Lacrosse Announces 2021 Freshmen

BOULDER — Colorado lacrosse head coach Ann Elliott Whidden has announced the addition of 10 freshman to the roster for the 2021 season. Six members of the class are from the East Coast, while a pair hail from the Midwest. The other two athletes are from California and Texas.

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Hometown (High School/Club)
Danielle Heintz	G	5-6	Brewster, N.Y. (Brewster/Cobra Kai)
Jordan Johnson	M	5-5	Rumson, N.J. (Rumson Fair Haven Regional/T3 Shore Elite)
Zoe McElhaney	M	5-3	Frisco, Texas (Wakeland/GRIT)
Mack Moore	A	5-5	Fort Washington, Pa. (Upper Dublin/Ultimate Goal Lacrosse)
Maddi Ota	M	5-4	Blue Bell, Pa. (Germantown Academy/Big 4 HHH)
Morgan Pence	M	5-7	Great Falls, Va. (Georgetown Visitation Prep/Capital Lacrosse)
Madeline Pisani	M	5-5	Clarendon Hills, Ill. (Hinsdale Central/Summit Lacrosse)
Taylor Smith	M	5-7	Basking Ridge, N.J. (Basking Ridge/STEPS Lacrosse)
Ashley Stokes	M	5-7	Santa Ana, Calif. (Foothill/OC ACES
Sydney Zimmerman	M	5-6	Rockford, Mich. (Rockford/Summit Elite)

Complete bios for student-athletes are below:

Danielle Heintz
WHIDDEN ON HEINTZ: I'm excited to welcome Danielle into our Buff family. We have had the pleasure of working with Danielle at our camps and getting to know the amazing family she comes from. We love Danielle's steady, calmness in the cage. She is so consistent, something we believe is key to success at the position. She has quick hands and great positioning. We cannot wait to have her on campus and start working more with her!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Brewster High School in 2020…earned four letters on the lacrosse team and three as a member of the field hockey team…recorded 572 career saves…her high school team finished the 2019 season with a 12-6 record after finishing 17-5 in 2018…the 2018 team won the section and regional championships and advanced to the state semifinals…the biggest moment in her high school career was winning the sectional championships for the first time in school history…she was a three-time all-league selection in addition to all-section her sophomore and junior seasons…following the 2019 campaign, she earned All-America honors…also played midfield on the field hockey team…was named all-league, all-elite, all-section and all-state following her senior season on the field hockey team…member of the honor roll all four years…chose CU because of the atmosphere.

CLUB TEAM: She played club for Cobra Kai (2015-19).

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in mechanical engineering.

PERSONAL: Born Danielle Heintz in Brewster, N.Y…enjoys hiking, snowboarding and snowmobiling…her favorite food is pasta and her favorite movie is Hacksaw Ridge…her brother, Kevin, plays football for the University of New England…was a member of the NJROTC.

Jordan Johnson
WHIDDEN ON JOHNSON: Jordan will be a great addition to our midfield. She is solid on both ends of the field and brings that consistency you look for in midfielder. She is athletic, has speed, and so much potential to impact on both ends of the field. We are excited to have her join our program and cannot wait to work with her this fall.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of Rumson Fair Regional High School…played midfield on the lacrosse team for four seasons…recorded 95 points, 57 goals, 38 assists, 54 groundballs and 82 draw controls…member of the 2017, '18 and '19 Shore Conference Tournament Championship team as well as the 2017 and '18 Central Group II Sectional Championship team…named first-team All-Shore and first-team Class B North after her junior season where she recorded 30 goals and 21 assists…high school team has won 121 straight Shore Conference games…member of the National Honor Society…named a Gold and Silver Award recipient and to the APP All-Decade Team (honorable mention)…named the 2020 NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year for her high school… was also recruited by Ohio State, Jacksonville, Villanova, Rutgers, Monmouth, Bucknell and Richmond…chose CU because she felt at home and love the team, coaches and campus.

