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Lauren Skellchock
Former U.S. National Team player Lauren Skellchock (née Schwarzmann) was named the ninth head coach in Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse program history on July 8, 2014.
Guiding the Mountaineers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, Skellchock has raised the bar for defining success within the program. Going 15-5 in her eighth season at the helm, including 7-1 in the NEC, the Mount once again took the conference tournament crown with wins over Wagner and Bryant. Seven players were named to the All-NEC team, with Zoe Hurlburt taking Midfielder of the Year honors. Four more players earned All-Tournament honors, led by MVP Dani Donoghue. Offense and defense continued to provide a mutual force with a goal differential of +86 (257-171).
Skellhock was the Northeast Conference (NEC) Coach for the third year in a row in 2021, as she lead to the lead the team to their first NEC title since 2005, defeating Wagner 9-8 in overtime. She led the Mountaineers to another historic season, which included a fourteen game winning streak breaking 2019's win streak. The Mountaineers posted their fifth perfect NEC record in program history as they earned an NCAA Tournament bid. The Mount ranked fifth in the country in scoring defense allowing only 8.41 goals per game, while scoring 15.06 goals a game to rank tied for 14th in the country. The Mountaineers ranked 10th in the country in save percentage with a 49.3 percentage. The Mount won three of the major awards this year, including Coach of the Year. Kate Kinsella won NEC Offensive Player of the Year and Kaitlyn Ridenour won Defensive Player of the Year as Mount Saint Mary’s won three major awards for the second time ever in program history.
Skellchock claimed the Northeast Conference (NEC) Coach of the Year Award for the second consecutive year in 2019, as she became the first in program history to win multiple Coach of the Year honors. Skellchock led the Mountaineers to a historic season, which included setting a new program record with 16 victories and a program-best 13-game win streak. The Mount posted a perfect NEC record for the third time in program history en route to claiming its fourth NEC Regular Season Title. Skellchock's Mountaineers led the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 7.05 goals per game to opponents, and were 20th on the offensive end with 14.11 goals per contest. The Mountaineers took home four of the five major NEC end-of-the-year awards following their historic season. In addition, to Skellchock's Coach of the Year honor, Jordan Butler was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Year, Kaitlyn Ridenour earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and Jordan Groover collected the Rookie of the Year Award, as Mount St. Mary's took home more than three major awards in the same season for the first time in program history. In addition, goalie Jillian Petito led the nation in save percentage (.564) for the second straight season while also topping the country in goals against average (7.14).
Skellchock was tabbed the 2018 NEC Coach of the Year, as she became just the third Mount women's lacrosse coach to earn the honor. Skellchock guided the Mountaineers to their second NEC Tournament appearance under her watch, as they more than doubled their win total from the previous season at 10-7 overall while going 5-2 in conference play. Skellchock's defensive unit ranked third in the nation in goals allowed per game (8.65), and the team's offense was the only squad in the conference with six players with at least 20 goals and 30 points on the year. Skellchock coached four players that garnered NEC honors following the season, including goalie Jillian Petito, who earned the NEC Defensive Player of the Year award and finished as the nation's leader in save percentage (.563).
On May 19, 2017, Skellchock was honored with induction into the Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame. Skellchock was a member of Century High School's first graduating class in 2004 after transferring to the school as a sophomore in 2002. She led her squad to a state finals appearance in their first year as a varsity program, before following up by winning the state title the following season.
In late May of 2016, Skellchock was named an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ride of the United Women's Lacrosse League (UWLX), the first-ever professional women's lacrosse league in the world. Skellchock joined her younger sister, Katie, who was selected as the first overall pick by the Ride in the inaugural UWLX draft.
During her first season at the helm of the Mount in 2015, Skellchock guided the Mountaineers back to the Northeast Conference Semifinals and doubled the team's win total from the previous season. Finishing 6-11 overall, the Mount posted a 5-2 NEC mark to tie for second place in the regular season standings. Six of Skellchock's players were honored with NEC Postseason Awards, including First Team All-NEC performers Melissa Cox and Steph Rurkowski. She also coached two Second Team All-NEC players, two All-Rookie Team selections and two All-Tournament Team picks. Among the major award winners, Nicole Lantuh earned NEC Rookie of the Year, while Melissa Cox was named NEC Defensive Player of the Year and was awarded a spot in the IWLCA North/South Game.
Prior to taking over the Mount St. Mary's program, Skellchock gained experience through assistant coaching positions at Cincinnati, San Diego State and Stanford. The Sykesville, Md. native joined the coaching ranks following a standout career as a midfielder on the Johns Hopkins women's lacrosse team.
During the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Skellchock helped take Stanford to new heights as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach. The Cardinal compiled a 28-11 record in her two seasons and earned the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2013, toppling No. 9 Notre Dame in the first round. Stanford, which took down seven ranked opponents in Skellchock's two-year tenure, won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in 2013 and made a return trip to the championship game in 2014.
Prior to making the move to Stanford, Skellchock worked as an assistant coach at San Diego State for the 2012 season, helping the Aztecs win five games during their inaugural season.
She got her start in the coaching business at the University of Cincinnati as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the 2009-11 seasons. Skellchock was heavily involved in the offensive game planning during her three seasons with the Bearcats.
On the club level, Skellchock worked with NatiLax in Cincinnati, Ohio and TreeLax in Stanford, Calif.
A decorated collegiate player, Skellchock ranks 12th all-time in Johns Hopkins history by compiling 118 career points with 79 goals and 39 assists from 2005-08. The high-scoring midfielder helped guide the Blue Jays to two NCAA Tournament berths, including a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals as a junior in 2007. After a stay with the U.S. Developmental Lacrosse team from 2007-09, Skellchock was a member of the U.S. National Team until the fall of 2013.
Skellchock graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2008 with a degree in public health studies and has completed coursework toward her master's degree in public health from the University of Cincinnati.
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