Coaches

Acacia Walker Weinstein

Acacia Walker will be entering her 12th season in 2024 as the head coach of the Boston College women’s lacrosse team. She took over the position on May 23, 2012.


As either a player or coach, Walker has participated in 19 of the last 20 NCAA Tournaments and was a part of Northwestern’s three consecutive NCAA titles from 2006-08 as an assistant coach. Heading into the 2023-24 calendar year, the Eagles' 119 wins since 2017 leads the country, while boasting six final fours, a national title in '21 three ACC regular-season title and an ACC championship.


In 2023, BC advanced to a sixth straight Final Four and national title game after 13 straight wins. On its way to the Final Four, BC earned a third ACC regular-season title since 2018 and the program's first-ever ACC championship, ending UNC's streak of six straight titles with an 11-9 win.


The Eagles also knocked off Syracuse in the regular season finale, ending the Orange's 15-0 record and later defeated Syracuse in the Final Four.


BC saw 10 players earn All-American status through at least one of three publications, while five were named an All-American in all three. Shea Dolce (Freshman of the Year), Sydney Scales (Defender of the Year) and Belle Smith (Midfielder of the Year) garnered ACC Player of the Year awards, joining three others that were named All-ACC.


Jenn Medjid was a top-five Tewaaraton finalist after leading the team with a career-high 83 points and 107 points. She ended her career second all-time in both categories with 252 goals and 332 points.


She has coached three Tewaaraton Award winners, 33 All-Americans and is a two-time IWLCA National Coach of the Year.


The Eagles continued to show why they're a perennial powerhouse, advancing to a staggering fifth straight national title. Boston College posted a 19-4 mark and finished the regular season as the No. 3 team in the country. North became the first player since Taylor Cummings (Maryland) from 2014-16 to collect the prestigious honor in back-to-back seasons. She led the Eags with 92 goals, a personal-best 115 points, and 139 draw controls. She was third in the country in goals, fourth in draw controls, and fifth in points. She also posted 16 hat tricks, including eight games with at least five scores. North was one of two players in the country with at least 90 goals and 100 draw controls this season. North broke the NCAA all-time goals mark earlier this season and stands as the all-time leader with 358 goals. She finished third among active leaders with 433 points and ninth with 373 draw controls. North was named the ACC Female Athlete of the Year for a second straight time and an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Five Eagles were named an IWLCA All-American, with Charlotte and Belle Smith earning first-team honors. Jenn Medjid, Sydney Scales and Courtney Taylor were named all-second team.


BC finally broke through in 2021, winning its first-ever national championship. The Eagles went 18-3 on the season and finished the regular season as the #4 team in the country. Walker-Weinstein then led BC to an upset win over #1 North Carolina in the national semifinal, before beating #3 Syracuse 16-10 in the NCAA Final to win the title. Walker-Weinstein coached the Tewaaraton Award winner Charlotte North, who set an NCAA record with 102 goals on the year. North was also named the IWLCA, Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse Magazine Player of the Year, as well as, the Honda Sport Award winner. BC had five IWLCA All-Americans in 2021 with North on the first team, Hollie Schleicher, Belle Smith and Cara Urbank on the second team and Jenn Medjid on the third team. Walker-Weinstein was named IWLCA National Coach of the Year and the Northeast Region Coach of the Year.


In 2019, she maintained her dominance, pushing the Eagles to their second consecutive undefeated regular season and ACC Regular Season title. Her Eagles shattered records just recorded in the previous season en route to their third straight national championship appearance. Walker-Weinstein produced four First Team All-Americans in Sam Apuzzo, Dempsey Arsenault, Kenzie Kent and Elizabeth Miller, as Apuzzo and Arsenault became the first pair of Eagles to be named finalists for the Tewaaraton Award in the same season. Apuzzo was named Attacker of the Year by both the IWLCA and ACC while Arsenault earned BC's first-ever IWLCA and ACC Midfielder of the Year honors under Walker-Weinstein's guidance.


In 2018, Walker led the team to their most historic season, finishing the campaign with an undefeated regular season record and their second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship game. She once again received IWLCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year honors as the Eagles shattered records across the board en route to their first ACC Regular Season Champion title. Under her watch, the Eagles raked in numerous awards, including BC's first ever Tewaaraton Award recipient in Sam Apuzzo. A program-best four Eagles were named All-Americans by the IWLCA in 2018, as Sam Apuzzo, Dempsey Arsenault, Elizabeth Miller and Kaileen Hart were honored.


