Meet Maureen! Maureen is a sports enthusiast and college lacrosse coach from Trumbull, Connecticut. Her journey through various sports—lacrosse, soccer, basketball, softball, skiing, and snowboarding—painted a picture of passion and commitment. Yet, it was lacrosse that truly captured her heart and set the stage for her athletic journey ahead.
During her days at St. Joseph’s High School, Maureen emerged as a standout athlete, garnering recognition as a three-time All-Conference player, two-time All-State performer, and team captain in lacrosse. Simultaneously, she showcased her skills as an All-State athlete in soccer, leaving an indelible mark on her alma mater.
Taking her talents to the University of New Haven, Maureen made waves in the Division II lacrosse scene. As a four-year starting goalie for the Chargers, she clinched titles such as 2009 Northeast-10 Conference Goalkeeper of the Year, Northeast-10 Conference Team twice, IWLCA All-North Region Team twice, and the WomensLacrosse.com Division II All-Rookie Team. Leading her team with finesse, she secured an impressive 637 saves, and the all-time saves leader for the New Haven Chargers. Maureen showed leadership on and off the field, holding a captain role her senior year.
Beyond her playing days, Maureen’s love for lacrosse continued in her coaching roles. Starting with the Nor’easter Lacrosse Club in 2012, she fine-tuned the skills of aspiring collegiate players. Her coaching journey continued at the Division II Southern Connecticut State University from 2013-2017. In 2017, Maureen made the move to Massachusetts as the Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach at Endicott College, where she still currently resides as head coach. Under her guidance, the team has achieved remarkable success, boasting impressive records, such two perfect 8-0 conference record and CCC Titles in 2018 and 2019, 2019 CCC Team Sportsmanship Award, and a 52-19 (.732) overall, 29-1 (.967) in conference record at Endicott. Maureen was also awarded Coach of the Year three times!
Maureen’s impact extends beyond the scoreboard. She currently serves as the Nor’easter Lacrosse Recruiting Coordinator and the Peak Goalie Girls Director. Her unwavering passion for expanding the reach of lacrosse and empowering high school athletes to pursue collegiate dreams shines through. As we explore her reflections on athletics, it becomes evident that lacrosse and sports, under her guidance, have not only shaped her life but also served as a catalyst for the growth and triumph of those she coaches. Let’s read more about Maureen as she continues to inspire and lead in the world of lacrosse!
Q: What sports did you play growing up?
I played lacrosse, soccer, basketball, softball, skiing and snowboarding.
Q:Was there anything that made you hesitant about starting your sport(s)?
Nope! My mom was an athlete and it’s all I ever knew.
Q: What female athletes (or any athletes) did you look up to?
Pat Summit, Maya Moore, Jenn Rizzotti, Peekaboo Street, Devon Wills (which is awesome because now I consider her a friend), Brianna Scurry, Mia Hamm, Diana Tourasi, Sue Bird
Q: What is your favorite memory associated with sports?
One of my favorite memories with sports was during college. My college team at New Haven beat CW Post for the first time in the program’s history! They were one of the top teams in the nation and went on to win the NCAA Championship that year. One of the reasons I loved that game so much is because I felt like I unlocked a big piece of the mental game of lacrosse. I went into the game with the “cool, calm, and collected” mentality mainly because I didn’t feel the pressure to win. I played so loose, took risks, didn’t second guess myself, and just trusted my instincts. After that game, I felt like I was able to directly correlate my mental state and positive loose minded thinking with success. It was a really fun way to help my team win the biggest game in a few years!
Q: How has playing sports helped shape your life?
I think sports, especially for young females, can be a massive source of confidence for your social life and really all aspects. If you don’t feel like you fit in somewhere (like school, or with groups of friends) but you’re athletic, you find your place in sports. Sports are for everyone.
Q: What advice would you give to young girls who are just starting off in sports?
Try everything, play your strengths, and focus on big concepts (balance, agility, speed, strength). All those big concepts will help in a variety of sports and really set you up for success in the future. Play as many as you can, for as long as you can. Remember you are “playing”… sports are fun. Don’t ever forget that!
In the future when you’re job hunting, one of the first questions employers are going to ask you is if you played team sports… leadership, teamwork, and confidence are all qualities employers are looking for and they tend to hire athletes first!
Coach Rachel 