Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Lacrosse Inks 10 to National Letters of Intent
11/10/2022 12:08:00 PM | Lacrosse
Eagles continuing to build the newest program on campus with additional talent
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University Lacrosse Head Coach Sara Tisdale announced her first signing class today, Nov. 10, with 10 student-athletes inking their names to National Letters of Intent to join the program and continue their academic and athletic careers in Ypsilanti. The class of current high school seniors are set to join the Eagles in the fall of 2023 and compete in the spring of 2024.
"I am thrilled to welcome these 10 outstanding student-athletes to our program," Tisdale said of the newest Eagles. "This class will provide depth in key positions and compliment the talent on our current roster."
The wings of the program spread far and wide for this class, as the newest Eagles hail from nine different states and stretch from coast to coast with one player from California and several from the Atlantic seaboard. The states included feature two student-athletes from New York and one each from Michigan, California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Four of the newcomers hail from the Midwest, including in-state product Leah Rings of Comstock, Mich. (Rockford). She is joined by Lauren Black from Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West), Carly Johnson from Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview), and Paiton Russell from Sylvania, Ohio (Saint Ursula Academy). The newest Eagle flying the furthest is Roya Khaleeli, who will come from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (Palos Verdes Peninsula).
The final five newcomers include New Yorkers Maddie Porter from Montrose (Hendrick Hudson) and Lexi Smalline from Rochester (West Irondequoit); Kendall Nagle from Sudlersville, Md. (Queen Anne's County); Ally Moore from Annandale, N.J. (North Hunterdon); and Gracie Fugleberg from Charlottesville, Va. (Albemarle).
The 2023 Eagles are preparing for the inaugural season which is set to begin in February. A full schedule for the team's first season of play will be released in December.
FOLLOW US
For updates on EMU Lacrosse, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, @EMU_Lacrosse, and Twitter, @EMU_Lacrosse.
2022 Eastern Michigan Lacrosse National Signing Day
Lauren Black • M • Waukesha, Wis. • Waukesha West HS
Gracie Fugleberg • A • Charlottesville, Va. • Albemarle HS
Carly Johnson • A • Apple Valley, Minn. • Eastview HS
Roya Khaleeli • M • Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. • Palos Verdes Peninsula HS
Ally Moore • M • Annandale, N.J. • North Hunterdon Regional HS
Kendall Nagle • M • Sudlersville, Md. • Queen Anne's County HS
Maddie Porter • G • Montrose, N.Y. • Hendrick Hudson HS
Leah Rings • A/M • Comstock Park, Mich. • Rockford HS
Paiton Russell • M • Sylvania, Ohio • Saint Ursula Academy
Lexi Smalline • M • Rochester, N.Y. • West Irondequoit HS
Signing Class Bios (alphabetical)
Midfield
Waukesha, Wis. • Waukesha West HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Waukesha West High School in Waukesha, Wis....Will compete in her senior season this spring...Has already lettered four times in lacrosse for WWHS, scoring 73 goals and netting a school-record eight in one game...Helped her team to a conference title and was named first-team all-conference...At the club level, has played seven years with Black Lax...PERSONAL: Full Name: Lauren Ava Black...Parents are Timothy and Shari Black...Has two brothers, Gavin and Mason...Will be the third member of her family to compete in NCAA Division I athletics following her dad and brother...Major: Finance/Real Estate.
Attack
Charlottesville, Va. • Albemarle HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va....Has competed for the lacrosse team for two seasons and will play her senior season this spring...Helped her team to a district championship...Captured a state title in track and field as well as the team won the 2021 crown...At the club level, played for Yellow Jackets South for four years...Helped the team to the River City Championship...PERSONAL: Full Name: Grace Marie Fugleberg...Mother is Traci Fugleberg...Two of her uncles played rugby in college, including her uncle, Tom, at Bucknell and her uncle, Brett, at Bridgewater State...Major: Neuroscience.