CLUB TEAM: Played club for T3 Shore Elite.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in integrative physiology.

PERSONAL: Born Jordan Johnson in Red Bank, N.J….comes from a family of athletes…her father, Jim, played football and baseball at McDaniel College…older brother Jeremy played lacrosse at Elizabethtown College…another older brother, Justin, played football at Wesleyan University…hobbies include art, skiing, surfing and baking…favorite foods are steak and ice cream.

Zoe McElhaney
WHIDDEN ON MCELHANEY: We love Zoe's competitiveness. She will add depth at our draw position; a skilled position we were really focused on adding to. She has great hands and an overall great understanding of what it takes to be successful at the draw. We really like Zoe's vision as well. She is smart and sees the field well. We look forward to working with her this fall!

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of Wakeland High School…played midfield on the lacrosse team…during her junior season, the team won the district championship and was the state runner-up…recorded over 500 draw controls…2019-20 All-American…2019 MVP…named the 2018 Aggieland Classic MVP…was the 2017 Rookie of the Year…played four seasons on the varsity team…two-time captain and all-state selection…biggest moment in high school was going to the state championship as a junior…also recruited by Delaware, Arizona State, UC Davis, High Point, Ohio State and UConn…chose CU because of the coaches and tradition of the program.

CLUB TEAM: Played club for GRIT.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in business.

PERSONAL: Born Zoe McElhaney in Frisco, Texas…listening to music is her favorite hobby…favorite food is macaroni and cheese…lists the Dallas Cowboys as her favorite professional team and Steph Curry is her favorite professional athlete.

Mack Moore
WHIDDEN ON MOORE: Mack is a worker. She goes hard in everything she does. We love her overall potential and believe she fits in perfectly with our culture and style of play. Her athleticism and quickness are going to be two things we look to take advantage of right away. We are very excited for her to be a Buffalo!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Upper Dublin High School in 2020…played attack as a member of the UDHS team that recorded a 38-18 record during her four years on the team…biggest moment is high school came her junior year against Boyertown. The game was tied 18-18 with a minute left in the pouring rain. At the last second, she passed the ball to her teammate who had a great shot to win the game…named first-team all-league as a junior and was second team following her sophomore year…earned honorable mention all-league honors as a freshman…also recruited by Virginia Tech, St. Joseph's, Bucknell and Rutgers…chose CU because from the moment she stepped on campus, she felt at home.

CLUB TEAM: Played club for Ultimate Goal Lacrosse.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in integrative physiology.

PERSONAL: Born Mackenzie Moore in Philadelphia, Pa…nickname is Mack…lists the Philadelphia Eagles as her favorite professional team and Saquon Barkley as her favorite pro athletes…her favorite book is Harry Potter.

Maddi Ota
WHIDDEN ON OTA: We have known and watched Maddi throughout her high school career. One thing we love about Maddi is her determination and commitment to excellence. She is always working hard and looking to get better. Maddi is a versatile player and we are excited about the different areas she can impact our program! We can't wait for her to officially be on campus with us!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Germantown Academy in 2020…lettered in lacrosse as a midfielder…played her junior year of lacrosse at IMG Academy…biggest high school moment came in the last game of her junior year. Her team played against Summit in New Jersey. Even though they lost, the team played so well together and kept the game close…member of the Dean's List and earned high honors all four years…LeHigh, Penn and St. Joseph's also recruited her…she chose CU because she fell in the love with the mountains and the coaching staff.

CLUB TEAM: Played club for Big 4 HHH.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in psychology and neuroscience.

PERSONAL: Born Madeline Ota…nickname is Maddi…from Blue Bell, Pa….mother, Elizabeth Harris, played lacrosse at LeHigh University…loves running and playing any sport with family and friends…favorite movie is Miracle and her favorite professional team is the Philadelphia Eagles.