In 2017, Walker was honored as the Division I Intercollegiate Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) National Coach of the Year, as well as the Northeast Region Coach of the Year for leading the Eagles into the best-ever season in program history.


In 2016, Walker became the fastest coach in program history to net their 50th career win, doing so in only 74 games against Virginia Tech on April 16. The Eagles went 10-9 that season and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament. She also coached three players to IWLCA ACC All-Academic team, four players to IWLCA first and second All-Northeast Regional honors and two players to All-ACC honors.


In 2015, Walker led a program that cracked the top three in the national rankings before falling to Loyola (Md.) 19-12 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in May. The 2015 season was highlighted by several accomplishments in the 2015 season. The Eagles finished the season 15-4 overall, their highest winning percentage (.789) since Walker began her tenure as head coach, while recording an impressive 8-0 record on the road last season. Additionally, Walker coached three Tewaaraton Award nominees, including the first Tewaaraton finalist in Boston College history with Sarah Mannelly while Kenzie Kent was named to the IWLCA All-Rookie Team. Three Eagles earned IWLCA All-American Status and the team was honored by the IWLCA for achieving a team GPA of 3.0 or greater under Walker in 2015. Boston College was 5-2 in ACC play during Walker’s third season as head coach.


In 2014 Walker led the Eagles to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, beating Bryant and Loyola before finally falling to Syracuse. During the 2014 season BC reached a national ranking as high as No. 4. She coached two players to IWLCA All-American honors and four to IWLCA All-Northwest Region honors. She guided the program to a 16-5 overall record and a 3-4 ACC record.


In her first year as a head coach in 2013, she guided the team to program tying record of 12 wins, despite playing the seventh-most difficult schedule in the country. She also led the Eagles to their second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance and coached BC to school records for ACC wins in a season (3) and consecutive games won within a season (8). The winning streak began with victories over then-No. 9 Virginia and then No. 6-Duke with the win over Duke marking the first time BC had defeated the Blue Devils.


Walker spent the 2011 and 2012 seasons as associate head coach for Boston College. In that role, Walker served as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator and played a key role in recruiting, as well as in many other facets of the daily operations of the BC program. In 2012 the Eagles finished the season at 10-8 and 1-4 in the ACC. In 2011, Walker’s first season with the team, BC went 12-7 (1-4 ACC) and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.


In 2012, Walker helped guide BC’s first-ever ACC Freshman of the Year winner, Stanwick, as well as All-American Kristin Igoe. Stanwick, Igoe, and Rix each garnered All-ACC accolades marking the first time that three BC players earned such honors in the same season. The Eagles also set a program-record with 263 draw controls on the year while scoring 230 goals as a team - the third-highest total in school history.

During the 2011 season, BC set a single-season program records goals scored (232). The Eagles defeated two ranked opponents - No. 7 Virginia and No. 20 Hofstra - on the season while Igoe and Brittany Wilton both garnered All-American honors.


A former player herself, Walker continued to play at the elite level after her collegiate playing days competing on the U.S. Women’s Senior National Lacrosse Team from 2002-12. She won a gold medal with the team at the 2009 World Cup in Prague, Czech Republic and was also a member of the 2010-11 U.S. National Team that was undefeated on American soil.


Prior to working with the Eagles, Walker was the associate head coach at the University of Massachusetts. During her tenure, Walker acted as the offensive coordinator, handled recruiting responsibilities and helped lead the team to two consecutive Atlantic-10 Conference championships. She also handled travel, budget management, video breakdown, and camps.


From 2005-08, she was an assistant coach at Northwestern, where the Wildcats won three consecutive NCAA National Championships and three consecutive American Lacrosse Conference titles.


Walker graduated from the University of Maryland in 2005 with a degree in American Studies. She played for the Terrapins and captained the team in her senior year. She was an IWLCA All American as well as an All-ACC selection. In 2005 she won the University of Maryland M Club `James H. Kehoe’ Award, and in 2004 and 2005 was a Tewaaraton candidate, the award given to the male and female Collegiate National Player of the Year.


At age 15, Walker was the youngest member of the World Championship Under-19 Team that won gold in Perth, Australia in 1999.


