WALTHAM, Mass. - Bentley University head women's lacrosse coach Carissa Medeiros is pleased to announce the arrival of seven student-athletes who will comprise her freshman class for the 2012 season and enroll at Bentley in the fall.

The class consists of Amy Ernst (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central), Jessica Ferrigno (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham), Brenna Lowe (Suffield, Conn./Suffield), Jenna McPhail (Hamden, Conn./Hamden), Corinne Nawrocki (East Northport, N.Y./Northport), Danielle Petrunich (Westborough, Mass./Westborough) and Molly Pickard (Hampton, N.H./Winnacunnet).

Ernst is a two-time US Lacrosse Academic All-American and was the News 12 New Jersey Scholar-Athlete of the Year after her senior season. She was also a 2011 second team All-County choice, and was twice a second team All-Conference selection during her career at West Morris Central.

"Amy is a tenacious and aggressive midfielder who is skilled at taking the draw and playing midfield defense," Medeiros said. "She is a hardworking, naturally fast athlete who will fit in nicely with our midfield unit."

Ferrigno, a midfielder, was a four-year varsity starter and racked up 166 goals and 140 assists for 306 points during her career. As team captain as a senior, she led Bridgewater-Raynham to its first state tournament appearance in school history. She earned All-League honors as a senior and sophomore as well.

"Jessica is an explosive athlete who really started to take her game to the next level during her 2011 season," Medeiros added. "She is a hardworking, athletic player who will have a great career here at Bentley, and will contribute to our midfield immediately as a freshman, both offensively and defensively."

Lowe was a defensive-midfielder for Suffield and a 2011 All-State performer in Connecticut. A three-time All-Conference selection, she amassed 186 points, 182 ground balls and 125 draw controls throughout her four years as a varsity starter. She also served as Suffield's captain as a senior and was named team MVP as a junior and senior.

"Brenna has a tremendous amount of potential to be a great collegiate lacrosse player," Medeiros said. "She plays best in between the restraining lines defensively but also can play a very balanced style of attack, and her height and endurance will ensure that she will be competitive for a starting role early on in her career."

McPhail is an attack-oriented midfielder who holds several school records at Hamden. As a freshman she set the program single-season record for goals and assists, and as a junior set the school record for most ground balls in a season with 108. As a senior, she was named to the southern Connecticut All-Star and All-Area teams, and served as Hamden's team captain as well as being named its Sportswoman of the Year. She finished her high school career with 127 goals and 36 assists for 163 points.

"Jenna is a very determined, focused and mature young lady who we anticipate making a strong contribution to every aspect of our team," Medeiros added. "Her speed is by far her biggest strength, and her hard work and tirelessly positive attitude will make for a solid fit with our returning squad."

As a defenseman, Nawrocki was a two-time Academic All-American and an All-League selection as a junior. As a senior captain, she led Northport to the 2011 New York Class A state championship. Nawrocki also played club lacrosse for the Yellow Jackets, a prestigious program on Long Island.

"Corinne will be competitive for major playing time as a freshman and will bring a focused, aggressive and loud style of defensive play to our unit," Medeiros said. "She anchored her team defensively in high school and will bring a strong, aggressive defensive background with her to Bentley."

Petrunich had a decorated career at Westborough, leading them to a number of championships and earning a multitude of individual awards. She led Westborough to four straight league and district titles and four appearances in the state tournament semifinals. Petrunich was a two-time Academic All-American, and was named to the Mid-Wach A League first team, the Metro West first team and the Telegram & Gazette Super Team. She finished her career with 104 goals and 132 assists for 236 points.

"Dani was a major pick up for us. She can play all over the field; mainly attack oriented but she also has a solid set of defensive abilities," Medeiros commented. "She will be an impact player for us immediately and contribute to the success of our program from the minute she steps on campus."

Pickard is a defenseman who received first team All-State honors as a junior and was Winnacunnet's team captain as a senior. She played club lacrosse for Seacoast United in the offseason.

"Over the last year we have developed a renewed sense of pride in our team defense, and I think Molly will fit in right away and provide us with greater depth as far as our match-up options are concerned," Medeiros said. "It's rare to find a lacrosse player with so much passion for the defensive side of the game, and we're lucky to have snagged her."

Additionally, two transfers will join the team in the fall, Jackie Brown (Brookfield, Conn./Brookfield/New York University) and Stephanie Haftel (Nashua, N.H./Nashua South/Siena).

Brown was a first team All-State selection at Brookfield as a senior and was also named first team All-Area and All-League that same season. As a senior at Nashua South, Haftel was named first team All-State and was the 2010 Nashua Telegraph Player of the Year. She was a two-time All-Area pick and a second team All-State performer as a junior.

These nine student-athletes will join the 23 players expected to return from last season's squad.