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Villanova University

Villanova University Athletics
 Jake Nevin Fieldhouse - 800 E Lancaster Ave Villanova, PA 19085
Division 1 Pennsylvania Northeast
Private Medium Competitive team
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Coaches

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Jill Batcheller

Jill Batcheller was named the head coach of the women’s lacrosse team on June 26, 2021. Batcheller previously spent three seasons as head coach at Drexel University and six seasons at Bryant University.


In her second season at the helm of Villanova Women’s Lacrosse, Batcheller led the Wildcats to a 12-6 record and 4-3 in the BIG EAST. The ‘Cats took wins over BIG EAST Rivals Butler, Georgetown, and Xavier twice.


During the 2023 season, Batcheller coached Sydney Pappas to win the 2023 BIG EAST Co-Attacker of the Year alongside UConn's Kate Shaffer and Denver's Julia Gilbert. Pappas played a key role for the Wildcats all season earning IWLCA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, IWLCA All-Region, BIG EAST Attacker of the Week honors and BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll honors.


Batcheller also helped senior Caroline Curnal land a spot on the 2023 Senior All-Star Games South Team roster after scoring 41 goals and adding eight assists for 49 points for the season. Curnal is the first Wildcat to appear at the games since Jackie Froccaro and Chelsey Henderson in 2016. Curnal earned Inside Lacrosse Third Team All-America, BIG EAST Attacker of the Week honors as well as IWLCA All-Region Honors alongside Pappas.


At the conclusion of the 2023 season, 11 ‘Cats earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (ILWCA) academic awards. To qualify for ILWC awards, the team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the academic year.


In her first season at Villanova, Batcheller led the Wildcats to a 5-11 record and 1-4 in the BIG EAST in 2022. The ‘Cats took wins over George Washington, La Salle, Lafayette, UC Davis, and BIG EAST rival Butler.


Batcheller coached Curnal to an impressive senior season. The Ridgefield, Connecticut native earned a handful of 2022 BIG EAST Weekly Honors along with being named to the IWLCA Mid-Atlantic All-region First Team, Inside Lacrosse Media All-America Team, PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Team, and BIG EAST Midfield of the Week.


Four Wildcats earned 2022 All- BIG EAST Honors. Senior Caroline Curnal and junior Addie Fischer were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team and seniors Libby McKenna and Caroline Phelps were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.


While coaching the Dragons, she posted a 24-15 overall record in three seasons. After two seasons of rebuilding, Batcheller led Drexel to a 13-3 overall mark, a berth in the CAA championship game, an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament and the program’s first-ever top-10 national ranking. The 2021 season marked the first-ever appearance in both the conference title game and the NCAA Tournament for Drexel.


For her efforts during the 2021 season Batcheller became the first Drexel women's lacrosse coach to earn CAA Coach of the Year honors. She was also instrumental in helping Karson Harris garner CAA Player of the Year distinction and Zoe Bennett earn CAA Goalkeeper of the Year accolades. A total of nine dragons earned All-CAA honors for their on-field performances in 2021. In addition, Harris and Colleen Grady were named to the IWLCA All-American second and third teams becoming the first Drexel players to claim All-America honors in the same year.


Prior to her stint at Drexel, Batcheller spent six years as the head coach at Bryant University from 2013-18 where she led the Bulldogs to three NEC conference championships, five straight NEC regular season titles from 2014-18 and an overall record of 77-33 (.600).


She began her coaching career at Saint Joseph's University as an assistant from 2008-09 before moving on to Brown University as the top assistant from 2010-12.


Batcheller is a 2007 graduate of Syracuse University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management and was a four-year starting midfielder for the Orange. She became the eighth player in school history to reach 100 career points, leading the program to its BIG EAST championship in 2007. Batcheller went on to receive a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Saint Joseph's in 2009.


A native of the Philadelphia area, Batcheller and her husband, Tom, reside in Broomall, Pa. with their four children. Batcheller played high school lacrosse at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, PA.

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Kelsea Donnelly

Kelsea Donnelly joined Head Coach Jill Batcheller in August 2021.


In her second season with the ‘Cats, Donnelly was instrumental in the Wildcat’s 12-6 overall record and 4-3 BIG EAST record in 2023. Villanova saw wins over BIG EAST Rivals Butler, Georgetown, and Xavier twice. Lesher assisted in coaching a BIG EAST Co-Attacker of the Year in Sydney Pappas as well as multiple BIG EAST Player of the Week and All-Region selections.


During the 2022 season and her first season on the Main Line, Donnelly helped the Wildcats to a 5-11 record, 1-4 in the BIG EAST in 2022. Villanova’s wins came against George Washington, La Salle, Lafayette, UC Davis, and BIG EAST rival Butler.