Attack
Apple Valley, Minn. • Eastview HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minn....Earned all-conference honors her junior season in lacrosse...Also plays for the team's ice hockey team...At the club level, has played five years for Minnesota Elite.
PERSONAL: Full Name: Carly Rae Johnson...Parents are Matt and Marg Johnson...Has two siblings, including one brother, Cullen, and one sister, Madeline...Her brother, Cullen, competes for the golf team at Augustana (S.D.) University...Major: Business.
Midfield
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. • Palos Verdes Peninsula HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif....Will compete in her senior season this spring...Named a three-time Bay League First Team midfielder...Selected as the team's Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and the team's MVP in 2022...Twice selected All-CIF-Southern Section...Named to the 2021 and 2022 Under Armour WEST Highlight Team...Also ran on the school's cross country team, reaching the CIF-SS Finals in 2021...At the club level, played a combined 14 years for Fire Lacrosse, LA United, and Under Armour West Highlight...PERSONAL: Full Name: Roya Elizabeth Khaleeli...Parents are Emad Khaleeli and Erica Buck-Khaleeli...Has two brothers, Cyrus and Kiyan...Major: Pre-Veterinary Biology.
Midfield
Annandale, N.J. • North Hunterdon Regional HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends North Hunterdon Regional High School in Annandale, N.J....Set to play her senior lacrosse season this spring...Named an NJ.com Top 75 Sophomore player in New Jersey in 2021...Named to the Hunterdon County all-star team...Twice named first team all-conference...At the club level, has played seven years for Triple Threat Elite...PERSONAL: Full Name: Alessandra Elizabeth Moore...Parents are Gerald and Elizabeth Moore...Has one sister, Carly...Her dad, Gerald, played ice hockey for Penn State University...Major: Business.
Midfield
Sudlersville, Md. • Queen Anne's County HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Queen Anne's County High School in Centreville, Md....Has lettered in lacrosse four times for the Lions with her senior season set to be played this spring...Twice named All-Bayside Conference, including first-team as a junior...Helped her team to back-to-back conference crowns and the 2021 Maryland State 2A title...Also competed in soccer and basketball at QACHS...Soccer team won two league crowns in a row and captured the 2022 regional title...Also helped the basketball team to a conference title...At the club level, played four years for Maryland United Lacrosse Club 2023 East...Captured the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Elite 8 Championship...PERSONAL: Full Name: Kendall Fleetwood Nagle...Parents are Ralph and Kerry Nagle...Has one brother, Conlan...Major: Criminal Justice/Criminology.
Goalie
Montrose, N.Y. • Hendrick Hudson HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, N.Y....Has lettered five times in lacrosse for the Sailors with her senior season coming in the spring...Set school single-game records for saves with 21 and passes intercepted by a goalie with eight...Earned NYS all-section and twice named all-league...Helped her team capture the 2021 NYS Section 1 Championship...Also competed in volleyball, basketball, and tennis...Helped the volleyball team to section and regional championships on the way to earning a spot in the 2021 NYS State Tournament finals...At the club level, has played eight years for Prime Time...PERSONAL: Full Name: Madison Porter...Parents are Robert and Trina Porter...Has three brothers, Kenny, Alan, and Andrew, and two sisters, Mackenzie and Jordan...Comes from an athletic family as her mom played softball in college while her brother Alan and both sisters play collegiate lacrosse...Major: Undecided.
Attack/Midfield
Comstock Park, Mich. • Rockford HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Rockford High School in Rockford, Mich....Played her first two years at Comstock High School where she was a member of the varsity lacrosse, basketball, and volleyball teams...Helped the basketball team to a conference title as a sophomore...Played her freshman year lacrosse season for CHS but the pandemic canceled her sophomore season...After transferring to RHS, competed in lacrosse and field hockey, captaining both squads...Will play her senior season in the spring...At the club level, played three years for Triumph National Premier, two years for MIElite, and two years with Pure Advantage National Premier Lacrosse...PERSONAL: Full Name: Leah Nicole Rings...Parents are Allen and Sherry Rings...Has one sister, Shaylin...Major: Clinical Laboratory Science.
