UB Women's Lacrosse Makes Additions For Upcoming Season

Bridgeport, Conn.-University of Bridgeport head women's lacrosse coach Kate Backman will welcome four new student-athletes and two new coaches when the Purple Knights begin the 2015 season.

On the field, joining the UB women's lacrosse program will be:

Abbey Benesh:

Position:  Midfield/Defense
Hometown:  Horseheads, N.Y.
High School:  Horseheads High School; Four-year member of the Girl's Lacrosse, Tennis and Basketball Teams.
Athletic Accomplishments:  2014 Coach's Award Recipient, First Team Corning All Leader 2013-14, Second Team All-Section 2013, First Team All Section 2014, 2014 Team Captain, Scholar Athlete Award.  Also played Tennis and Basketball earning Honorable Mention Corning All-Leader team, team captain, scholar athlete award and 2013 Kiwanis Female Athlete of the Winter Season for Basketball.
Intended Major: Management and Industrial Relations

Kasey Boisvert:

Position: Goalkeeper
Hometown: Danbury, Conn.
High School: Danbury High School, 4 year member of the Girl's Lacrosse, Volleyball and Basketball Teams. 
Athletic Accomplishments:  Received the sportsmanship for junior and senior year for basketball.
Intended Major: Mathematics

Ava Gambardella:

Position: Attack
Hometown: West Haven, Conn.
High School: West Haven High School;  Four-year member of the Girl's Lacrosse, Soccer, and Basketball Teams.
Athletic Accomplishments:  2014 Team MVP, All Area Selection for New Haven County for lacrosse.  Team MVP for basketball.  Currently a member of the UB Women's Soccer Team.
Intended major: Mass Communications

Ariana Weingrad:

Position: Midfield/Attack
Hometown: Hicksville, N.Y.
High School: Hicksville High School, Four-year member of the girls lacrosse and soccer teams. 
Athletic Accomplishments:  2014 All Conference and All County for lacrosse.  2013 All County, All Class and All conference for soccer.  Currently a member of the UB Women's Soccer Team.
Intended Major: Dental Hygiene.

On the sidelines, Taylor Bastien joins the UB program as an assistant coach, and Megan Doyle will serve as a graduate assistant coach.

Bastien comes to UB after a stellar four-year playing career at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. where she earned All-Northeast 10 Conference honors as senior in 2014 when she led the Falcons in assists with 41 and points with 59.  Following her senior season, Taylor was selected to play in the North/South All-Star Game.  As junior, Bastien led Bentley in goals, assists and points, and a sophomore she led the team in assists.  She is a native of North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Doyle moves from the playing field at Bridgeport to the sidelines after finished third on the team in goals with 16 in 2014 and adding three assists for a total of 19 points.  Megan came to UB after playing three standout seasons at Western New England College.