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Instrumental to Penn State[apos]s recruiting and offensive efforts, Gina Kearns enters her third season as assistant coach in 2014-15.
The third-year assistant coach guided her second freshman forward to an All-College Hockey America Rookie Team honor in Laura Bowman during the 2013-14 season. Bowman notched a team-high 10 goals to pace the Penn State offense in the program[apos]s second varsity year.
In 2012-13, Kearns helped freshman winger Shannon Yoxheimer to an All-CHA Rookie Team laurel. Yoxheimer tallied 14 goals, 17 assists and 31 points during Penn State[apos]s inaugural campaign.
Kearns, a former Boston University standout, was introduced as assistant coach on June 21, 2011.
[quote]I am incredibly excited to have Gina in the Penn State hockey family. Gina[apos]s experience as a player in the first four years of a brand new college program, her oustanding leadership ability and coaching experience make her a terrific member of the staff. She is a fantastic role model for the women in our program.[quote]
Prior to Penn State, Kearns spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Neumann University, where she helped lead the team to a 16-7-4 record in 2010-11.
At Boston University, the Norwood, Pa., native was a member of the university[apos]s first NCAA Division I team. She became the program[apos]s all-time leading scorer as she notched 52 goals and 50 assists during her four-year career. Kearns was the first Terrier to tally more than 50 goals and 100 points and was the only three-year captain in school history.
Kearns led Princeton Tiger Lilies to a bronze medal at 2005 USA Hockey U-19 Nationals. She played boys[apos] ice hockey at Interboro High School, where she was a senior captain, and totaled 121 points in 51 games, including 81 goals.
Kearns and her fiancee, Bill McLaughlin, reside in State College.