Midfield
Sylvania, Ohio • Saint Ursula Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Saint Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio...Has lettered four times for the Arrows in lacrosse with her senior season set to take place this spring...Captured Three Rivers Athletic Conference twice in lacrosse...Individually, named All-TRAC first team twice...Also earned All-Region 5 honors twice, including first team in 2022...Ran for the cross country team for two seasons as well...Played six years for the club team Triumph Lacrosse...PERSONAL: Full Name: Paiton Jean Russell...Parents are David Russell and Jennifer Fischer...Has one sister, Paxton Russell...Her mom, Jennifer, played golf and hockey in college...Major: Mechanical Engineering.
Midfield
Rochester, N.Y. • West Irondequoit HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends West Irondequoit High School in Rochester, N.Y....Will play her senior season this spring...Earned second-team all-county honors and was named to the Under Armour 150...At the club level, has played nine years for Monster Elite Lacrosse...PERSONAL: Full Name: Alexia Rose Smalline...Parents are Jeremy and Susan Smalline...Has one brother, Owen...Major: Undecided.
"I am thrilled to welcome these 10 outstanding student-athletes to our program," Tisdale said of the newest Eagles. "This class will provide depth in key positions and compliment the talent on our current roster."
The wings of the program spread far and wide for this class, as the newest Eagles hail from nine different states and stretch from coast to coast with one player from California and several from the Atlantic seaboard. The states included feature two student-athletes from New York and one each from Michigan, California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Four of the newcomers hail from the Midwest, including in-state product Leah Rings of Comstock, Mich. (Rockford). She is joined by Lauren Black from Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West), Carly Johnson from Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview), and Paiton Russell from Sylvania, Ohio (Saint Ursula Academy). The newest Eagle flying the furthest is Roya Khaleeli, who will come from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. (Palos Verdes Peninsula).
The final five newcomers include New Yorkers Maddie Porter from Montrose (Hendrick Hudson) and Lexi Smalline from Rochester (West Irondequoit); Kendall Nagle from Sudlersville, Md. (Queen Anne's County); Ally Moore from Annandale, N.J. (North Hunterdon); and Gracie Fugleberg from Charlottesville, Va. (Albemarle).
The 2023 Eagles are preparing for the inaugural season which is set to begin in February. A full schedule for the team's first season of play will be released in December.
FOLLOW US
For updates on EMU Lacrosse, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, @EMU_Lacrosse, and Twitter, @EMU_Lacrosse.
2022 Eastern Michigan Lacrosse National Signing Day
Lauren Black • M • Waukesha, Wis. • Waukesha West HS
Gracie Fugleberg • A • Charlottesville, Va. • Albemarle HS
Carly Johnson • A • Apple Valley, Minn. • Eastview HS
Roya Khaleeli • M • Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. • Palos Verdes Peninsula HS
Ally Moore • M • Annandale, N.J. • North Hunterdon Regional HS
Kendall Nagle • M • Sudlersville, Md. • Queen Anne's County HS
Maddie Porter • G • Montrose, N.Y. • Hendrick Hudson HS
Leah Rings • A/M • Comstock Park, Mich. • Rockford HS
Paiton Russell • M • Sylvania, Ohio • Saint Ursula Academy
Lexi Smalline • M • Rochester, N.Y. • West Irondequoit HS
Signing Class Bios (alphabetical)
Lauren Black𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 10, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2023! 💚
🥍 Lauren Black (@laurenblack_29)
🗺️ Waukesha, Wis.
🏫 Waukesha West HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/uokuq3nAIn
Midfield
Waukesha, Wis. • Waukesha West HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Waukesha West High School in Waukesha, Wis....Will compete in her senior season this spring...Has already lettered four times in lacrosse for WWHS, scoring 73 goals and netting a school-record eight in one game...Helped her team to a conference title and was named first-team all-conference...At the club level, has played seven years with Black Lax...PERSONAL: Full Name: Lauren Ava Black...Parents are Timothy and Shari Black...Has two brothers, Gavin and Mason...Will be the third member of her family to compete in NCAA Division I athletics following her dad and brother...Major: Finance/Real Estate.
