George Washington University Athletics
Lacrosse Adds Six for 2021 Season
9/2/2020 1:20:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
Aaron, Aufiero, Lederman, Mullarkey, Panebianco, and Watkinson to join Colonials for 2021 season
WASHINGTON – George Washington lacrosse head coach Jenny Ulehla announced the addition of six student-athletes to the Colonials' roster for the 2021 season.
The Buff and Blue welcome five first-years in Bailey Aaron (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Alex Aufiero (Philadelphia, Pa.), Katie Lederman (Rochester, N.Y.), Phoebe Mullarkey (Stony Point, N.Y.), and Kaitlyn Panebianco (Annapolis, Md.), along with a junior transfer from Drexel in Sophia Watkinson (Baltimore, Md.).
Bailey Aaron
FR
5-3
Midfield
Basking Ridge, N.J.
Ridge High School
Pre-Arts & Sciences
High School: Competed for Ridge High School … four-year varsity letter winner … Under Armour Underclass Lacrosse NC Command Team in 2017 and NJ Highlight Team in 2018 … nominated to participate in the Nike Elite 120 showcase in 2017 and 2018 … recognized as Elite12 Lacrosse (Chicago) Top-12 player in January 2018 … earned NJ All-Skyland Conference Second Team honors in 2018 and First Team honors in 2019 … named to NJ.com Top Sophs in 2018 and Top Juniors in 2019 … also a three-year varsity soccer forward … helped her team to the NJ Group 4 State Championship in 2017.
Ulehla on Aaron: "Bailey has an outstanding ability to find the ball in all 50/50 situations, especially off the draw. Her tenacity causes turnovers that spark offensive runs. She fiercely competes with a will-to-win mentality that is contagious."
Alex Aufiero
FR
5-7
Defense
Philadelphia, Pa.
Conestoga High School
Public Health
High School: Competed for Conestoga High School … earned the Coach's Award for junior varsity lacrosse as a freshman … received the MVP Defense Award for varsity lacrosse as a sophomore … recipient of the Crown Trophy Award for Athletics and Academics as a senior … captain as a senior … also played soccer all four years … member of the National Honor Society … received the Service and Leadership Award all four years … also played for the Philly Blast.
Ulehla on Aufiero: "Alex is an aggressive and disciplined defender with an analytical mind and powerful voice who strategically seeks to disrupt the flow of every offense. Her internal drive to succeed will serve us well as we strive to develop a championship culture."
Katie Lederman
FR
5-5
Attack
Rochester, N.Y.
Brighton High School
Marketing
High School: Competed for Brighton High School … recognized on the First Team All-County in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … All-Tournament Team Section V in 2018 … two-year captain (2019, 2020) … also played with her club team Relentless Hustle and was the team captain from 2015-2020.
Ulehla on Lederman: "Katie is a natural leader on the offense who poses a threat to any defender. Her lacrosse IQ, focus and awareness allow her to make excellent decisions in game-winning situations. She is an attacker who thrives under pressure with the confidence to demand the ball at the end of a game."
Phoebe Mullarkey
5-4
Midfield
Freshman
Stony Point, NY
North Rockland High School
International Business and Business Analytics
High School: Lettered varsity lacrosse in the eighth grade … All-Section Champion in 2016 … participated in the NYSPHSAA State Tournament in 2016 … received the Scholar-Athlete Award … earned a starting attacker spot as a freshman … All-Section Champion in 2017 … participated in NYSPHSAA State Tournament (2017) … named to the Rockland County All-Star Second Team, All-Section First Team, All-League, and received the Scholar-Athlete Award … also played for the New York Metro Brine National Team … scored the winning goal against Suffern to win Section Title and advanced to regionals … All-Section Champion in her sophomore season … participated in NYSPHSAA State Tournament in 2018 .. also named Rockland County All-Star First Team, All-Section First Team, All-League, and received Scholar Athlete Award as a sophomore … starting midfielder as a junior … All-Section Champion in 2019 … named to the Elite 11 and Player to Watch List as a junior … also named to the Rockland County All Star First Team, and received All-State, All-Section, and All-League honors in 2019 … only the second person in program history to have more than 100pts in a season with Hudson Valley School Girl National Team … recognized on the Third Team All-State in 2019 … 2020 All-American Nominee, Elite 11, and Player to Watch List recognition as a senior … was also a two-year captain of her team … member of the National Honor Society … Math Honor Society … Science Honor Society, and World Language Honor Society … elected officer of Academy of Finance … four-time Scholar Athlete Award winner … top 10% of graduating class.
