SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Jessica Critchlow has been named the Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at Union College. The announcement was made today by Jim McLaughlin, Director of Athletics at Union.
Critchlow, the Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at Utica College since July of 2002, takes over the program from interim head coach Lacey French, who serves the College as the head women's field hockey coach.
“We are pleased to announce that Jessica Critchlow will be joining our staff to lead our women's lacrosse program in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence,” commented McLaughlin. “Jessica was selected from a talented pool of candidates and I'm confident that she will build upon the program's strong foundation and achieve new levels of success both on and off the field.”
Critchlow has guided a Utica program that completed just its fifth varsity season in 2005, and coached the Lady Pioneers for the last three seasons. She led Utica to the 2003 New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Lacrosse Championship tournament. Her first two seasons at the program's helm resulted in the team recording its best finish ever in Empire 8 Conference competition, and many individuals garnering conference and national honors. Critchlow's teams continued to excel academically as well, with many of the Lady Pioneers consistently producing a 3.0 or higher GPA.
“I am very excited about coming to Union College, an institution and a program with such a rich history of tradition and excellence,” stated Critchlow. “In particular I look forward to working with a talented core of returning players. I believe there is a great opportunity to build upon solid past success and together, we'll make it happen.”
Critchlow began her duties at Utica in August of 2001, serving as an assistant women's lacrosse and women's soccer coach. She took over both the women's lacrosse and women's soccer head coaching duties in July of 2002, and served in both roles until May of 2004. Critchlow was named the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Coach of the Year in 2003, turning the program around with an 11-4-1 mark after a 3-12 record just two years earlier.
A letterwinner in both lacrosse and soccer at the College of Wooster (Ohio), Critchlow captained the Scots lacrosse team her senior year and won the North Coast Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2001. She was also selected as a regional All-American and was named to the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Star First Team as a midfielder.
Union was 13-4 in the 2005 season and won the Liberty League title at home on Frank Bailey Field. The Dutchwomen competed in the NCAA tournament and took a 12-game winning streak into the NCAA's before losing at Colorado College (a national semi-finalist).
Founded in 1795, Union is a highly selective residential college of 2,100 students, located in upstate New York. Union is well known for its excellence in athletics while being fundamentally committed to academic achievement. Union sponsors NCAA Division III sports for 23 men's and women's varsity teams that participate in the Liberty League, the Division I ECAC Hockey League for men's and women's ice hockey, club sports, intramural, and recreational programs.