La Salle University

La Salle University Athletics
1900 West Olney Ave Philladelphia, PA 19141

Division 1 Pennsylvania Northeast

Private Small National competitor

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Coaches

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Katie Rhodes Abbott

Katie Rhodes Abbott enters her fifth season as head women's lacrosse coach at La Salle in 2023-24. She arrived in August of 2018 from Colgate University after spending five seasons there as the top assistant coach.

In her first season at the helm of the Explorers, Rhodes Abbott led the team to a 5-11 record and a 3-6 mark in conference play. She oversaw an emphatic opening-day victory over LIU - Brooklyn and a pair of two-game winning streaks during the campaign. Under her guidance, sophomore midfielder Bridget Ruskey was named Second Team All-Conference and first-year defender Amanda Farnsworth earned All-Rookie Team honors.

Rhodes Abbott notably installed a free-flowing offense that recorded the most assists in program history, setting the mark at 81. The defense also saw improvements under the new head coach as La Salle conceded its fewest amount of goals since 2016.

During her time at Colgate, Rhodes Abbott was instrumental in the growth of the Raiders program. Over her five seasons in Hamilton N.Y., she helped the team to 41 wins and four Patriot League Tournament appearances.

Colgate qualified for a fourth Patriot League tournament in Rhodes Abbott's five seasons in 2018, going 10-7 overall. The prior year, Colgate finished with a 6-3 mark in league play to earn the No. 5 seed in the league tournament. Former Patriot League Player of the Year Haley O'Hanlon was named All-League First Team and IWLCA All-Region under Rhodes Abbott’s guidance.

The 2015 campaign saw Colgate post double-digit wins for the first time since 2009. The Raiders also posted their best Patriot League record in four seasons at 6-2.

Freshman sensation Haley O'Hanlon was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year as she ranked among the league's top 10 in goals, assists and points. O'Hanlon and senior Jenna Frost were both IWLCA All-Region selections, giving the Raiders two all-region picks in the same campaign for the first time since 2011.

Rhodes Abbott made her way to Colgate after two years at the University of Detroit Mercy as an assistant coach. She worked directly with goalies and her primary responsibilities were recruiting, scouting reports and film exchange.

Detroit's goalie Lexie McCormick was named 2013 Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year after ranking second in the nation in saves and sixth in the saves per game. The Titans made their first A-Sun championship that year. That year, she tutored five first-team selections and three second-team members.

In her first season, Rhodes Abbott helped the Titans improve dramatically from a 3-15 record to an 8-9 mark in 2012, which was a program record for wins in a season. She coached two first team selections and the team reached the semifinals of the conference tournament.

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Devon Scharf

Devon Scharf enters her third season as an assistant coach in the 2023-24 season.

A two-sport athlete at Cabrini University in both lacrosse and field hockey, Scharf comes to La Salle after serving as a graduate assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University from 2020-21, where she helped lead the Rams to 11 wins while mentoring a nationally ranked goalkeeper in addition to helping plan and run practices while facilitating and leading various gameday operations.

Scharf also served on the Maccabi USA Lacrosse organizing committee, where she helped appoint coaches and recruit teams. She also has experience as an athletic performance intern at Villanova, where she worked with the football team and both men’s and women’s lacrosse team, as well as served as the head junior varsity lacrosse coach at Lower Merion High school in Philadelphia, Pa.

“We are so excited to add Devon to our Explorer Lacrosse family,” said Rhodes Abbott, who is entering her fourth season at the helm of the La Salle program. “Devon brings a ton of energy to the staff and we're so glad to have her here.”

While at Cabrini, Scharf was a member of four-consecutive conference championship teams while compiling a record of 12-8 in 20 career starts. As a junior in 2018, Scharf made 119 saves across 967 minutes to record 12 wins. Her season was capped by an 11 save performance in the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship game where she was the winning goalkeeper. An All-CSAC honorable mention, Scharf’s standout career includes three appearances on the CSAC All-Academic team while also earning a spot on the IWLCA Zag Sports Division III Academic Honor Roll.

"I am so grateful for Coach Rhodes for bringing me onto her squad this year,” said Scharf. “She is an accomplished coach and I am looking forward to being beside her on the sideline this spring. I am extremely thankful for everyone who has helped me on this coaching journey and can't wait to get going.”

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Kelly Ryan

Kelly Ryan enters her second season in 2023-24 as assistant lacrosse coach after being hired in August of 2022.

Ryan, a native of Levittown, New York, joins the Explorer family from Averett University where she was the head coach since 2016. During the 2022 season she helped produce the all-conference rookie, five all-conference players, and one all-tournament selection.

Prior to Ryan’s time at Averett she was an assistant coach for the University of Tampa. While there, she worked closely with players to improve their defensive skills and skill development. Ryan also served as a student-athlete academic monitor.

Ryan graduated from Catholic University of America in 2011 with her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She then went on to Frostburg State University to receive her Master’s in Education, specializing in special education.