Syracuse head coach John Desko unveiled 18 new players Thursday. And the SU women’s freshman class was ranked No. 6 in the country by Inside Lacrosse.

On the women’s side, head coach Gary Gait welcomes an incoming class of 16. Highlighting that group are three freshmen ranked in the top 30 in the country — Kathy Rudkin, Ella Hogan and Neena Merola.

Rudkin, a defender from San Diego, is the 23rd-ranked player in the class in the nation. The Rochester, New York native and defender-midfielder Hogan ranks 26th and Merola, a midfielder from Corning, New York, comes in at No. 30.

Desko welcomes 13 freshmen and five transfers. This year’s freshman group ranks No. 17 in the country according to Inside Lacrosse and is highlighted by two top-100 players, defenseman Austin Fusco and midfielder Brad McKinney.

The Orange also welcomes five transfers with two coming from by two Onondaga Community College — 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year, Tim Barber, and the NJCAA’s 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, Warren Hill.