Head Coach Maggie Zentgraf has announced the anticipated arrival of a talented group of freshmen as five standouts will join the Butler women's lacrosse program this fall prior to the upcoming spring season.
 
Incoming Bulldogs
Ava Clemson, Spring City, Pa.
Ireland Costigan, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Emily Eckert, Cincinnati, Ohio
Sophia Knoblock, Sudbury, Mass.
Mila Navarro, East Greenwich, R.I.
 
Coach Zentgraf on the newest members of the squad:
 
"The Butler Women's Lacrosse staff is thrilled with the addition of Emily, Ava, Sophia, Mila, and Ireland to our team! We think they will bring a gritty and competitive edge to our growing program. We are excited to get to know them better as people and push their potential as players and leaders as soon as they step on campus!"
 
The 2023-24 season will be Zentgraf's second at the helm of the Butler women's lacrosse program.

Full Roster
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Ava Clemson
Spring City, Pennsylvania | Owen J. Roberts HS | 5-5, midfielder/attacker
 
Clemson was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at Owen J. Roberts high school, earning All-Area First Team recognition as a senior. Her team finished 27-1 and captured the PIAA 3A state title in 2023, finishing the season with a No. 13 national ranking. The midfielder/attacker amassed 87 goals, 18 assists, 151 ground balls, 121 draw controls, and 45 caused turnovers over four years. She earned several Player of the Game awards, including at a state quarterfinal, and earned All-Area and All-PAC recognition after each season. Clemson also competed in basketball and field hockey, earned distinguished honors and a spot on the honor roll, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of the 2023 AU Futures Pennsylvania Team, and her club team, NXT Black 2023, achieved a national No. 1 ranking after the 2023 season. 
 
On choosing Butler: "Butler offers everything I was looking for in a school. It has a beautiful campus with a very strong academic program. The business program offers me everything I am looking for in order to be successful. The campus gives off the big school feeling along with the excitement of all sports. The lacrosse team is very welcoming and competitive. It offered everything I was looking for in a lacrosse program. Academics are very important to me, and Butler had everything to give back to that. Overall, the academics and the ability to be a part of a program in the Big East are everything I was looking for!"
 
Coach Zentgraff on Clemson: "Ava is a very smart all-around player – she will use her speed on offense to push the fast break and, with just as much effort, will ride and get a caused turnover. She is versatile, full of hustle, and knows how to get the job done on both sides of the field."
 
Clemson is the daughter of Scott and Bethany Clemson and has one sibling, Keira. She plans to major in Marketing.
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Ireland Costigan
Orangeville, Ontario, Canada | The Hill Academy | 5-6, midfielder
 
Costigan was a two-sport athlete (volleyball) at The Hill Academy where she earned Honours all four years. In club competition, she played for Orangeville Northmen. She is also a member of Team Ontario and the U21 Irish National team, participating in the European Games in the summer of 2023. Her U19 Team Ontario team won the 2022 Women's Field Lacrosse National Championship in Alberta.
 
On choosing Butler: "I chose Butler because it checks off all my boxes. It's known for its strong academic program and it allows me to play lacrosse at the highest level possible. Once speaking with, and meeting the coaches, as well as seeing the campus, I knew it was the right fit for me."
 
Coach Zentgraff on Costigan: "Ireland is a powerful and speedy two-way midfielder that has a great feeding ability and vision, as well as lock-down 1v1 defense. She is disciplined, multifaceted and competitive, and will add physicality and edge to both ends of the field."
 
Costigan is the daughter of Colleen and Dave Costigan and has three siblings, Connor, Sean, and Mckenna. She plans to major in Health Sciences.
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Emily Eckert
Cincinnati, Ohio | Indian Hill HS | 5-8, midfielder/attacker
 
Eckert was a four-year varsity starter and letterwinner at Indian Hill, helping her team remain undefeated in the Cincinnati Hills League and reach the state final four for the first time in almost a decade. The two-year captain's career totals include 99 goals, 77 assists, and 234 draw controls, and her 24 draw controls in a single game remains a school record.
 
