Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/3/18
From Press Release
Jill Batcheller (Archbishop Carroll), the newly-appointed Mary Semanik Head Coach of Women’s Lacrosse for the Dragons, has rounded out her coaching staff by naming Maddison Lesher (Archbishop Carroll) and Kelsea Donnelly as assistant coaches for the upcoming season. Lesher and Donnelly also coached with Batcheller at Bryant, where the trio led the Bulldogs to a fifth consecutive Northeast Conference regular season crown in 2018.
Lesher comes to the Dragons after two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Bryant. Both years saw the Bulldogs post outstanding defensive numbers. In 2017, Bryant led the NEC with a 9.16 goals against average and a .492 save percentage. Though they finished second in the conference in 2018, the Bulldogs improved on both marks with an 8.87 GAA and a .511 save percentage.
A native of Gladwyne, Pa., Lesher will not be embarking on her first coaching job in the Philadelphia area. In 2016, Lesher worked with Phantastix Lacrosse in Philadelphia, working with youth players to instruct them in fundamentals and defensive techniques.
Lesher graduated from Loyola (Md.) in 2016, where she completed a career as one of the most decorated Greyhound defenders in school history. She was the Patriot League’s first ever three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and twice was a Tewaaraton Award Watch List member. Three times, she was named a defensive All-American while reeling in 167 ground balls, causing 109 turnovers and winning 41 draw controls during her career. Lesher was drafted by the Baltimore Ride in the United Women’s Lacrosse League draft in May, 2016, and now plays for the Philadelphia Fire in the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League.
Donnelly can also take a good deal of credit for Bryant’s defensive success over the past two seasons, as she specialized as the goalkeepers coach over the course of two years with the Bulldogs. Samantha Santeramo, the Bulldogs’ primary starter during those two years, posted back-to-back seasons allowing less than 10 goals a game, posting an 8.91 GAA in 2017 and a 9.57 GAA last season. Additionally, Daja Andrews’ 3.06 GAA in six appearances was the best overall mark in the NEC.
Donnelly is no stranger to the Colonial Athletic Association, where she starred as a goalie for Towson from 2014-16. She also spent a season as an assistant coach and administrator for Towson women’s lacrosse following graduation.
As a player, Donnelly was a Tewaaraton Award Watch List member in 2014 and 2015, and was a two-time First Team All-CAA performer. In 2015, Donnelly was named to the Mid-Major Second Team All-American, following a season as an IWLCA Mid-Atlantic Second Team performer. She currently plays for the Baltimore Brave of the WPLL.