Morgan Pence
WHIDDEN ON PENCE: Morgan has a strong connection to Colorado and I remember meeting her as a middle schooler; even then I was so impressed with her drive and passion. Morgan is a versatile player who can help our program in many different ways. We love her vision on the field and her work ethic, she is always doing the little things while stepping up anytime her team needs her. We are excited to start working with her this fall!

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School where she played lacrosse and field hockey…her high school team was the co-champion of the 2018 ISL AA in lacrosse and field hockey…during her sophomore season (2018), the team finished 17-2 and as a junior, the team was 19-5…as a midfielder, she recorded 48 goals, 25 assists, 44 draw controls, 32 ground balls during her sophomore and junior years…scored a career-best six goals against Milton as a junior…made the DC Team 1 all three years for the National School Girls Tournament and played on the DC under Armour Team…two-time lacrosse captain (senior and junior year) and served as the field hockey captain her senior year…member of the honor roll…earned the National Aspirations in Computing Award…also recruited by Syracuse and Boston University…chose CU because it was the whole package.

CLUB TEAM: Played club for Capital Lacrosse Club.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in engineering.

PERSONAL: Born Morgan Pence in Arlington, Va….her grandfather is the U.S. ambassador to Finland…considers herself a foodie…lists her favorite foods as lobster rolls and oysters…enjoys live music and anything at the beach…favorite professional team is the Capitols and her favorite athlete is Nicklas Backstrom.

Madeline Pisani
WHIDDEN ON PISANI: Madeline is a player we have known since middle school through our Illinois connections and her connections to Colorado. It has been so fun to watch her develop over the years as an incredible athlete and lacrosse player. We love her competitiveness and toughness, she is not going to stop until she achieves her goals. We cannot wait to finally have her on campus this fall!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 2020…helped her team win the 2018 state championships as a sophomore, which she lists as her biggest high school moment…the team finished that season with an 18-5 mark…the team reached the finals the following year and finished second with a 19-5 record…two-time all-state selection, picking up the honors her sophomore and junior years…member of the Dean's list all four years…also recruited by Navy, San Diego State, Marquette, UConn, Cal Berkeley and Ohio State…chose CU because she has attended camps since seventh grade and each year loves it more.

CLUB TEAM: Played for Summit Lacrosse.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in integrative physiology.

PERSONAL: Born Madeline Pisani in Chicago, Ill…nickname is Mads…uncle Dean Pisani played football at CU…another uncle, Jim, played football at Princeton and her father, Guy, played football at Miami of Ohio…loves hockey and lists the Chicago Blackhawks as her favorite team and Andrew Shaw as her favorite athlete…enjoys being on the lake and spending time with friends and family.

Taylor Smith
WHIDDEN ON SMITH: We got lucky with Taylor later in the recruiting process. We are so glad she took the chance to come out to Boulder and see everything Colorado has to offer. Taylor is a player who impressed us every time we watched her, she has a way of always being involved in the play and making things happen. We believe she is going to add depth to our midfield and fit in great with our systems and style of play. Her work ethic is tremendous and we look forward to getting to work this fall!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Basking Ridge High School in 2020…played basketball and lacrosse all four years…led her team in goals, draw controls and ground balls her freshman, sophomore and junior years…reached the 200-career goals mark in 2019…was named the team captain for the lacrosse team heading into the 2020 season… played on several championship teams, winning the 2019 Skyland-Raritan Lacrosse Conference and the 2018 Nike Elite 120 Championship in addition to many others…as a junior, she was named an All-Group 4 Second Team and First-Team All-Conference, to the NJ.com Top Lacrosse Juniors and to the On The Rise Junior Watch List per Inside Lacrosse Magazine (top 50 in the nation)…she was named to the 2017 Young Gun Sophomore Watch List per IL Magazine (top 40 in the nation)…in 2018 she was selected to play on the Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) Futures Team and the Women's National Tournament School Girls Lacrosse Team…member of the National Honors Society…reached 1,000 career points on the basketball team as a junior…was her team's points and steals leader (2017-2020)… recruited by James Madison, Richmond, Virginia Tech, Columbia, Boston University, Rutgers and Notre Dame…chose CU for the strong lacrosse program, amazing coaches and staff and nice, welcoming team.