Four Wildcats earned 2022 All- BIG EAST Honors. Senior Caroline Curnal and junior Addie Fischer were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team and seniors Libby McKenna and Caroline Phelps were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.


Donnelly joins the Wildcat coaching staff after previously serving as assistant coach under Batcheller for the last six years, at Drexel University and Bryant University. While at Drexel, she worked directly with the team’s starting goalie Zoe Bennett, who earned CAA Goalie of the Year and IWCLA DI All-Region First Team selection in 2021. In her two years at Bryant, she oversaw a group that posted back-to-back seasons allowing less than 10 goals per game.


During her collegiate career at Towson Donnelly was the starting goalkeeper from 2013-2015 and was twice named to the All-CAA First Team. In her three seasons as starting goalkeeper, she tallied 56 games and averaged a .470 save percentage and a goals against average of 8.8.


She also currently plays for the Baltimore Brave of the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.


Donnelly earned her Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Liberty University in 2019 and Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Towson in 2015.

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Madison Lesher

Maddison Lesher joined Head Coach Jill Batcheller in August 2021. Lesher arrived on the Main Line after previously serving as an assistant coach under Batcheller for the last six years, at Drexel University and Bryant University.


In her second season with the ‘Cats, Lesher assisted in the Wildcat’s 12-6 overall record and 4-3 BIG EAST record in 2023. The ‘Cats took wins over BIG EAST Rivals Butler, Georgetown, and Xavier twice. Lesher assisted in coaching a BIG EAST Co-Attacker of the Year in Sydney Pappas as well as multiple BIG EAST Player of the Week and All-Region selections.


Lesher, alongside Batcheller and Donnelly, propelled the Wildcats to a 5-11 record, 1-4 in the BIG EAST in 2022. Villanova saw wins against George Washington, La Salle, Lafayette, UC Davis, and BIG EAST rival Butler.


Four Wildcats earned 2022 All- BIG EAST Honors. Senior Caroline Curnal and junior Addie Fischer were named to the All-BIG EAST First Team and seniors Libby McKenna and Caroline Phelps were named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team.


In her third season with the Dragons, she directed a defensive effort that ranked 35th in the country, holding opponents to 11 goals per game and causing 7.19 turnovers per game. At Bryant, the team led the NEC in goals against average and save percentage in 2017 and finished second in the conference in 2018.


As a student-athlete, Lesher was a defender at Loyola (Md.) from 2013-2016. She was named the first ever three-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time defensive All-American.


She was drafted by the Baltimore Ride in the United Women's Lacrosse League draft in May 2016 and now plays for the Philadelphia Fire in the Women's Professional Lacrosse League.


Lesher earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication from Loyola (Md.) in 2016.

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Michi Ellers

Michi Ellers recently joined the Villanova Women’s Lacrosse staff in the fall of 2023 after serving three years as the Bryn Mawr College Owls women’s lacrosse coach.


In her seven seasons at Bryn Mawr College, Ellers tallied an overall record of 27-56. After being promoted to head coach in the fall of 2020, Ellers helped the Owls to a 13-21 record.


Prior to Bryn Mawr, Ellers co-founded a local youth lacrosse club program Philly Gamers, where she coaches for four years. After graduating from Georgetown in 2004, Ellers served as an assistant coach at her alma mater for seven years.


Ellers received a degree in psychology from Georgetown while playing a vital role as a four-year starter on the women’s lacrosse team in which the Hoyas earned four-consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, including appearances in the 2001 and 2002 NCAA Championship game.


During her career in Washington DC, Ellers helped Georgetown continue its undefeated streak in BIG EAST Conference play en route to four-straight league titles. A co-captain of the 2003 & 2004 squads, Ellers was a two-time First Team All-American and BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year (2003, 2004). She earned a spot on the 24-member 2004-05 U.S. Development Team and was one of five finalists for the 2004 Tewaaraton Trophy, given annually to the top collegiate player in the nation. A 2004 All-Region First Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team member, Ellers led the country in caused turnovers for the second year in a row in 2004 with a 3.66 per game average and is Georgetown's all-time leader in the category with a total of 204. She ranks fourth in career ground balls on the Hilltop with 216. The midfielder earned a record five BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week honors during the 2004 season and was a unanimous selection for the All-BIG EAST First Team. She holds the top three spots in the GU record books for most caused turnovers in a single season (2001, 2003 and 2004).


Ellers continued her playing career on the U.S. Women's Lacrosse National Team and played an instrumental part on the defensive unit that went undefeated and won a gold medal in the 2009 FIL World Cup Games.


A native of Swarthmore, PA, Ellers attended Strath Haven High School and currently resides in Downtown Philadelphia.

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