UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; January 17, 2024 – Former Penn State Nittany Lion field hockey player Lauren McNally has been honored as part of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Division III Coaching Staff of the Year. McNally earned the award as part of Middlebury head coach Katharine DeLorenzo's staff. McNally is joined on the staff by fellow assistants Jackie Mountford and Lauren Schweppe.
Recognizing the pinnacle of achievement in collegiate field hockey, Northwestern University, NCAA National Runner-up, and the NCAA National Champions, Kutztown University and Middlebury College, have been named their respective division's National Coaching Staff of the Year for their performances in the 2023 season.
The NFHCA National Coaching Staff of the Year awards were announced Thursday evening at the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner sponsored by AstroTurf at the NFHCA Annual Convention. Honorees were selected by a majority vote by their peers.
For Middlebury, the season's accomplishments were outstanding.
· New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) regular-season and tournament champions
· First team across any division to win six-straight NCAA Championships
· Finished the season with an undefeated 22-0 record and are currently riding a 31-game winning streak
· Secured Middlebury's sixth-straight Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award
· This is Middlebury's seventh National Coaching Staff of the Year honor
McNally was a four-year letter winner at Penn State from 2016-19. She played in played in nearly 40 games as a Nittany Lion, starting 18. McNally was part three NCAA tournament teams for then head coach Char Morett-Curtiss and current head coach Lisa Bervinchak Love. Overall, Penn State won 54 games during her four years with the team.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Nittany Lion field hockey team online at www.GoPSUsports.com (click teams, click field hockey), on X/Twitter @pennstateFH and on facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatefieldhockey.