This year the women’s lacrosse team welcomes two new additions. Melissa Michels and Colleen Connor are the two new assistant coaches. Although both of them are entering this season as two new coaches, they are no strangers to the lacrosse field or to head coach Jackie Neary.
Michels was an assistant coach for Coach Neary four years ago.
“The girls loved her then, and that is why it is a pleasure to have her back,” Neary said. Michels has also had the experience of being a head coach in women’s lacrosse. She has been playing lacrosse for 12 years and coaching for six years. Although Michels has not been at Cabrini for a long time period, she has devoted herself to the game of lacrosse. Besides playing in college, she also played one year post-college. Since then she has been coaching at various high schools and colleges. So what was one of the aspects that influenced her to come back to Cabrini?
“Jackie and the kids did great. She is so much fun to work with and she always recruits great kids. Cabrini has a strong lacrosse tradition, both in men and womens,” Michels said. She is looking forward to working with Coach Connor, Coach Neary and the team.
Connor is extremely excited to be back at Cabrini. She is an alum who played field hockey and lacrosse for Cabrini. Connor is also excited to work side-by-side with Coach Neary.
“Neary was my coach and when the opportunity arose for me to coach alongside of her, I jumped on it,” Connor said. According to Connor, Neary’s motivation attitudes also inspired her to return to Cabrini. “After you graduate, you really miss that part of your life, and I wanted to give back to Cabrini,” Connor said. Connor hopes to instill her knowledge of the game on the girls, and she hopes to be an inspiration. Lacrosse has always been a big part of Connor’s life. Although this is Connor’s first year coaching a team, she has been playing lacrosse since 4th grade and has coached for many lacrosse clinics and camps.
Coach Neary assures that she and the team look forward to working with Michels and Connor. All three believe that this year’s team has what it takes to make it to and win the PAC championship. Neary emphasizes that although they may have different coaching techniques, they all share a passion for lacrosse. Neary also adds that both assistant coaches bring new life to the team.
“Due to the fact that both Melissa and Colleen have played for me before made the transition easy, and both of them bring a breath of fresh air to our program,” Neary said.
