Mount St. Marys University

Emmitsburg, MD 21727

Maryland Northeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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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.

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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Sam Nolan

Sam Nolan joined the Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse coaching staff in August of 2018.

Nolan rounded out a five-year playing career at UMBC in 2017 before joining the La Salle coaching staff for the 2018 campaign.

Nolan, a two-year team captain at UMBC, registered 117 goals, 73 assists and 190 points during her time with the Retrievers. The Fallston, Maryland native finished her career as the program's all-time leader in assists, and ranks third in career points.

The attacker was named First Team All-America East in each of her final two years at UMBC, combining for 83 goals, 54 assists and 137 points in the pair of seasons. During her senior campaign, she tallied career highs in all three scoring categories and led her squad to an 11-6 overall record and a semifinal appearance in the America East Playoffs.

Nolan previously coached for Integrity Lacrosse Club in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, where she coordinated practices, developed workout plans and assisted with recruiting for the 2018 class. She also spent four years assisting with the Brine National Lacrosse Classic.

Since 2014, Nolan has coached at the Maryland Women's Lacrosse Summer Camps, helping run practices and manage scrimmages.

Beyond the field, Nolan worked as an intern in the UMBC athletic communications department, where she helped with social media development, sports production and live streaming. She also interned with UMBC's marketing department to assist with ticket and merchandise sales as well as gameday promotions.

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Tom Gravante

Tom Gravante, who has been at the helm of the Mount men's lacrosse program since 1995, has built the Mount into an annual contender in the Northeast Conference.

During the 2019 campaign, Gravante led the Mountaineers to a program-best 5-1 mark in conference play as they collected their second NEC Regular Season Championship and earned hosting rights for the NEC Tournament. Gravante was named the NEC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, and seven of his players earned NEC honors, including Dylan Furnback who was named the NEC Defensive Player of the Year. The Mount's victory over 14th-ranked Richmond on March 5 was the team's sixth all-time against a ranked opponent.

Gravante led the Mount to back-to-back conference championships in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, the Mount won the first-ever Northeast Conference Championship in the league's inaugural season. The previous year, Gravante guided the Mount to a school-record in wins, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title, and the school's second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

The Mount won the NEC regular season title in 2011, earning the right to host the NEC Tournament. There, the Mount collected wins over Bryant and Quinnipiac to take the inaugural NEC title. Gravante was named the NEC Coach of the Year for the second season in a row.

In 2010 the Mount defeated Siena, 7-6, on a last-second goal to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in the school's final season in the conference. With the win, the Mount advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they lost to No. 1 seed Virginia in the First Round.

The Mount finished the 2010 season with a 12-5 record, breaking the school record for wins in a season. Gravante was named the MAAC's Coach of the Year, the fourth time he earned the award. The NEC also handed out postseason awards in 2010 in advance of the league's first year with Gravante earning the NEC's Coach of the Year award as well.

Gravante saw his teams enjoy unprecedented success in the MAAC, advancing to the MAAC Championship game in six of the 11 seasons it has been held, winning the title in both 2003 and 2010.

In 2003, Gravante earned his third MAAC Coach of the Year award after guiding the Mount to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after a win over Saint Joseph's in the MAAC Championship game. With Gravante at the helm, the Mount posted an impressive 83-28 record in MAAC regular season games.

Gravante was forced to sit out the 2005 season to concentrate on his health, but returned to the sidelines in 2006 and promptly led the Mount to the MAAC title game.

In 1999, Gravante guided the Mountaineers to the MAAC regular season title, sweeping the conference slate, and a school-record 11 wins, earning MAAC Coach of the Year honors for the second time in three years. In 1997, he led his charges to the program's first winning season since 1991.

Gravante was named the recipient of the Howdy Myers Man-of-the-Year Award by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association in July 2002. He joined former coaching legends Bob Scott of Johns Hopkins and Carl Runk of Towson as one of 15 to be honored as the USILA's Man of the Year since 1988.

Gravante has been the head coach of in the USILA North-South Senior All-Star game on two occasions (2003 and 2010).

As a player at Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., Gravante helped lead the Statesmen to the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth of 12 straight Division III titles won by the Upstate New York powerhouse. For over 10 years, he held Division III tournament records for goals in a game (seven) and goals in the tournament (17). Gravante graduated from Hobart in 1988 with a degree in economics. He was inducted into Hobart's Hall of Fame in 2006. After graduation, Gravante proceeded to work at General Electric in Syracuse in manufacturing test engineering.

Following his term at GE, he owned and operated a fitness center in his hometown of Camillus, N.Y. When offered the opportunity to pursue his MBA degree and coach lacrosse, he decided to return to the game as assistant coach at Mount St. Mary's for the 1993 season. Upon the resignation of A.J. Russo, he was promoted to head coach. In fall of 1995, he was promoted to full-time status.

Gravante lives in Frederick with his wife Nicole and two children . In May of 1998, he received his Master of Business Administration degree with honors from Mount St. Mary's.