Allegheny Names Lynn Zlotkowski Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach

Jun 27, 2005

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Allegheny College has announced the hiring of Lynn Zlotkowski as its new head women’s lacrosse coach. Zlotkowski comes to Meadville after serving as the assistant lacrosse coach at Buffalo State College for two seasons and takes over for Paul Bonus, who resigned after three seasons to return to school.

“I am very excited to be coming to Allegheny and I think this is going to be a lot of fun for myself and for the program,” said Zlotkowski. “This was the exact kind of community I was looking for because it’s a small, family atmosphere. Allegheny has a fine tradition of athletic and academic success as an institution, so I am very excited to see what the student-athletes can do on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”

Allegheny athletic director Larry Lee believes Zlotkowski was a perfect match for the program, not only because of her lacrosse experience but also because of the well-rounded background she brings to the school.

“I truly believe that Lynn was the ideal candidate for this position,” said Lee. “The scope of her background in both lacrosse and student affairs gives her the experience to not only benefit the athletic department but also our residence life staff. I am looking forward to watching her continue to develop what is becoming an outstanding lacrosse program.”

Zlotkowski’s primary responsibility at Buffalo State was goaltender development, as she helped the Bengals lower their goals against average by more than two goals per game in her first season and rank second in the SUNYAC in that category. Buffalo State lowered their GAA again in Zlotkowski’s second season with the program, as the Bengals compiled a 17-10 record and the first two winning seasons in the history of the program in her two years with the team.

Although Zlotkowski, who earned a masters’ degree in student personnel administration from Buffalo State this past May, was primarily responsible for the goaltenders, she was heavily involved in the entire program. She assisted in planning daily practices and game preparation, was greatly involved in the recruiting of student-athletes, which included a class of 10 freshmen in her first season with the program, and helped advise student-athletes regarding the balance between academics and athletics, as well as health and nutrition.

At Allegheny, Zlotkowski will take the reins of a program that is very similar to the program she is coming from. The Gators have recorded back-to-back 8-6 seasons for the first two winning campaigns in their history. Allegheny reached the NCAC Tournament championship game in 2004 and qualified for the conference tourney again this year before losing to Denison (Ohio) University by one goal in the semifinals.

“I have played and coached against Allegheny in my career and I believe I am getting this program at a terrific time because it’s truly on the upswing,” said Zlotkowski. “They are just missing a couple of the little things right now and I am confident that I can help us achieve those and take the next step of winning the NCAC and going to the NCAAs.”

Not only does the young coach take over a program that is on the rise, she will have high-quality players to lead the team in her first year. Senior Emily Deering (Hollis, Maine/Bonny Eagle), a three-time All-NCAC selection, became the program’s all-time leading goal scorer this season (101) and with 115 points, she needs just five points to become the all-time leading scorer.

Two All-Region performers will also be back in senior Ashley Rogerson (Fairport, N.Y.), who tallied 27 goals this spring, and sophomore Ashley Hughes (Wexford, Pa./ North Allegheny), who led the team with 13 assists and 40 points. Add to that a talented sophomore keeper in sophomore Lesley Stange (Murrysville, Pa./ Franklin Regional), who allowed 6.9 goals per game this year, and Zlotkowski appears to have a full deck to play with once she begins July 1.

“I am very familiar with Lesley and how well she plays in goal,” said Zlotkowski, herself a former netminder at Fredonia State, where she graduated from in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in communication and still holds the career saves and single-season goals-against average records. “I also know we have three very talented players up front in Emily, Ashley and Ashley. I am looking forward to drawing up plays to get the ball to them and letting them capitalize on their scoring chances.”

“In addition, I also want to work on our defense,” said Zlotkowski. “They are the players that don’t earn as much attention as the players who put the ball in the net, but I want to make sure we can make stops in the back so we can get the ball up to them.

“Overall, we are going to be a strong, running team and I am looking forward to our non-traditional season in the fall,” said Zlotkowski. “We are going to work hard from day one to make sure we are ready in the spring for this conference.”

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