PITTSBURGH — Head coach Emily Boissonneault announced the addition of four Division I transfers (Paige Petty, Virginia Tech; Paulina DiFatta, Elon; Sammie Giroux, Virginia Tech; Karina Latsko, Butler) to the Pitt Lacrosse roster for the program’s inaugural season in 2022.
“We are excited to add four high-level transfers who bring experience, skill and production to our roster,” said Boissonneault. “Each of these four players will have the opportunity to make an immediate mark in our program. Paige has been an elite player in college lacrosse for the past four seasons and Paulina has posted impressive numbers in goal throughout her career. Karina is a local product who provided to be an effective offensive threat during her time at Butler and Sammie was a player I followed throughout her high school recruiting process. This group fits nicely with the culture we are building at Pitt. We can’t wait to get our entire roster here and continue building towards our inaugural season of competition in 2022.”
Petty (Bernadsville, N.J. / Bernards [Virginia Tech], a three-time All-America and three-time All-ACC selection, joins the Pitt program following a highly decorated four-year career at Virginia Tech. She finished her time with the Hokies ranked among the program leaders in points scored (T-1st - 227), goals (1st - 204) and draw controls (4th - 241) while starting 62 of 63 career games. Petty also holds school records for career points, career goals, goals in a season and points in a season. She earned First Team All-ACC honors this season and is an All-American candidate after ranking in the top 10 in the ACC in goals (2.80 gpg.), shots (7.00 spg.) and draw controls (3.73 dcpg.). The Bernardsville, N.J., native finished the year with 45 points (42 goals and three assists) and 56 draw controls.
DiFatta (Dix Hills, N.Y. / Half Hollow Hills West [Fairfield / Elon]) owns a 28-21 record in goals over three seasons of competition at Fairfield and Elon. She has made 463 saves with a .504 save percentage to go along with 97 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers over 49 career contests. This past season, DiFatta was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week three times, while leading the conference in goals against average (7.67) and save percentage (.529). She was named to the CAA All-Tournament Team and set a school record with 160 saves in her first season at Elon in 2019. DiFatta also finished second in the country in saves (211) as a redshirt freshman at Fairfield in 2018.
Latsko (Cranberry Township, Pa. / Seneca Valley [Butler]) concluded her time at Butler with 52 points (38G, 14A) in 39 career games (20 starts). She has 13 career multi-goal games to go along with 22 ground balls, 13 draw controls and eight caused turnovers. Latsko tallied 10 goals in eight games as a senior, including a career-high three goals against Marquette. The Cranberry Township, Pa., was named a high school All-American after recording 95 goals, 30 assists and 83 ground balls her senior season at Seneca Valley, where she also holds the school record for career goals scored (194).
Giroux (Deer Park, N.Y. / Deer Park [Virginia Tech]) spent this past season at Virginia Tech as a redshirt. She was a two-time all-division selection out of high school and also represented Long Island at the 2017 Brine All-American Lacrosse Games.
Petty, DiFatta and Latsko will each have one year remaining, while Giroux retains four seasons of eligibility.
The Panthers roster now features nine Division I transfers, along with three members of the 2019 Pitt Club Lacrosse National Championship Team, six members from the 2020 recruiting class and 15 student-athletes from the class of 2021.