Gracie Fugleberg𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Gracie Fugleberg (@graciefugleberg)
🗺️ Charlottesville, Va.
🏫 Albemarle HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/j4QT6SziBU
Attack
Charlottesville, Va. • Albemarle HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Va....Has competed for the lacrosse team for two seasons and will play her senior season this spring...Helped her team to a district championship...Captured a state title in track and field as well as the team won the 2021 crown...At the club level, played for Yellow Jackets South for four years...Helped the team to the River City Championship...PERSONAL: Full Name: Grace Marie Fugleberg...Mother is Traci Fugleberg...Two of her uncles played rugby in college, including her uncle, Tom, at Bucknell and her uncle, Brett, at Bridgewater State...Major: Neuroscience.
Carly Johnson𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Carly Johnson (@CarlyJohnson07)
🗺️ Apple Valley, Minn.
🏫 Eastview HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/SRLbQh5r0z
Attack
Apple Valley, Minn. • Eastview HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minn....Earned all-conference honors her junior season in lacrosse...Also plays for the team's ice hockey team...At the club level, has played five years for Minnesota Elite.
PERSONAL: Full Name: Carly Rae Johnson...Parents are Matt and Marg Johnson...Has two siblings, including one brother, Cullen, and one sister, Madeline...Her brother, Cullen, competes for the golf team at Augustana (S.D.) University...Major: Business.
Roya Khaleeli𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Roya Khaleeli
🗺️ Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
🏫 Palos Verdes Peninsula HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/afhZcWI4nI
Midfield
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. • Palos Verdes Peninsula HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Palos Verdes Peninsula High School in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif....Will compete in her senior season this spring...Named a three-time Bay League First Team midfielder...Selected as the team's Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and the team's MVP in 2022...Twice selected All-CIF-Southern Section...Named to the 2021 and 2022 Under Armour WEST Highlight Team...Also ran on the school's cross country team, reaching the CIF-SS Finals in 2021...At the club level, played a combined 14 years for Fire Lacrosse, LA United, and Under Armour West Highlight...PERSONAL: Full Name: Roya Elizabeth Khaleeli...Parents are Emad Khaleeli and Erica Buck-Khaleeli...Has two brothers, Cyrus and Kiyan...Major: Pre-Veterinary Biology.
Ally Moore𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Ally Moore
🗺️ Annandale, N.J.
🏫 North Hunterdon Regional HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/WAWJaPg1kx
Midfield
Annandale, N.J. • North Hunterdon Regional HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends North Hunterdon Regional High School in Annandale, N.J....Set to play her senior lacrosse season this spring...Named an NJ.com Top 75 Sophomore player in New Jersey in 2021...Named to the Hunterdon County all-star team...Twice named first team all-conference...At the club level, has played seven years for Triple Threat Elite...PERSONAL: Full Name: Alessandra Elizabeth Moore...Parents are Gerald and Elizabeth Moore...Has one sister, Carly...Her dad, Gerald, played ice hockey for Penn State University...Major: Business.
Kendall Nagle𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 10, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2023! 💚
🥍 Kendall Nagle
🗺️ Sudlersville, Md.
🏫 Queen Anne's County HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/jz7DkCO5oL
Midfield
Sudlersville, Md. • Queen Anne's County HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Queen Anne's County High School in Centreville, Md....Has lettered in lacrosse four times for the Lions with her senior season set to be played this spring...Twice named All-Bayside Conference, including first-team as a junior...Helped her team to back-to-back conference crowns and the 2021 Maryland State 2A title...Also competed in soccer and basketball at QACHS...Soccer team won two league crowns in a row and captured the 2022 regional title...Also helped the basketball team to a conference title...At the club level, played four years for Maryland United Lacrosse Club 2023 East...Captured the inaugural Inside Lacrosse Elite 8 Championship...PERSONAL: Full Name: Kendall Fleetwood Nagle...Parents are Ralph and Kerry Nagle...Has one brother, Conlan...Major: Criminal Justice/Criminology.
