NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt lacrosse head coach Cathy Swezey announced the signing of six players for the 2004 season. This year’s recruiting class includes one attacker, two midfielders, two defenders and one goalkeeper.

The 2004 recruiting class includes attacker Kendall Thrift (Reisterstown, Md./Franklin), midfielders Ashley Zaleski (Arnold, Md./Broadneck), Jennifer Tapscott (Washington, D.C./Stone Ridge), defenders Alison Sparico (Riverside, Conn./Greenwich), Molly Frew (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country School) and goalkeeper Brooke Shinaberry (Millersville, Md./Severna Park).

“We are very excited about the signing class of 2007,” Swezey said. “These athletes will make an immediate impact on our program, as they are one of the most talented and diverse classes we have brought to Vanderbilt. Their drive and determination will allow us to take steps toward accomplishing our ultimate goal of winning a national championship. I look forward to coaching them during their collegiate careers.”

Thrift, a senior at Franklin High School, is the only attacker in this year’s recruiting class. The 2002 captain of her high school team, Thrift’s list of accomplishments include being a member of the 2002 Team 3 Mid-Atlantic National team. In 2001, she was named to the Team 4 Mid-Atlantic National team. Thrift was also named first team all-county in 2001 and 2002, while earning second team all-county recognition in 2000.

Zaleski, who will add to Vanderbilt’s strong midfield, has been a three-year starter at Broadneck High School. She was named defensive MVP at Duke University’s 2002 summer lacrosse camp. Zaleski was also named to the 2002 Mid-Atlantic National team. Other accomplishments include her high school winning the county, regional and state championships in 2002.

Tapscott joins Zaleski as the other midfielder in this year’s recruiting class. During the 2001 and 2002 seasons, she was named to the Independent School League (ISL), all-county and all-gazette first teams while being named all-metro in 2002. Tapscott also was named to the Team 2 Mid-Atlantic National team. This year at Stone Ridge, she won ISL-A Division and Tournament championships.

Sparico, a defender, who is the captain of the Greenwich High School squad and a three-year starter, has gained a lot of recognition from a team and individual standpoint. In 2000 and 2001, her high school team won the Connecticut State Championship. Sparico was named honorable mention All-Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference in 2002. In the same year, she was named to the Connecticut Lacrosse Futures and New England Lacrosse All-Star Teams.

Frew is Swezey’s other defender for this year’s recruiting class. She was named the 2002 Defensive Player of the Year at Roland Park Country School. While being a three-year starter in high school, she earned second team honors by the Baltimore Messenger and was a member of the Team 1 Mid-Atlantic team. Frew was given the 2001 Frances E. Pitts Award for excellence in academics, athletics and leadership at Roland Park Country Day.

Shinaberry rounds out the 2002 recruiting class. While at Severna Park High School, she was a county, regional and state champion in 2000, regional and state champion in 2001 and county and regional champion in 2002. Shinaberry earned first-team all-county honors by the Washington Post and second-team honors by the Baltimore Sun and Evening Capital. Brooke was also selected to the Under 19 World Cup team that will compete in June of 2003.