Stephanie Ridolfi - Gold Team Coach and Director Stephanie Ridolfi is in her seventh season as head women's lacrosse coach at Holy Cross. In 2007, Ridolfi coached the Crusaders to the second straight Patriot League Championship and undefeated Patriot League record giving them a trip to the NCAAs. Holy Cross faced top seeded Northwestern in the first round and lost but finished the 2007 season with a record of 13-6. In 2006, Ridolfi was selected the Patriot League Coach of the Year after leading Holy Cross to an undefeated record in the league (6-0) and a number one seed in the conference tournament. The Crusaders defeated fourth-seeded, Bucknell, 13-7 in the semifinals and the number two seed Colgate, 9-6 in the championship game to clinch their first Patriot League Title. The women's lacrosse team had another first when they went on to the NCAA Tournament. Holy Cross had the most successful record in school history with a 14-7 overall mark. In 2005, Ridolfi led Holy Cross to a second-place finish (4-2) in the Patriot League and the number two seed in the conference tournament. The Crusaders defeated third-seeded American, 11-10 in the semifinals before falling to defending champion, Colgate in HC's second-ever title game. The Crusaders' 10-9 overall record was also one of just two winning records in the seven-team league in 2005. In 2004, Ridolfi coached Holy Cross to an 8-9 overall mark, and a fifth place finish in the Patriot League (2-4), after leading the Crusaders to a 7-9 (2-4 PL) record in her first year with the program. A 2000 graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Ridolfi brings NCAA Division I playing experience to the Crusaders. Ridolfi led Massachusetts to the 2000 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, the school's first lacrosse title, and was the team's leading scorer en route to earning Atlantic 10 All-Conference honors. As a senior, Ridolfi tallied 35 goals and added six assists for 41 points to lead the Minutewomen's effort. Ridolfi was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic team. Ridolfi was a three-year letterwinner while at Massachusetts and finished her career with 71 goals and 21 assists for 92 career points. Joe Kacevich - Green Team Coach and Director Joe Kacevich graduated from Springfield College, where he captained the Football Team. He then embarked on a ten year career coaching football, men's lacrosse and track and field at several prestigious colleges and universities in the Northeast. He earned a Master's degree from The Pennsylvania State University, where he served as a Graduate Assistant Football Coach under the legendary Joe Paterno and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Springfield College. Joe co-founded the Northborough Southborough Girls Lacrosse Program in 1999, which quickly became the second largest in Massachusetts. He is a Board member of the Massachusetts Bay Girls Lacrosse League (MBGLL) and, as New Programs Director, assists towns and cities throughout the state in establishing new youth lacrosse programs. Joe coached in the NESLL Program for 2 years and lead the 2002 Bay State Games Central Mass Team to the silver medal. Joe also founded the popular Sticks In!! Lacrosse clinics, which focus on instructing girls of all age groups and abilities in lacrosse fundamentals. He believes that the game of lacrosse offers girls the opportunity to learn the importance of teamwork in their every day lives and future careers. E.J. Kluge - Gold Team Assistant Coach E.J. graduated from Algonquin Regional High School where she began her lacrosse career when lacrosse first "came" to the Central Mass region. She studied at Boston College and most recently at Simmons College, where she earned her Master's degree in teaching secondary education. E.J. has coached at the high school level for four years, and she is currently the JV girls lacrosse coach at Framingham High School. The Flyers were Division 1 State Champions for two years running. She believes that success comes from making the right choices both on and off the field. When we choose to push ourselves or to do the right thing, it will pay dividends in the long run. Kaitlin Nangle - Green Team Assistant Coach Kaitlin is now in her first season with CMASS lacrosse. She is a 2008 graduate from the College of the Holy Cross where she played four years beside Middle School coach Cara O'Sullivan and under Gold Team coach Stephanie Ridolfi. She was part of Holy Cross' first ever back to back Patriot League title run ('06 &'07) which earned them two bids to the NCAA tournament. Before Holy Cross Kaitlin attended Skaneateles High School in upstate New York where she won 3 sectional titles and 3 straight bids to the New York State Tournament. Kaitlin has a younger sister, Kelsey, who is currently a sophomore on the nationally ranked Syracuse University Women's lacrosse team. Kaitlin believes that at the cornerstone of all great teams are a sense of commitment, team camaraderie and respect for your teammates. A true player realizes that despite her personal skills, the teammates she surrounds herself with will ultimately determine her success and shape her to find her true potential. Lisa Gagne - Middle School Team Coach Lisa is in her first season at CMass Lacrosse. She graduated from Holy Cross in 2009 where she started at defense in 51 straight games. She was part of the 2006 and 2007 Patriot League Championship teams that competed in the NCAA tournament. In 2009, she was selected to the Second Team All-Patriot League. Lisa was a biology major and three-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Before Holy Cross she attended Bishop Guertin High School, where she was a New Hampshire all-state selection and member of the New Hampshire all-star lacrosse team in 2005. Lisa believes that lacrosse has provided her with invaluable teamwork and time management skills that have proven to extend into all aspects of her life. Lacrosse has also shown her the value of hard work and determination which she hopes to develop in the girls. Cara O’Sullivan - Middle School Team Coach Cara is in her first season with CMass Lacrosse. She graduated from Holy Cross in 2008. She was part of a Patriot League Championship Team for two years and assisted her team in earning a bid to the NCAA tournament in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, she was selected to the First Team All-Patriot League and Patriot League All-Tournament Team. During her senior year, she was elected by her teammates as one of the team captains. Before Holy Cross, she attended Duxbury High School, where she helped her team win a few Patriot League Championships. Currently, she is attending Emerson College to earn her Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Cara believes that the work ethic and communication skills that the girls learn from playing in a team sport will be invaluable in their future endeavors. Rich Luongo - Goaltender Coach Rich is in his second season with the CMass lacrosse program. Rich is in his forth season as head boy's varsity lacrosse coach at Algonquin Regional High School. In 2008 Rich received the EMLOA Ron Pozzo Sportsmanship Award while coaching the Tomahawks to a 12-6 record and to the Central Massachusetts district semi-finals. In 2007 Rich coached the Tomahawks to a Central Massachusetts District Championship. Rich is currently the Central-Mass high school regional representative to US Lacrosse. For the past four seasons, Rich has also volunteered with the Algonquin boy's hockey program as a goaltender coach. He also was a volunteer coaching aide to the Algonquin girl's varsity field hockey program from 2004 thru 2006. Rich served as a board of director for the Starhawks Youth Hockey Program (2003-2006) as their district representative to Mass Hockey and as a coach in the program. A 1983 graduate of Westfield State College, Rich captained the Men's Lacrosse team his senior year. He played goaltender and Long Stick Midfielder during his 3 years in the men's lacrosse program. He brings an abundance of goaltender and defensive expertise to the C-Mass program. Rich believes that it is important to provide the right balance between directing athletes and letting them direct themselves. It is extremely important to cooperate with the student athlete in regards to sharing decision-making. Fostering this kind of relationship builds self-confidence and leadership characteristics, which will benefit the athlete throughout their lives.