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Kimel Announces 2021 Signing Class
1/6/2021 11:00:00 AM | Women's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke women's lacrosse head coach Kerstin Kimel is excited to announce the signing class of 2021.
The class features eight signees – Carly Bernstein, Kennedy Everson, Tess Gagliano, Ellie Lazzaretto, Kerry Nease, Celia Ralph, Mattie Shearer and Reilly Traynor.
"We are really excited to announce our 2021 recruiting class," Kimel stated. "They are an outstanding group of talented and extremely motivated players who love to work. All eight of these young women are hungry to finish their high school careers on a high note after having their junior seasons canceled by the pandemic. Each are also fantastic, hardworking and high achieving students. I am confident they will take full advantage of the academic opportunities that Duke has to offer while also being excellent stewards of the greater university community. We expect this class to have an immense impact in our program and we will look forward to their arrival on campus in August."
Meet the incoming class:
Carly Bernstein
Attack – Short Hills, N.J. - Millburn
Carly Bernstein lettered two seasons at Millburn before COVID-19 caused the cancelation of her junior season. In those two seasons, Bernstein amassed 163 goals, 79 assists, 102 draw controls, 101 ground balls and 20 forced turnovers. In those seasons, she was named All-Conference and All-League while also earning team MVP honors as a sophomore. Recently, Bernstein earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Under Armour National Championships. In addition to her success on the lacrosse field, she also played soccer, lettering four seasons while earning first team All-Conference honors as a senior.
Kennedy Everson
Goalie – Montclair, N.J. – Phillips Academy (Mass.)
Kennedy Everson lettered her freshman and sophomore seasons at Phillips Academy prior to the cancelation of her junior season due to the pandemic. Most recently as a sophomore, Everson posted 165 saves, 11 interceptions and 15 ground balls. She saved 52 percent of the shots taken. She will serve as co-captain of the upcoming 2021 season. Everson saved 128 shots as a freshman. She was selected as an Under Armour All-American in 2018 and a STEPS for the Cure Champion in 2018 and 2019. She participated in the NIKE Elite 120 Invitational Showcase and the Brine Northstar Invitational Showcase in 2017 and 2018. In addition to lacrosse, Everson lettered in varsity soccer, playing goalkeeper, and was a member of the junior varsity ice hockey team.
Tess Gagliano
Midfield – Barrington, R.I. – Barrington
Tess Gagliano lettered two seasons at Barrington before COVID-19 caused the cancelation of her junior season. Although playing just two years, Gagliano accumulated an abundance of honors. She posted 96 goals and 34 assists as a sophomore (2019) on her way to being named an All-American, First Team All-State and finishing runner-up at the state championship. As a freshman, Gagliano was Second Team All-State after recording 45 goals and 10 assists to help her team finish runner-up in Rhode Island. On the club scene, she won the 2019 National Tournament with Massachusetts and Rhode Island and was a member of the 2018 Under Armour Command Team. In addition to lacrosse, Gagliano has also lettered in track and field, cross country and soccer.
Ellie Lazzaretto
Attack – Lake Forest, Ill. – Loyola Academy
Ellie Lazzaretto enjoyed two seasons at Loyola Academy before missing the junior season due to the pandemic. Lazzaretto recorded 108 points on 86 goals and 22 assists to lead her squad in addition to 18 ground balls and nine caused turnovers as a sophomore. She earned US Lacrosse All-American, First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore. She scored 26 points (22 goals and six assists), nine ground balls and three caused turnovers in her rookie season. She lettered at point guard on the basketball team at Loyola Academy.
Kerry Nease
Midfield – Richmond, Va. – Douglas Freeman
Kerry Nease lettered her freshman and sophomore seasons at Douglas Freeman before COVID-19 caused the cancelation of her junior season. In two seasons at Douglas Freeman, Nease totaled 149 goals, 45 assists, 186 draw controls, 87 ground balls and 46 caused turnovers. She earned First Team All-Conference and Second-Team All-State as a freshman and sophomore. Nease also earned US Lacrosse All-American and Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. In addition, Nease was named an Under Armour All-American: DC Region in 2017 and 2018. Apart from lacrosse, Nease also played soccer at the club level.
