Coaches

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Head Coach Lauren Bruce 

Lauren Bruce recently completed her fourth year as Head Coach to the Bear’s Lacrosse program.  Lauren is committed to the development of the program and continues to build a strong foundation for the future of the team.  Some of the first steps to success were accomplished in the 2005 season with the program’s first conference win in 6 years, and a student-athlete being named to an All-Conference team for the second time in the program’s history.

After completing her Studio Art degree at Hamilton College, with a minor in Russian Studies, Bruce served as their assistant lacrosse coach. Previously she was a 3-year member of the Hamilton Lacrosse team, where she served as captain during her senior year. Bruce led her team to the Elite Eight for two years in a row, breaking school records as the first women’s team in Hamilton’s history to qualify for the NCAA tournament.  She was named Second Team All-American, First Team UCAA (now known as the Liberty League) and the  New York State first team as a defender.  Lauren also had the opportunity to play on the New York team over the National Tournament weekend in both 2000 and 2001. 

Over the past four years Bruce has been a coach at the All-American Lacrosse Camp in Colgate, New York.  Just this past spring she assisted the Potsdam Youth Lacrosse Girl’s team during their first season.  Lauren has spent a lot of time with inexperienced lacrosse players, including a season in 1998 as a High School freshman lacrosse coach back in her hometown Wilton, CT.  She looks forward to her continued involvement with the local youth lacrosse programs.

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Assistant Coach Will Lapinski

Will Lapinski recently completed his first season as assistant coach for the Bears. A Canton native,  Will was a four-year varsity member of the St. Lawrence University lacrosse team. An offensive middie, His specialty is offense and shooting. Lapinski's team won their Liberty League conference and also advanced to NCAA tournament competition the last two years he played there.

A History major while at St. Lawrence, Lapinski is currently enrolled full-time in SUNY Potsdam's Elementary Education graduate program. He and Coach Bruce will be attending the US LACROSSE convention in Baltimore, MD in January.

"I am excited about this addition to our team and I am looking forward to working with Coach Lapinski over break to better prepare for our upcoming season," Coach Bruce noted. "I think keeping the influence of the men's game is crucial in the rides we want to run, and our freestyle offense," Bruce added.