CLUB TEAM: Played club for STEPS Lacrosse Club.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in business.

PERSONAL: Born Taylor Smith in Morristown, N.J…nicknames include Tay, T, TT…hobbies include health, fitness, hiking and reading…favorite food are sushi, salmon and frozen yogurt…favorite professional team is the Golden State Warriors…her aunt, Fran Smith, was an All-American in lacrosse for Ohio Wesleyan.

Ashley Stokes
WHIDDEN ON STOKES: We are glad we got a chance to see Ashley play later in our recruiting process. She instantly impressed us with her vision and poise on the field. Ashley is a dynamic player, who can have an impact for us all over the field. We are excited to see how she develops here at Colorado and believe she is going to add depth to our midfield and offense with her vision, athleticism, and competitiveness. We can't wait to start working with her in our systems!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Foothill High School in 2020…played midfield on the lacrosse team where she earned four letters…recorded 282 points, 168 goals, 114 assists, 121 ground balls and 218 draw controls…her high school team won all four games in 2020 after finishing 17-2 in 2019…selected the 2020 Orange County's Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year…named a 2020 Adrenaline All-American…2018 and '19 U.S. Lacrosse All-American…Orange Country Lacrosse National Team member (2017-19)…two-time team captain and was given the coaches award her sophomore year in addition to being named the Foothills Player of the Year following her junior year…in 2018 she was on the championship team for the WPLL Futures…First-Team All-Country (2018-19)…Scholar-Athlete (2016-19) and Principle Honor Roll (2016-2020)...also recruited by Denver, San Diego State and UC Davis…chose CU for the beautiful campus, amazing program, coaching staff and academics.

CLUB TEAM: Played for OC Aces.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in business.

PERSONAL: Born Ashley Stokes in Santa Rosa, Calif…nickname is Stokes…enjoys hiking, biking and anything outdoors…favorite foods are tacos and macaroni and cheese...her favorite professional team is the Anaheim Ducks.

Sydney Zimmerman
WHIDDEN ON ZIMMERMAN: We are so glad Sydney came out to camp early in her high school career. She has been so fun to watch develop over the years and we are continually impressed with her growth. Sydney has speed, vision, skill and a competitive drive. We know she will fit in great with our culture and systems. We cannot wait for her to finally be on campus and really get to work with her!

HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Rockford High School in 2020…earned four letters as a midfielder on the lacrosse team…in 2019, she helped the team record a 17-4 record with 65 goals, 28 assists, 99 draw controls and 39 ground balls….the team was 16-3 her sophomore year and again she played a solid role with 46 goals, 30 assists, 69 draw controls and 47 ground balls…in 2017, RHS finished 17-2…Zimmerman tallied 58 goals, 28 assists, 40 draw controls and 28 ground balls…all three of those seasons, RHS was the D1 MHSAA State Champions...earned numerous honors in those three seasons…as a junior, she was named all-state, all-conference and All-American, in addition to team MVP and the Midwest Player of the Month by U.S. Lacrosse Magazine…three-time academic All-American.

CLUB TEAM: Played for Summit Elite…was selected to play on the Under Armour Midwest Team in 2016 and '17…made Team Illinois – Brine NLC in 2015.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Intends to major in engineering.

PERSONAL: Born Sydney Zimmerman in Rockford, Mich…has been a lifeguard in the summer…enjoys music, playing guitar, anything outdoors and knitting hats…lists her favorite food as grilled cheese…her favorite professional team is the New Orleans Saints and her favorite professional athlete is Drew Brees…she was a member of the homecoming court and the all-state treble ensemble.

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