Celia Ralph
Defense – Clifton Park, N.Y. – Shenendehowa
Celia Ralph will come to Durham after wrapping up her prep career at Shenendehowa. During her prep career, Ralph was named the defensive captain of the Monster Elite 2021 Purple Team and helped lead the team to the Lake Placid Lacrosse Championship. She was invited to the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game. In addition to success on the lacrosse field, Ralph also lettered in track and field, competing in shot put and triple jump. She was a Second Team All-American in track in 2020 and placed ninth at the state championships in shot put.
Mattie Shearer
Midfield/Attack – Crozet, Va. – Western Albemarle
Mattie Shearer lettered her freshman and sophomore seasons at Western Albemarle before her junior and senior seasons were impacted by the pandemic. In those two seasons, Shearer totaled 105 goals and 69 assists. She was named First Team All-Conference and led Western Albemarle in scoring and draw controls both seasons. As a sophomore, she totaled 70 goals and 46 assists on her way to First Team All-State honors after earning second team recognition as a freshman. Shearer also played in the Under Armour All-American games and was a member of the High School girls National Team in 2017 and 2018. In addition to lacrosse, Shearer played point guard on the basketball team and helped Western Albemarle finish runner-up at the 2018 state championship.
Reilly Traynor
Defense – Little Silver, N.J. – Red Bank Catholic
Reilly Traynor played two seasons at Red Bank Catholic before the cancelation of her junior season due to COVID-19. In her most recent season, Traynor recorded 39 goals and seven assists in addition to 35 ground balls, 25 caused turnovers and two draw controls as a sophomore. She earned First Team All-Division and All-Shore honors and was named one of the 2019 Defenders to Watch and Top Sophomores in NJ by NJ.com. She was also named Second Team All-State as a sophomore. Apart from Red Bank Catholic, Traynor was a member of the U17 USA Select National Team (2019) and the New Jersey Under Armour All-American Highlight Team (2019 and 2020). She also was a member of the Under Armour All-American New Jersey Command Team, winning the 2018 UA National Championship which was the first and only time a team from New Jersey has won.
#GoDuke
The class features eight signees – Carly Bernstein, Kennedy Everson, Tess Gagliano, Ellie Lazzaretto, Kerry Nease, Celia Ralph, Mattie Shearer and Reilly Traynor.
"We are really excited to announce our 2021 recruiting class," Kimel stated. "They are an outstanding group of talented and extremely motivated players who love to work. All eight of these young women are hungry to finish their high school careers on a high note after having their junior seasons canceled by the pandemic. Each are also fantastic, hardworking and high achieving students. I am confident they will take full advantage of the academic opportunities that Duke has to offer while also being excellent stewards of the greater university community. We expect this class to have an immense impact in our program and we will look forward to their arrival on campus in August."
Meet the incoming class:
Carly Bernstein
Attack – Short Hills, N.J. - Millburn
Carly Bernstein lettered two seasons at Millburn before COVID-19 caused the cancelation of her junior season. In those two seasons, Bernstein amassed 163 goals, 79 assists, 102 draw controls, 101 ground balls and 20 forced turnovers. In those seasons, she was named All-Conference and All-League while also earning team MVP honors as a sophomore. Recently, Bernstein earned All-Tournament Team honors at the Under Armour National Championships. In addition to her success on the lacrosse field, she also played soccer, lettering four seasons while earning first team All-Conference honors as a senior.
Kennedy Everson
Goalie – Montclair, N.J. – Phillips Academy (Mass.)
Kennedy Everson lettered her freshman and sophomore seasons at Phillips Academy prior to the cancelation of her junior season due to the pandemic. Most recently as a sophomore, Everson posted 165 saves, 11 interceptions and 15 ground balls. She saved 52 percent of the shots taken. She will serve as co-captain of the upcoming 2021 season. Everson saved 128 shots as a freshman. She was selected as an Under Armour All-American in 2018 and a STEPS for the Cure Champion in 2018 and 2019. She participated in the NIKE Elite 120 Invitational Showcase and the Brine Northstar Invitational Showcase in 2017 and 2018. In addition to lacrosse, Everson lettered in varsity soccer, playing goalkeeper, and was a member of the junior varsity ice hockey team.
