Vassar College

Poughkeepsie, NY 12604

New York Northeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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Judy Finerghty

Judy Finerghty, the 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2014 Liberty League Coach of the Year, has been the head coach of Vassar Women's Lacrosse since the 1994 season. During her career, Finerghty has racked up 187 career victories with the Brewers. She holds a 70-64 record over the past ten seasons, while coaching 57 All-Liberty League selections since 2005.

Finerghty’s squads have reached new heights in recent years, as the Brewers qualified for the Liberty League playoffs in three consecutive seasons. Vassar tied its best-ever mark in the Liberty League regular season in 2015, finishing 6-3 in the conference for the third straight year. VC’s No. 3 seed in the postseason was the highest-ever for the program since joining the conference, while her Brewers handed RPI its first Liberty League loss since 2013 with a 11-8 overtime victory on April 3.

In the 2022 season, the Brewers opened with non-league victories over Coast Guard and Manhattanville before diving into a competitive Liberty League schedule that saw them post wins over RIT and Bard along the way. During the season, the Brewers - who faced five teams ranked in the top-25 - were fifth among the league’s-best in caused turnovers per game, while also sitting fifth in saves per contest. Vassar saw 19 players record at least one point with six finishing in double-figures. Senior captain Ashley Roberts led the way in points and assists with 33 and 14, respectively, while junior midfielder Maddy Kretten - an All-League Honorable Mention honoree - dished out a team-best 26 goals. Senior Jackie Molloy, sophomore Lauren Johns and rookie Bree MacMullen combined for 136 saves over 15 games in goal.

The Brewers returned to action in 2021 with another pandemic shortened season. Vassar posted a 2-4 mark overall in the limited season, paced by junior Calie Porette, who led the team in nearly every statistical category, including goals, assists, points, shots, shots on goal, game-winning goals and free position tallies. At season's end, Porette was named All-League First Team, senior Alessandra Fable was an All-League Second Team selection, while senior Skylar Herrera-Ross and rookie Lauren Johns were All-League Honorable Mention honorees.

During the 2020 campaign, which was shortened due to the global pandemic, the Brewers set a program-record for goals scored in a game. Vassar recorded 25 goals in a 25-11 win against Centre College on March 8.

Finerghty has brought in some of the Liberty League’s most talented players in recent memory as Dara Davis (’15) was named the conference’s Co-Player of the Year in 2014. Jackie Palma (’15) also made history under Finerghty’s direction, becoming Vassar’s first-ever Defensive Player of the Year honoree in 2015, while Caeli Porette ('23) was Vassar's third Rookie of the Year in 2019. Vassar has also produced nine IWLCA All-Empire Region selections since the 2009 season.

The Brewers have recorded double-digit wins in six seasons during Finerghty’s tenure. She was at the helm in 2005 and 2007 when the Brewers captured the Seven Sisters Championship and saw the team claim the ECAC Upstate Championship in 2007 as well.

Finerghty’s teams have also been among the nation’s elite in the classroom, as Vassar has produced 58 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections since 2011. The Brewers ranked in the top three in team GPA nationwide in four consecutive seasons from 2009-12, including two years as the nation’s leader in grade point average in 2009 and 2011.

Prior to her joining the Vassar staff, Finerghty served as the assistant lacrosse coach at William Smith College and helped the team to a 1988 appearance in the NCAA Division III finals. After a two-year stint as an assistant lacrosse coach at Bates in Maine, Finerghty was named head coach for SUNY Albany's newly created lacrosse team. The Greyhounds finished 14-8 in her two seasons there. Finerghty was also the head field hockey coach at Vassar from 1993-2001 and 2003-2008.

As a player at Guilford (Md.) College, Finerghty was named team MVP in 1987 and received the Richard Joyce Sportsmanship Award that year. In 1986, she was a Quaker Club Scholarship Award recipient.

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Sarah Lankton

Lankton joined the Vassar women's lacrosse coaching staff prior to the 2018 spring season. She is a 2016 graduate of the University of Findlay where she was a four-year captain of the women's lacrosse team. Lankton was named the GLIAC Rookie of the Year in 2013 and the GLIAC Midfielder of the Year three times (2014-16). As a midfielder she racked up 262 goals, 79 assists, 427 draw controls, and 120 caused turnovers throughout her career. She was voted an All-American in 2015 and 2016 and participated in the IWLCA Senior All-Star Game.

