WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University women's lacrosse squad has announced its captains for the 2019 season. Seniors Taylor Gebhardt(Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker), Megan Massimino (Villanova, Pa./Radnor), Morgan Ryan (Maplewood, N.J./Oak Knoll School) and Francesca Whitehurst (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park Country School), were selected to lead the squad during the upcoming year.
"This is a strong group of leaders that will guide us both on and off of the field," said Georgetown Head Coach Ricky Fried. "They have earned the respect of their teammates as well as our staff, and I know they will provide a solid foundation for the team as we work towards the 2019 season."
Gebhardt led the team in scoring in 2018 posting a squad-best 53 goals and 12 assists for 65 points. The attacker was a First Team All-BIG EAST honoree after earning a spot on the second team as a sophomore. Gebhardt was named the BIG EAST Attacker of the week on April 24 and to the honor roll on April 17. She ranks among the all-time program leaders in career and season goals.
Massimino started all 19 games for the Blue & Gray on the defensive end of the field a season ago. She managed 11 caused turnovers as well as 13 ground balls. The defender has been a two-year starter in her time on the Hilltop. This past season, she won the team's Denis Kanach Hoya Award which recognizes the unsung hero who best demonstrates unselfish play and true team spirit.
Ryan was GU's fourth-leading scorer in 2018 tallying 23 goals and 11 assists for 34 points. She also pulled in 27 draw controls. She has been a starter for the Hoyas since her freshman season, and has 87 career points on 61 goals and 26 assists.
Whitehurst appeared in just eight contests last year before going down with a season-ending injury. In those eight games she scored 12 goals with five assists for 17 points and earned BIG EAST Midfielder of the Week honors as well as a nod to the honor roll. She is the lone returning captain after holding the position as a junior.
The Hoyas returned to the NCAA Tournament this past season and spent the entire year in the national rankings sitting as high as No. 21 in the IWLCA poll and No. 17 in the Inside Lacrosse poll. Georgetown finished the season with a mark of 12-7 and returns its top five scorers in 2019.