Postseason awards for 2023 include: USA Lacrosse All-America, All-Ohio First Team, All-Region First Team, Indian Hill Varsity Offensive MVP, and Indian Hill Outstanding Female Athlete. Previous recognition includes 2022 All-Region Second Team, 2021 Under Armour All-America Highlight team, and 2021 Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Spring All-Star Second Team. Eckert also participated in tennis, field hockey, and basketball. In addition, she was a 12-time Scholar Athlete who was Academic All-Ohio and won multiple school spirit awards. Her club team was Major Force Lacrosse.
 
On choosing Butler: "The atmosphere! Campus feels like home, Hinkle is electric, the people are kind, staff is personal, size is perfect, two hours from home, so far but not too far!"
 
Coach Zentgraff on Eckert: "Emily was an integral part of crucial end-of-game plays in the final moments of her high school senior season. With experience in the role of captain, she is an example of what it means to be gritty and passionate. Emily will add excellent vision and consistency to our team on offense and the draw."
 
Eckert is the daughter of Sarah and Ryan Eckert and has two siblings, Lauren and Meredith. She plans to major in Health Sciences.
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Sophia Knoblock
Sudbury, Massachusetts | Deerfield Academy/IMG Academy | 5-9, attacker
 
Knoblock was a four-year varsity starter and letterwinner at Deerfield Academy and played a post-graduate season at IMG Academy. Over her career, she tallied 96 goals with 38 assists, scoring five goals in a single game on two different occasions. Honors and awards included: 2023 IMG APD award (highlights a student-athlete's commitment to athletic progression, character development and overall personal improvement in sport as well as life), 2021 PrimeTime Classics All-Star team, 2021 Apex Preseason Showcase All-Star team, 2021 Fall Classic girls team champion and All-Tournament team selection, 2019 Brine All-America team, 2019 WPLL Futures Summit, and 2018 NorthStar Invitational. Knoblock also participated in swimming, and, academically, achieved high honors and honor roll, earned a 5.0 GPA at IMG, and was a Classical Studies graduate with distinction from Deerfield Academy. Her club team was Central Lacrosse.
 
On choosing Butler: "I chose Butler because of the amazing people and incredible combination of athletics and academics."
 
Coach Zentgraff on Knoblock: "The two different styles of lacrosse that Sophia has been exposed to in her high school career has shaped her into a very well-rounded attacker, playing seven nationally ranked high school teams in her post-grad year at IMG. Her versatility is shown in her ability to read space on offense, find the gaps, and finish with power and accuracy from anywhere in the eight-meter."
 
Knowblock is the daughter of Ann Knoblock and Henry Knoblock and has two siblings, Caroline Myers and Chris Knoblock. She plans to major in Pre-Pharmacy.
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Mila Navarro
East Greenwich, Rhode Island | East Greenwich HS | 5-7, midfielder
 
Navarro was a four-year varsity letterwinner and three-year starter at East Greenwich. The two-year captain scored 122 goals and made 70 assists over her career, once notching 10 goals in single game. Postseason accolades included Division I First Team honors in 2023 along with Honorable Mention recognition in both 2021 & 2022. Navarro also participated in indoor track & field and crew. Her club team was Laxachusetts.
 
On choosing Butler: "I chose Butler because of the beautiful campus and athletic facilities as well as the academic programs and I immediately felt connected to the coaches and the rest of the team."
 
Coach Zentgraff on Navarro: "Mila is a powerful two-way midfielder that sees the field very well. She is the definition of a workhorse, and we cannot wait to see what tenacious plays she brings to our midfield unit!"
 
Navarro is the daughter of Peter Navarro and Julie Navarro and has two siblings, McKinnon and Matthew. She plans to major in Critical Communications.