Walker hails from Annapolis, Md. and currently resides in Boston, Mass.

Sam Apuzzo

Sam Apuzzo, one of the most decorated athletes in Boston College history, was elevated from a graduate assistant to assistant coach in 2021 and is entering her fifth season on the staff in 2024. She leads one of the top-scoring offenses and draw units in the nation.


The Eagles' offense and draw unit was just as dangerous last season, finishing fifth in the ACC in scoring and in the top 20 in country. BC scored at least 20 goals in two games, including a single-game program-tying 25 goals against then-No. 25 Virginia.


Jenn Medjid (83) was third in the nation and first in the league in goals scored, while Mckenna Davis finished second in the nation and first in the conference in assists (62). Kayla Martello scored a career-high 61 goals, which was fifth in the ACC and 20th in the NCAA. Belle Smith posted 51 goals, which was 52nd in the nation.


The offense was fifth in offensive efficiency at 39.5 percent, while several players earned career highs in goals and points. Medjid was a top-five Tewaaraton Finalist.


Andrea Reynolds (93 draw controls) and Ryan Smith (90 draw controls) led the draw unit, posting career highs in the category, while Cassidy Weeks' 37 draw controls and Belle Smith's 28 draw controls were a personal high as well.


BC was ninth in the nation in draw control percentage at 61.7 percent, while Reynolds and Smith finished ninth and 10th, respectively, in school history in draw controls in a single season.


In her first as the assistant coach, Apuzzo helped the Eagles boast the highest-scoring offense in the ACC and finished second in the nation averaging 16.8 goals per game. BC scored at least 20 goals in six games last season, while the 388 goals scored is the second most in a single season in program history. Three Eagles in Charlotte North (5th - 92), Jenn Medjid (7th - 72) and Belle Smith (55 - 49th) finished in the top 50 in goals scored. The trio of North, Hollie Schleicher and Courtney Taylor all finished in the top 12 in the ACC ni draw controls per game.


During her career with the Eagles, Apuzzo helped lead the team to three consecutive national championship appearances and two back-to-back undefeated regular seasons during her junior and senior years. She holds the all-time program records for career points (390), goals (278) and draw controls (444), and is tied with teammate Kenzie Kent for the fastest number of games to reach 100 career points (25). She ranks fourth all-time in assists with 112. She holds the first (129), third (124) and fourth (119) single-season point records as well as the first (94), second (88) and third (80) single-reason goal records. Her 191 draw control wins as a senior also marks the best in single-season program history, paving the way for the team to reach the 400-draw win milestone for the first time. Over her career, she had four 10-point performances, headlined by a nine-goal contribution against Navy (Feb. 24, 2018) and multiple eight-goal outputs.


Apuzzo reigns as BC's only Tewaaraton Award recipient (2018) as a three-time nominee (2017, 2018, 2019) and a two-time top-five finalist (2018, 2019). She also claimed the Honda Award for Lacrosse in 2018 and was a finalist again in 2019. She was a three-time IWLCA First Team All-America selection (2017, 2018, 2019), a two-time IWLCA Attacker of the Year (2018, 2019), a two-time Inside Lacrosse Preseason All-American (2018, 2019), a three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team selection (2017, 2018, 2019), a three-time All-ACC First Team selection (2017, 2018, 2019), a three-time All-ACC Tournament Team selection (2017, 2018, 2019) and the ACC Attacker of the Year honoree in back-to-back years (2018, 2019).


She is a double-Eagle, earning her bachelor's degree from BC in 2019 and master's degree in 2021.

Jennifer Kent

Jennifer Kent is in her 15th year in 2023 as an assistant coach for the Eagles. She focuses her attention on the defensive end but also plays a crucial role in individual development. On June 10, 2022, she was promoted to associate head coach.


"Jenn Kent deserves this recognition and promotion to associate head coach. She has been with me since the beginning and her tireless work ethic has lifted us to the highest heights. I can't thank her enough," Walker-Weinstein said.


In 2023, Boston College continued its run as a powerhouse, where it advanced to a sixth straight Final Four and national title game after 13 straight wins. On its way to the Final Four, BC earned a third ACC regular-season title since 2018 and the program's first-ever ACC championship, ending UNC's streak of six straight titles with an 11-9 win.


