Local star Foster one of eight Virginia women’s lacrosse signees

Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Local standout Addi Foster headlines the Virginia women’s lacrosse team’s 2023-24 recruiting class, announced Wednesday by head coach Julie Myers. Foster is one of eight future Cavaliers who signed their National Letters of Intent.

Foster, a Charlottesville native and five-year starter at midfielder for nearby St. Anne’s-Belfield, was twice named a US Lacrosse All-American and was selected as All-Central Virginia Player of the Year as a senior.

“Addi is our local standout that works so hard and does all the little things that makes a team better,” Myers said. “She is strong, fast and left-handed. She will help on draws, on defense, in transition and in the attack. There is nothing Addi can’t do, and she is willing to do anything to help the team. She will be a huge asset to the team in every way.”

Foster is a two-time All-Central Virginia, All-League of Independent Schools Conference and Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association First Team All-State selection. In 2021 she earned team MVP honors and has been voted team captain for two years. She also competes on the 2023 Blue Team for Capital Lacrosse Club.

Joining Foster in the 2023-24 class are Madison Alaimo, Kate Demark, Jenna DiNardo, Kate Galica, Alexandra Schneider, Cecelia Webb and Corey White.

“This is among the best classes in the country and the best we’ve brought to Virginia in recent years,” said Myers. “Each player has established herself as a leader and a winner at the high school, club level and for some the US national team level as well. They bring versatility, speed, athleticism and quickness with a passion for lacrosse and passion for being great on the field and in the classroom. This class will add in most every position and are sure to make their mark immediately.”

Alaimo is a US All-American attacker from Wantagh, N.Y. A two-time captain at Wantagh High School, Alaimo has been named a Newsday Top 100 Girls Lacrosse Player in 2021 and 2022. She is a two-time All-County and two-time BOTC (Back of the Cage) Top 50 player. Alaimo was named the LILJ Girls High School Spring Experience MVP and First Team All-Tourney Team MVP. Alaimo plays club with the Long Island Top Guns. She was a member of the 2021 USA Select U16 Team and American Select Lacrosse team.

Myers on Alaimo: “She is a US team player with Demark. Maddy is a great quarterback behind the goal at X and drives and dishes lefty as often as righty. She has great vision and amazing moves to get her 1v1s as well as assists. She is smooth, quick and fast and knows how to capitalize and take advantage of her opportunities.”

Demark, a defender, is a two-time USA Select Team and two-time American Select Team (Connecticut) member. She competed as part of the 2022 American Selection Championship team and was named to the America Select All-Tournament First Team. She was also named an Inside Lacrosse Committed Academy ‘Player Who Impressed.’ With her high school team, Demark is a First Team CHSCA All-State and First Team All-FCIAC selection. She plays club lacrosse for the CT Grizzlies.

Myers on Demark: “Kate is the fastest and toughest 1v1 defender in high school and has trained with and played against some of the best attackers in the country. She is a lefty that never slows down or gets tired. She is exceptional on loose balls and in transition as well. Very well rounded and totally unassuming.”

DiNardo is an attacker from Corning, N.Y. DiNardo was named Female Athlete of the Year and has been selected team captain for Corning Painted-Post High School. She has amassed 100 career goals and earned 2021 Twin Tiers Highlight of the Year. She also plays club lacrosse for Monster Elite and was named a US Club Lacrosse American Select ‘Player that Impressed.’

Myers on DiNardo: “Jenna is creative and feisty. She has a great shot and lots of moves to get her hands free. She will add to our depth on attack and will bring an upstate New York flare to all she does. Jenna is a great team player and will push herself and others to be their best.”

Galica, a two-time US Lacrosse All-American, led Conestoga to the State Championship in 2022 as midfielder. She earned US Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Week honors in 2021 and 2022, was named DLN All-Area Player of the Year (2022) and Central League MVP (2022). Galica is a two-time First Team All-Area and First Team All-Central League selection. She competes for the No. 1 2023 club team, NXT Black. Galica is an Under Armour 150 All-Star Team selection and was named to the USL National Philly Team I in 2021. She earned two NXT Philly Summer Showcase All-Star Team selections and an Under Armour Highlight team selection in 2022.

Myers on Galica: “Kate is great. She is a top-rated midfielder in high school and she is fast, tough, dynamic and competitive in every setting on the field. She is a goal scorer, she even scored 100+ goals in her field hockey career, and a team player. She will help at both ends and on the draw. Kate will be a great addition to the team.”

Schneider is a US Lacrosse All-American defender from Manhasset, N.Y. A three-year varsity starter, Schneider helped Manhasset High School to be 2022 NY State Class C Champions and Nassau County Class C Champions in back-to-back seasons. She earned First Team Newsday All-Long Island, NY State Class C All-Tournament Team and LILJ First Team All-Long Island selections. She was also named a Top 100 Long Island athlete by Newsday in 2022. Schneider joins fellow signee, Alaimo, as a member of the Long Island Top Guns club team.

Myers on Schneider: “Alex is fast and smooth and a true competitor and winner. Her work ethic and determination will fit right in. She’ll push herself and the team to being their best and will help make defensive stops and in our fastbreak transitions out.”

Webb is a US Lacrosse All-American defender from Summit, N.J. She is a four-year varsity starter and was voted captain as a senior at Summit High School. Webb helped her team win the 2022 NJ Tournament of Champions and 2022 JN Group 2 State Championship. Webb was a First Team All-State, All-Group and All-Conference selection in 2022 and earned second team All-Group and All-Conference in 2021. She plays club lacrosse for STEPS Elite.

Myers on Webb: “CeCe is a presence and an organizer. Her leadership and communication will organize the defense both on and off the field. Cece also started taking and winning draws as a junior in high school so she will work to be an asset on the draw as well.”

White is a US Lacrosse All-American midfielder from Chevy Chase, Md. White is a four-year varsity starter and two-year captain for Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. She earned Washington Post All-Met First Team honors in 2022 and was an All-Independent School League honoree. White was named team MVP as a junior. She joins fellow signee, Foster, as a member of the Capital 2023 Blue club team.

Myers on White: “Corey is athletic and tough. She will help on the draw and all over the field. She is a hard worker that will do the dirty work necessary to get the ball back and into our offensive end. Her fight and scrappiness will be great assets to the team.”