By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/18/25
Villa Maria Academy coach Theresa Giunta will leave on top.
Giunta has stepped down after four seasons as Hurricanes coach because she is moving to Maryland to focus on personal and business pursuits. Giunta’s ‘Canes claimed the school’s first PIAA 2A championship Saturday with a 12-8 triumph over Strath Haven at Penn State’s Panzer Stadium.
The Hurricanes finished 17-9 overall, avenging a 10-7 loss to Strath Haven in the District 1 final. Villa Maria also went undefeated in winning the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies crown while playing a strong non-league schedule that featured such powers as Agnes Irwin, Archbishop Carroll, Radnor, Downingtown West, Downingtown East, Academy of Notre Dame and Garnet Valley.
Villa Maria went 64-28 in Giunta’s 4 seasons in Malvern. Last year Villa Maria fell to Bishop Shanahan in the District 1 final and bowed to Twin Valley, 10-9, in the PIAA semis.
“We have been building this program every year to be a strong, resilient, and compatible team that works for each other and with each other,” Giunta said. “The girls committed every day to build a system that highlighted everyone’s strengths on attack, and worked as one unit from defense to attack.
“We knew we had something truly special with this group and we knew what we could accomplish.. and we did just that with a state championship. The seniors left their legacy they worked to build over the last four years and for me, as a coach, that is a true gift as I finish out my time at VMA.”
Giunta said she will be focusing on her sport and performance psychology business, TG Performance, full time, and will be moving to Annapolis to be with her fiancé. He works as a track and field coach for the Naval Academy.
Giunta was had coach at Bishop Shanahan from 2014-17 and led the Eagles to the stat semifinals in her last yar.
She starred at Henderson where she was a two-sport athlete and was named Co-Captain, first team all area and the school’s outstanding female athlete. After high school, Giunta starred at at West Chester University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology as well as a minor in Exercise Science. She was a 4-year starter, recording 160 ground balls and 180 draw controls, and earned First team All American for defense, First Team All PSAC, First Team All South Region, and First Team all ECAC in 2012. During her senior season, she was elected team co-captain, and Second Team All American for midfield, and First Team All South Region.
During her time at WCU, Theresa also was named Most Valuable Defensive player two years in a row as well as being a 4-year Scholar All American. The Golden Rams were NCAA finalists in 2010 and 2012, semifinalists in 2011 and were PSAC champions in 2013. After her time at WCU, Theresa continued her education at Temple University, graduating with a Masters Degree in Kinesiology, concentrating in Sport Psychology.