Ulehla on Mullarkey: "Phoebe is a relentless competitor with an internal drive that outworks every opponent. She strives for excellence each and every day leading her teammates with a calm, confident demeanor determined to successfully impact our program."
Kaitlyn Panebianco
FR
5-3
Attack
Annapolis, Md.
St. Mary's High School
Public Health
High School: Competed for St. Mary's High School … Under Armour All-Star … All-County honors for lacrosse and field hockey … also played for Maryland United … captain … member of the National Honor Society.
Ulehla on Panebianco: "Kaitlyn is a smart, shifty player who understands the importance of offensive movement through spacing and timing. She recognizes when a defense unit becomes vulnerable and instinctively attacks with a vengeance."
Sophia Watkinson
JR
Attack
5-5
Baltimore, Md.
Drexel / St. Paul's School for Girls
Biomedical Engineering
At Drexel (2019): Saw action in seven games, including three starts, as a first-year … scored a goal in her collegiate debut at Georgetown (2/23) … also had a goal in the win over Central Connecticut (3/23) … dished out an assist against Robert Morris (3/30) … caused a turnover at Elon (4/5).
High School: A four-year letter winner at St. Paul's … named a U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American … also played varsity basketball, where she was a captain and winner of the C. Maryland Kelly Award … member of the Cum Laude Society and French National Honors Society … also played for the Skywalkers.
Ulehla on Watkinson: "We are excited for Sophia to join our offensive group this year. Her intelligence, maturity and leadership will increase our unit's overall productivity. She is a workhorse with a relentless and disciplined approach to achieving excellence."
The Buff and Blue welcome five first-years in Bailey Aaron (Basking Ridge, N.J.), Alex Aufiero (Philadelphia, Pa.), Katie Lederman (Rochester, N.Y.), Phoebe Mullarkey (Stony Point, N.Y.), and Kaitlyn Panebianco (Annapolis, Md.), along with a junior transfer from Drexel in Sophia Watkinson (Baltimore, Md.).
Bailey Aaron
FR
5-3
Midfield
Basking Ridge, N.J.
Ridge High School
Pre-Arts & Sciences
High School: Competed for Ridge High School … four-year varsity letter winner … Under Armour Underclass Lacrosse NC Command Team in 2017 and NJ Highlight Team in 2018 … nominated to participate in the Nike Elite 120 showcase in 2017 and 2018 … recognized as Elite12 Lacrosse (Chicago) Top-12 player in January 2018 … earned NJ All-Skyland Conference Second Team honors in 2018 and First Team honors in 2019 … named to NJ.com Top Sophs in 2018 and Top Juniors in 2019 … also a three-year varsity soccer forward … helped her team to the NJ Group 4 State Championship in 2017.
Ulehla on Aaron: "Bailey has an outstanding ability to find the ball in all 50/50 situations, especially off the draw. Her tenacity causes turnovers that spark offensive runs. She fiercely competes with a will-to-win mentality that is contagious."
Alex Aufiero
FR
5-7
Defense
Philadelphia, Pa.
Conestoga High School
Public Health
High School: Competed for Conestoga High School … earned the Coach's Award for junior varsity lacrosse as a freshman … received the MVP Defense Award for varsity lacrosse as a sophomore … recipient of the Crown Trophy Award for Athletics and Academics as a senior … captain as a senior … also played soccer all four years … member of the National Honor Society … received the Service and Leadership Award all four years … also played for the Philly Blast.
