Assistant Coach Kelsey Evans
Date of birth:
Oct. 9, 1987
Hometown:
Carlisle, PA
High school:
Cumberland Valley (2005)		 College:
Rochester Inst. of Technology (2009)
Year at Messiah:
First		 Contact Info:
(717) 796-1800 ext. 2246
kevans@messiah.edu

Kelsey Evans begins her first year as an assistant women’s lacrosse coach for the Messiah program in the 2010 season, coming off a stellar four-year playing career at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Evans, a four-year starter in goal for RIT, was selected as an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Second Team All-American following her senior season for the Tigers — the program’s first-ever All-American selection.

Naturally, Evans will focus primarily on guiding the Falcons’ goalies in her new coaching role, as the Carlisle, Pa. native will look to bestow the knowledge that helped her earn Empire 8 Conference Goalkeeper of the Year honors over the last three years of her playing career.

“I am thrilled to have Coach Evans joining our staff this year,” said Heather Greer, Messiah head coach. “She is an excellent goalie coach and brings a contagious passion and excitement to our team. She just finished a tremendous playing career, and I am extremely excited that she’s able to start her coaching career as a Falcon.”

A first-team all-league selection as both a junior and senior at nearby Cumberland Valley High School, Evans quickly re-wrote the history books upon arriving at RIT, becoming the school’s all-time leader in virtually every goalkeeping statistical category.

Her talents helped the Tigers to a program-best 13-5 record during her senior campaign, as her .594 save percentage equaled the top mark in all of NCAA Division III. Evans also finished fifth in the nation in saves (215) and ninth in goals against average (8.38) as a senior, while her 825 career saves are the 12th most in NCAA Division III women’s lacrosse history.

“I’m really excited about coaching at a Christian College and the dynamic that brings to all aspects of the program,” Evans said. “The girls here are about God and they are about each other, and they want to be a winning team in the right way. I couldn’t be happier to start my coaching career at Messiah.”

Evans never missed a game at RIT, finishing as the program’s career record holder in games played (65), wins (31), minutes played (3,629), saves (825) and save percentage (.560). She participated in the 2009 IWLCA/Under Armour North-South All-Star Game, and was also invited to the Second Round of the United States Women’s Lacrosse Developmental and Elite teams in the spring of 2007. She was also an IWLCA All-Empire Region Second Team selection as a junior.

In addition to earning IWLCA Second Team All-American honors as a senior, Evans was named to Third Team All-American status by womenslacrosse.com.

“I first met Kelsey at an FCA camp several years ago, and I was impressed with her on many levels,” Greer said. “When she expressed interest in joining our staff following her playing career, I couldn’t wait for her to graduate. I’m confident that she will have a very successful coaching career.”

Born in Fremont, Ca., Evans’ family moved to central Pennsylvania during her childhood. At Cumberland Valley, Evans was named the Most Valuable Goalie in the Mid-Penn Conference as a senior, also earning her Gatorade Player of the Year honors for her squad.

Evans graduated from RIT in May of 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism. She resides in Carlisle.