The defense was one of the best in the nation, finishing 12th in the nation in scoring defense and seventh in defensive efficiency. In the postseason, the Eagles held their first six opponents to under 10 goals by eight goals under their season average.


Sydney Scales was named the ACC's Defender of the Year, becoming the first BC player since 2018 to win the prestigous award. She was the only player in the ACC to lead her team in both categories and the only player with at least 30 caused turnovers and ground balls.

Scales has played a pivotal role in BC's successful season. The Eagles held all three opponents in the ACC under 10 goals, while holding Notre Dame to a season low in goals and holding UNC scoreless over the final 23 minutes to secure the title. Scales was named All-ACC First Team and to the all-tournament team.


Dolce was the first freshman since Covie Stanwick in 2012 to be named freshman of the year.


Dolce led the country among freshmen in both goals against average and save percentage. She is also third and fourth, respectively, in both categories. She was the only freshmen in the conference to be named ACC Player of the Week (co overall) at least twice and the only freshman to win IWLCA Player of the Week. She was named the ACC Tournament MVP after making 19 saves in the three wins.


The Eagles continued their dominance as one of the perennial powerhouses in the country, advancing to a fifth straight national title. BC finished 19-4 and No. 3 in the country at the end of the regular season. Kent helped the Eagles jump 10 spots from 2021 in scoring defense, ranking 20th in the nation and second in the ACC. Sydney Scales and Courtney Taylor were two of the five IWLCA All-Americans. Scales was fourth in the ACC in ground balls per game and Scales and Taylor were in the top 10 in the league in caused turnovers per game.


Kent helped the Eagles break through in 2021 as they captured their first-ever national championship. BC earned an upset victory over No. 1 North Carolina in the national semifinals before downing No. 3 Syracuse in a 16-10 triumph in the NCAA Final. Boston College defeated 13 ranked opponents in the historic season.


In 2019, Kent's defense held off 10 nationally-ranked opponents during the regular season en route to their third consecutive NCAA Championship appearance. Under her guidance, defender Elizabeth Miller earned First Team All-American recognition for the second consecutive season.


In 2018, she helped coach the team to their sixth NCAA appearance in a row and second consecutive NCAA Championship game appearance.


In both the 2014 and 2015 seasons, Kent was a member of the coaching staff that advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament. In that time, she helped Mikaela Rix and Covie Stanwick twice receive IWLCA All-American honors while guiding Sarah Mannelly to an All-American nod in 2015 as well as the first ever Tewaaraton Award finalist in program history.


In 2013, Kent assisted the Eagles to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, beating Bryant and Loyola before finally falling to Syracuse. During the 2014 season BC reached a national ranking as high as No. 4. She helped coached two players to IWLCA All-American honors and four to IWLCA All-Northwest Region honors. Kent and the women’s lacrosse coaching staff the program to a 15-6 overall record and a 3-4 ACC record.


In 2013, the Eagles had a milestone year, earning their second NCAA berth in program history, and the defensive end was a large part of that success.


A native of Norwell, Mass., and a graduate of Thayer Academy – where she was inducted into the Thayer Academy Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 – Kent was a four-year letterwinner at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She played soccer, basketball and lacrosse for the Mules. In lacrosse, she was a two-year captain, MVP, and leading scorer. Kent earned Brine/IWLCA 2nd Team All-American honors in her senior season in 1990.


Upon graduation from Colby, Kent joined the staff at the Hyde School in Bath, Maine where she taught and coached lacrosse and soccer, eventually becoming the Dean of Students and Athletic Director. Her accolades at Hyde include the 1995 Maine State Championship in lacrosse.


After leaving Hyde, Kent became the varsity lacrosse coach at Norwell High School in 1998 where she won back-to-back state titles in 2005 and 2006 and was named Massachusetts Coach of the Year in 2005. In addition to her coaching duties at Norwell, Kent was also the co-director of Norwell Youth Lacrosse and the co-director and owner of Xtreme Lacrosse and Soccer camps.


Kent has significant ties to Boston College, as her four siblings are alumni of BC – Michelle Lally O'Grady `89, Rob Lally `90, Doug Lally `91, and Greg Lally '96.


Kent currently lives in Norwell with her husband Jeff, and their six children: Alicia, Callahan, Kenzie, Parker, Addison and Bailey.

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