Maddie Porter𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Madison Porter
🗺️ Montrose, N.Y.
🏫 Hendrick Hudson HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/fDjKwpMKBR
Goalie
Montrose, N.Y. • Hendrick Hudson HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, N.Y....Has lettered five times in lacrosse for the Sailors with her senior season coming in the spring...Set school single-game records for saves with 21 and passes intercepted by a goalie with eight...Earned NYS all-section and twice named all-league...Helped her team capture the 2021 NYS Section 1 Championship...Also competed in volleyball, basketball, and tennis...Helped the volleyball team to section and regional championships on the way to earning a spot in the 2021 NYS State Tournament finals...At the club level, has played eight years for Prime Time...PERSONAL: Full Name: Madison Porter...Parents are Robert and Trina Porter...Has three brothers, Kenny, Alan, and Andrew, and two sisters, Mackenzie and Jordan...Comes from an athletic family as her mom played softball in college while her brother Alan and both sisters play collegiate lacrosse...Major: Undecided.
Leah Rings𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Leah Rings
🗺️ Comstock Park, Mich.
🏫 Rockford HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/MRjPeWIv9j
Attack/Midfield
Comstock Park, Mich. • Rockford HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Rockford High School in Rockford, Mich....Played her first two years at Comstock High School where she was a member of the varsity lacrosse, basketball, and volleyball teams...Helped the basketball team to a conference title as a sophomore...Played her freshman year lacrosse season for CHS but the pandemic canceled her sophomore season...After transferring to RHS, competed in lacrosse and field hockey, captaining both squads...Will play her senior season in the spring...At the club level, played three years for Triumph National Premier, two years for MIElite, and two years with Pure Advantage National Premier Lacrosse...PERSONAL: Full Name: Leah Nicole Rings...Parents are Allen and Sherry Rings...Has one sister, Shaylin...Major: Clinical Laboratory Science.
Paiton Russell𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Paiton Russell
🗺️ Sylvania, Ohio
🏫 Saint Ursula Academy#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/vN30ogjZPu
Midfield
Sylvania, Ohio • Saint Ursula Academy
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends Saint Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio...Has lettered four times for the Arrows in lacrosse with her senior season set to take place this spring...Captured Three Rivers Athletic Conference twice in lacrosse...Individually, named All-TRAC first team twice...Also earned All-Region 5 honors twice, including first team in 2022...Ran for the cross country team for two seasons as well...Played six years for the club team Triumph Lacrosse...PERSONAL: Full Name: Paiton Jean Russell...Parents are David Russell and Jennifer Fischer...Has one sister, Paxton Russell...Her mom, Jennifer, played golf and hockey in college...Major: Mechanical Engineering.
Lexi Smalline𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓓𝓪𝔂 📃🖊️
— EMU Lacrosse (@EMU_Lacrosse) November 9, 2022
Join us in welcoming home the Class of 2027! 💚
🥍 Lexi Smalline (@LexiSmalline)
🗺️ Rochester N.Y.
🏫 West Irondequoit HS#EMUEagles | #BeTheFirst 🦅 pic.twitter.com/NLSwheysUw
Midfield
Rochester, N.Y. • West Irondequoit HS
HIGH SCHOOL: Currently attends West Irondequoit High School in Rochester, N.Y....Will play her senior season this spring...Earned second-team all-county honors and was named to the Under Armour 150...At the club level, has played nine years for Monster Elite Lacrosse...PERSONAL: Full Name: Alexia Rose Smalline...Parents are Jeremy and Susan Smalline...Has one brother, Owen...Major: Undecided.
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