as being quick and shifty attacking the cage. Her fun and competitive nature will be a welcome addition to our Maverick family!"
 
 

Devon Morris
5'6 | Midfield | Davis Senior HS | Davis, Calif.
Personal: Parents are Jennifer & Scott Morris…Siblings are Brinley and Josh…Plans to major in Sociology
Prep: Played for Blue Devils of Davis Senior High School…Enjoys video games, rollerblading, going out with friends, and trying new food places.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose Colorado Mesa because I love the school's friendly and fun environment. I am looking forward to meeting new people and being challenged with playing lacrosse at the next level. I am excited about being a part of the CMU community and living in a new place!" said Morris.
Coach McHale on Devon: "Devon has a quick first step and great speed, she will be solid in transition on the attacking side. We are looking forward to her consistency of play and are happy to welcome Devon to our CMU lacrosse family!"
 


Olivia Turk
5'6 | Defense | Oak Ridge HS | El Dorado Hills, Calif.
Personal: Plans to major in Criminal Justice with aspirations of being a cop and going in SWAT or be a firefighter
Prep: Played for Nate Hendel and the Trojans of Oak Ridge High School…Enjoys lifting weights and cooking.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose CMU because I immediately felt at home when I stepped foot on campus. I love all the beautiful areas in and around Grand Junction. The lacrosse team was very welcoming and I could see they were like a family to each other. I am looking forward to the next 4 years as a MAVERICK!"
Coach McHale on Olivia: "Turk is a great athlete and a solid defender, she will continue to build the competitiveness and standards of the CMU program. She is a leader with an exceptional work ethic who encourages and lifts her teammates. We are looking forward to having Olivia join our program!"
 




Izzy Whitt
5'4 | Defense | Cherry Creek | Centennial, Colo.
Personal: Aspires to be a physical therapist
Prep: Played for Cherry Creek High School…Served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative…DECA and FCCLA National Qualifier…FCCLA Officer…City Lax board member.
Why I Chose CMU: "I chose Colorado Mesa for the many activities offered on campus and around Grand Junction. It is a great place with amazing views and a beautiful campus. I will also get to play lacrosse with so many amazing athletes and for Coach McHale," said Whitt.
She also says she is most excited to create friendship, play at a competitive level, practicing with the surrounding views and the availability of the amazing facilities.
Coach McHale on Izzy: "We are happy to have Izzy join our program! She is a strong defender and communicator - with her work ethic, she has unlimited potential at the collegiate level. Izzy has a great positive presence and is a supportive teammate."