Mount St. Mary's Names LaMonica Head Lacrosse Coach

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EMMITSBURG, Md. (November 17, 2009)– Mount St. Mary's University Director of Athletics Lynne P. Robinson has announced the hiring of Sonia LaMonica as the women's lacrosse head coach on Tuesday. LaMonica becomes the sixth women's lacrosse head coach in program history.

"This hire is another big step towards making lacrosse one of the premier sports here at the Mount," said Mount St. Mary's President Dr. Thomas H. Powell. "Coach LaMonica has the pedigree as both a world class player and a nationally respected coach to be able to elevate our women's lacrosse program to new heights. We had an outstanding pool of candidates but it quickly became obvious to me that Sonia LaMonica was the right person for the job."

LaMonica comes to the Mount after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Towson, where she helped the Tigers to a 26-12 record, two Colonial Athletic Association championships and two NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. She coached a Tewaaraton Trophy candidate, the 2008 CAA Player of the Year, the 2009 CAA Defensive Player of the Year, five CAA first-team selections, two CAA second-team selections, one CAA All-Rookie selection, one Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-America and three IWLCA All-Mid Atlantic Region honorees while at Towson.

"We are delighted to welcome Sonia to Mount St. Mary's University as our new women's lacrosse head coach," said Robinson. "Sonia's experience as an elite player and successful Division I coach perfectly positions her to guide our program and we are extremely fortunate to have her join the Mount family. Under Sonia's leadership, the future of our women's lacrosse program is indeed very bright."

Prior to her time at Towson, LaMonica was an assistant coach at Denver for the 2006 season. She helped the Pioneers to a then program-best 15-5 record. She coached the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Player and Rookie of the Year, three All-MPSF selections and Denver's first-ever IWLCA All-West/Midwest Region first team recipient.

"I am thrilled and honored to join the Mount St. Mary's family," said LaMonica. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Lynne Robinson, Associate Director of Athletics Mike Hardisky, President Dr. Thomas H. Powell and Executive Vice President Dan Soller for this wonderful opportunity. I look forward to taking this next step in my coaching career, and am determined to raise the women's lacrosse program to national prestige. With the vision and the support of the Athletic Department and the University, I am excited for the future of Mount St. Mary's women's lacrosse."

A native of Darlington, South Australia, LaMonica led the Australian National Team to a gold medal at the 2005 World Cup Championships and a silver medal at the 2009 World Cup Championships. She was named to the 2005 IFWLA All-World team, the U21 South Australian Sportswoman of the Year and was a two-time member of the South Australian A-Grade All-Star team.

A 2003 graduate of the University of Maryland, LaMonica was a three-year starter for the Terrapins. She earned first team All-America honors and was a candidate for the Tewaaraton Trophy as a senior after leading Maryland to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. LaMonica won three ACC titles during her career and helped Maryland win the NCAA championship during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. She finished her college career with 111 goals, including 49 during her senior year when she served as a team captain, and had 55 assists.

LaMonica inherits a team that finished 6-11 overall and 6-2 in Northeast Conference play in 2009. The squad advanced to its seventh-straight NEC Tournament and lost to second-seed Quinnipiac 11-9 in the NEC Semifinals.