Paula Habel - Head Coach

Contact: paula.habel@allegheny.edu
814-332-2828

Allegheny College Director of Athletics and Recreation Betsy Mitchell has named Paula Habel as the new head coach of the women’s lacrosse program. Habel takes the reins of a program that will begin its 15th season in 2008 and has had winning seasons in three of the last four years. “I am excited to be with the Allegheny program,” said Habel. “It has a lot of potential and it can go great places.”

“Paula demonstrated to me both in person and from her educational background and work experience that she is a student-centered educator who knows how to train athletes and win lacrosse games,” said Mitchell. “Paula's command of the game, confidence and personality, understanding of the recruiting process and focus on student development make her the right fit for our program.”

Habel, a native of Massachusetts and a 2003 Bridgewater State University graduate, comes to Allegheny after spending a year as assistant coach at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Prior to Bowdoin, she was appointed an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Ohio University; the program folded, however, before Habel had a chance to make an impact. From 2004 through 2006 she was the head coach at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. There she helped the team to a 13-5 record in her inaugural season and the East Coast Athletic Conference Championship, before earning a berth in the NCAA tournament the following season, going 13-6 en route to being named the Little East Conference Coach of the Year.

“When I was coach at Plymouth State they had had a little more success before I got there so it was a different role stepping into a very successful program rather than one that is still rising,” said Habel. “That is what I am excited about. In two years you really can’t make the program your own, so I am excited to get into Allegheny and make it my own. Make it what the athletes want – a successful program.”

A standout lacrosse player as an undergraduate, Habel was named her league’s Offensive Player of the Year in both 2002 and 2003. She holds six different school records at Bridgewater State, including most assists in a game (7 vs. Worcester State in 2002). She owns the top three single season assist marks in the Bear record book, dishing out 47 in 2003 and finishing the season ranked 11th in Division III, 41 in 2003 (3rd in Division III) and 38 in 2001 (16th in Division III).

Her career assist total of 152 is 93 assists higher than the second place total in Bridgewater State history, while ranking eighth all-time in Division III. She added six goals in the aforementioned 2002 victory over Worcester State, giving her 13 total points, also a school record, while holding the school records in season points (99 in 2002) and career points (336). She was ranked nationally in points per game in each of her last three years, finishing the 2001 season ranked 25th, 18th in 2002 and 14th in 2003. She also ranks second in career goals scored with the Bears, with the leader, a four-year teammate, sitting a mere four goals ahead. For her efforts she earned a spot in the prestigious North-South Senior All-Star game.

Habel inherits a team that returns 105 of the 133 goals scored a season ago and that finished the season with a 4-9 record. The team brings back leading scorer Ashley Hughes, who going into her senior year is already the school’s all-time assist leader and is in position to climb to the top spot in points. Also back is senior Laura Hoch (21 goals, 6 assists) and sophomore Christina Zanic (24 goals, 4 assists).

Emily Deering - Assistant Coach

Contact: emily.deering@allegheny.edu
814-332-6204

Following an outstanding playing career with the Gators, Emily Deering enters her second season as an assistant coach with the lacrosse team.

Deering is the most decorated player in Allegheny’s short lacrosse history. She was a four-time first-team All-NCAC honoree, opening her career as the conference Newcomer of the Year and ending her tenure as Defender of the Year in 2006. Additionally, Deering was the first Gator to earn all-region status and was a four-time selection overall.

Statistically, Deering set new Gator marks for goals scored (123) and points (144) in a career. She also tallied the third highest goal and point totals for a season as a freshman, notching 43 and 47, respectively. A stalwart on the field, Deering started every game in the midfield for Allegheny over her four seasons and led the squad in caused turnovers each of the last three.

In May of 2006, she graduated with a degree in communication arts and a minor in history.