Ulehla on Aufiero: "Alex is an aggressive and disciplined defender with an analytical mind and powerful voice who strategically seeks to disrupt the flow of every offense. Her internal drive to succeed will serve us well as we strive to develop a championship culture."
Katie Lederman
FR
5-5
Attack
Rochester, N.Y.
Brighton High School
Marketing
High School: Competed for Brighton High School … recognized on the First Team All-County in 2017, 2018, and 2019 … All-Tournament Team Section V in 2018 … two-year captain (2019, 2020) … also played with her club team Relentless Hustle and was the team captain from 2015-2020.
Ulehla on Lederman: "Katie is a natural leader on the offense who poses a threat to any defender. Her lacrosse IQ, focus and awareness allow her to make excellent decisions in game-winning situations. She is an attacker who thrives under pressure with the confidence to demand the ball at the end of a game."
Phoebe Mullarkey
5-4
Midfield
Freshman
Stony Point, NY
North Rockland High School
International Business and Business Analytics
High School: Lettered varsity lacrosse in the eighth grade … All-Section Champion in 2016 … participated in the NYSPHSAA State Tournament in 2016 … received the Scholar-Athlete Award … earned a starting attacker spot as a freshman … All-Section Champion in 2017 … participated in NYSPHSAA State Tournament (2017) … named to the Rockland County All-Star Second Team, All-Section First Team, All-League, and received the Scholar-Athlete Award … also played for the New York Metro Brine National Team … scored the winning goal against Suffern to win Section Title and advanced to regionals … All-Section Champion in her sophomore season … participated in NYSPHSAA State Tournament in 2018 .. also named Rockland County All-Star First Team, All-Section First Team, All-League, and received Scholar Athlete Award as a sophomore … starting midfielder as a junior … All-Section Champion in 2019 … named to the Elite 11 and Player to Watch List as a junior … also named to the Rockland County All Star First Team, and received All-State, All-Section, and All-League honors in 2019 … only the second person in program history to have more than 100pts in a season with Hudson Valley School Girl National Team … recognized on the Third Team All-State in 2019 … 2020 All-American Nominee, Elite 11, and Player to Watch List recognition as a senior … was also a two-year captain of her team … member of the National Honor Society … Math Honor Society … Science Honor Society, and World Language Honor Society … elected officer of Academy of Finance … four-time Scholar Athlete Award winner … top 10% of graduating class.
Ulehla on Mullarkey: "Phoebe is a relentless competitor with an internal drive that outworks every opponent. She strives for excellence each and every day leading her teammates with a calm, confident demeanor determined to successfully impact our program."
Kaitlyn Panebianco
FR
5-3
Attack
Annapolis, Md.
St. Mary's High School
Public Health
High School: Competed for St. Mary's High School … Under Armour All-Star … All-County honors for lacrosse and field hockey … also played for Maryland United … captain … member of the National Honor Society.
Ulehla on Panebianco: "Kaitlyn is a smart, shifty player who understands the importance of offensive movement through spacing and timing. She recognizes when a defense unit becomes vulnerable and instinctively attacks with a vengeance."
Sophia Watkinson
JR
Attack
5-5
Baltimore, Md.
Drexel / St. Paul's School for Girls
Biomedical Engineering
At Drexel (2019): Saw action in seven games, including three starts, as a first-year … scored a goal in her collegiate debut at Georgetown (2/23) … also had a goal in the win over Central Connecticut (3/23) … dished out an assist against Robert Morris (3/30) … caused a turnover at Elon (4/5).
High School: A four-year letter winner at St. Paul's … named a U.S. Lacrosse Academic All-American … also played varsity basketball, where she was a captain and winner of the C. Maryland Kelly Award … member of the Cum Laude Society and French National Honors Society … also played for the Skywalkers.
Ulehla on Watkinson: "We are excited for Sophia to join our offensive group this year. Her intelligence, maturity and leadership will increase our unit's overall productivity. She is a workhorse with a relentless and disciplined approach to achieving excellence."
Players Mentioned
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