Tess Gagliano
Midfield – Barrington, R.I. – Barrington
Tess Gagliano lettered two seasons at Barrington before COVID-19 caused the cancelation of her junior season. Although playing just two years, Gagliano accumulated an abundance of honors. She posted 96 goals and 34 assists as a sophomore (2019) on her way to being named an All-American, First Team All-State and finishing runner-up at the state championship. As a freshman, Gagliano was Second Team All-State after recording 45 goals and 10 assists to help her team finish runner-up in Rhode Island. On the club scene, she won the 2019 National Tournament with Massachusetts and Rhode Island and was a member of the 2018 Under Armour Command Team. In addition to lacrosse, Gagliano has also lettered in track and field, cross country and soccer.
Ellie Lazzaretto
Attack – Lake Forest, Ill. – Loyola Academy
Ellie Lazzaretto enjoyed two seasons at Loyola Academy before missing the junior season due to the pandemic. Lazzaretto recorded 108 points on 86 goals and 22 assists to lead her squad in addition to 18 ground balls and nine caused turnovers as a sophomore. She earned US Lacrosse All-American, First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore. She scored 26 points (22 goals and six assists), nine ground balls and three caused turnovers in her rookie season. She lettered at point guard on the basketball team at Loyola Academy.
Kerry Nease
Midfield – Richmond, Va. – Douglas Freeman
Kerry Nease lettered her freshman and sophomore seasons at Douglas Freeman before COVID-19 caused the cancelation of her junior season. In two seasons at Douglas Freeman, Nease totaled 149 goals, 45 assists, 186 draw controls, 87 ground balls and 46 caused turnovers. She earned First Team All-Conference and Second-Team All-State as a freshman and sophomore. Nease also earned US Lacrosse All-American and Player of the Year honors as a sophomore. In addition, Nease was named an Under Armour All-American: DC Region in 2017 and 2018. Apart from lacrosse, Nease also played soccer at the club level.
Celia Ralph
Defense – Clifton Park, N.Y. – Shenendehowa
Celia Ralph will come to Durham after wrapping up her prep career at Shenendehowa. During her prep career, Ralph was named the defensive captain of the Monster Elite 2021 Purple Team and helped lead the team to the Lake Placid Lacrosse Championship. She was invited to the 2018 Under Armour All-American Game. In addition to success on the lacrosse field, Ralph also lettered in track and field, competing in shot put and triple jump. She was a Second Team All-American in track in 2020 and placed ninth at the state championships in shot put.
Mattie Shearer
Midfield/Attack – Crozet, Va. – Western Albemarle
Mattie Shearer lettered her freshman and sophomore seasons at Western Albemarle before her junior and senior seasons were impacted by the pandemic. In those two seasons, Shearer totaled 105 goals and 69 assists. She was named First Team All-Conference and led Western Albemarle in scoring and draw controls both seasons. As a sophomore, she totaled 70 goals and 46 assists on her way to First Team All-State honors after earning second team recognition as a freshman. Shearer also played in the Under Armour All-American games and was a member of the High School girls National Team in 2017 and 2018. In addition to lacrosse, Shearer played point guard on the basketball team and helped Western Albemarle finish runner-up at the 2018 state championship.
Reilly Traynor
Defense – Little Silver, N.J. – Red Bank Catholic
Reilly Traynor played two seasons at Red Bank Catholic before the cancelation of her junior season due to COVID-19. In her most recent season, Traynor recorded 39 goals and seven assists in addition to 35 ground balls, 25 caused turnovers and two draw controls as a sophomore. She earned First Team All-Division and All-Shore honors and was named one of the 2019 Defenders to Watch and Top Sophomores in NJ by NJ.com. She was also named Second Team All-State as a sophomore. Apart from Red Bank Catholic, Traynor was a member of the U17 USA Select National Team (2019) and the New Jersey Under Armour All-American Highlight Team (2019 and 2020). She also was a member of the Under Armour All-American New Jersey Command Team, winning the 2018 UA National Championship which was the first and only time a team from New Jersey has won.
#GoDuke
Kerstin Kimel James Madison Postgame Press Conference 5-9
Friday, May 09
Kerstin Kimel Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
Kerry Nease Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
Madison Beale Media Availability 5-7
Wednesday, May 07