After graduating Findlay, she served as Assistant Coach for the Merrimack women's lacrosse team during the 2017 season. She also worked at Revolution Lacrosse Club as the Manager of Player Services and Logistics and was the Head Coach of the 2022 team.

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John McCreery

John McCreery returned to Vassar College as the head men's lacrosse coach in the summer of 2018, being named as the ninth head coach of the program after serving one year as an assistant at Williams College following a three-year assistant term at Vassar.

The Brewers returned to full competition in the 2022 season, diving into their always-competitive Liberty League schedule after picking up non-conference victories over Montclair State, Emerson, Whittier and Nichols. The Brewers, who would line up against four NCAA-ranked opponents during the season, finished with a 7-7 record with league wins against Skidmore and Clarkson. Twenty-three different players recorded at least one point during the season, including eight who reached double-figures. Pacing the effort was junior attack Riley Olds with 23 goals and 12 assists for 33 points, while junior goalie Jack Bagin paced the defensive effort, recording eight games with 10 more more saves.

The league coaches recognized two players at season's end in 2022 as sophomore defender Solomon Hess was named to the All-League Second Team, while senior captain Logan Hyde was an All-League Honorable Mention honoree. Additionally, the Brewers saw 23 student-athletes named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team, which ranked second most among the league's eight institutions.

In another pandemic shortened season in 2021, the Brewers went 1-5 overall with a 1-4 mark in Liberty League play. At season's end, senior defender Zack Henig was named to the All-Liberty League Honorable Mention Team for his outstanding efforts.

McCreery guided the Brewers to a 3-2 mark in a pandemic-shortened season in 2020. Highlighting the season were three consecutive wins over Mount Saint Mary College, Oneonta State and Maritime College. Individually, Michael Mullen '20 became just the second player in Vassar program history to score 100 career goals, while Matthew Lowery '20 was a two-time preseason All-American selection.

In his return to the Vassar sidelines in 2019, McCreery guided the Brewers to a 4-11 mark, along with a 2-6 record in Liberty League play. Two players were named to All-Liberty League Teams, while Matthew Lowery '20 became just the second player in Vassar men's lacrosse program history to garner All-America honors.

McCreery returns to the Vassar sidelines after helping the Ephs to a 6-4 record in the ultra-competitive New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) in 2018.

Prior to that, McCreery served as the defensive coordinator and first assistant at Vassar from 2015-2017. In 2017 the Vassar staff was honored as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year when the Brewers made their first ever playoff appearance as the third seed. The 2017 Vassar defense allowed just 8.63 goals per game and their man-down was ranked second in the Liberty League.

Also during that time, VC saw 11 players earn All-Liberty League honors, including its first First Team honoree since the 2010 season. McCreery also mentored the Liberty League Rookie of the Year in James Thomas in 2016, and assisted VC's first lacrosse All-American in Liam Moriarty in 2017.

Before joining the Vassar staff, McCreery served as the head coach of the lacrosse team at Adams State University from 2012 to 2014. In addition to providing overall leadership, management and planning of the program, McCreery was responsible for hiring and developing the coaching staff and monitoring academic performance of the student athletes.

As an assistant coach with the Grizzles from 2010 to 2012, McCreery was involved in the development of lacrosse at Adams State as the team transitioned into NCAA Division II status in 2010. McCreery performed scouting, evaluating and recruitment of student athletes, and was responsible for growing the roster from 35 to 65 players during his time with the program.

Prior to joining Adams State, McCreery served as the head coach at the University of California Santa Cruz from 2009 to 2010. He led the Banana Slugs to a 10-5 record and a No. 19 MCLA Division II national ranking in 2010. McCreery was responsible for recruitment, scheduling, and travel among a host of other duties while establishing the UCSC Lacrosse Foundation 501(c)(3).

From 2006 to 2009, McCreery was the head coach and director of the lacrosse program at the University of Mississippi. While a university student, McCreery redirected a doormat program into a competitive one, leading the Rebels to a combined record of 19-16 during his time in Oxford.

McCreery got his start in coaching at the high school level, severing as the director of lacrosse at Palos Verdes (2005-06) and head woman’s coach at Woodside (2004) in California.

McCreery has also been involved in the summer lacrosse camp circuit, helping establish the Adams State University Men’s Lacrosse Prospect Camp in Alamosa, CO. Under his direction, the camp grew from 24 participants to 80 this past year. From the summer of 2006 to 2008, McCreery managed daily operations and coached defensive clinics at the Nike-Stevenson lacrosse camps in Pebble Beach, CA.