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Meghan McDonogh
Meghan O'Conner McDonogh is in her third season at CUA. During her tenure at CUA, the team has seen its three best seasons in program history. In 2007 the team tied the record for most wins in a season. The following year, the squad made program history, earning the squad's first ever NCAA Tournament bid. In 2009, McDonogh led the team to an outstanding 17-4 record, advancing to the Regional Championship of the NCAA Tournament. The program's success earned McDonogh and her coaching staff the Landmark Conference Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2008.
McDonogh began her lacrosse career at American University during her junior year after playing soccer at AU as well as Syracuse University for one season each. She graduated from American with her B.A. in women's and gender studies in 2001.
The Atlanta, Ga., native then went on to The University of Georgia where she received her master's degree in sports management in 2002. While at Georgia she played on and coached the UGA club lacrosse team. During her tenure the squad was ranked as high as second in the nation and advanced to the WDIA national championships.
Moving to the sidelines, McDonogh joined the women's lacrosse staff at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2002 where she worked primarily with the goalkeepers and organized camps as well as high school tournaments. While at Berkeley she also held the operations manager and merchandise coordinator position with the San Jose CyberRays of the Women's United Soccer Association.
Before heading to Louisville, McDonogh spent a year as the assistant coach at D-II Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C. The Saints advanced to the NCAA Final Four that season.
After establishing and running the women's club lacrosse program at the University of Louisville, where she is working toward a Ph.D. in sports administration. While at U. of L. McDonogh coached and began the transition of the women's lacrosse program from a club sport to a full varsity team. In June of 2007, McDonogh was promoted to an assistant athletic director here at Catholic University. She serves as the assistant athletic director for club sports and the compliance coordinator along with regular coaching duties
McDonogh is heavily involved in women's lacrosse at many levels. She is a member of the U.S. Lacrosse Women's Division Coaches Council, a representative on the U.S. Lacrosse Board of Directors, and has previously served as the president of the Southeastern Women's Lacrosse League and as a co-chair for the Women's Division National Tournament.
Todd Faxon
Todd Faxon enters his second season on the CUA coaching staff. He brings a wealth of coaching experience at numerous levels of play. Faxon came to CUA after serving as an assistant coach at the Highland School in Virginia. He has also worked at a number of clinics in the area and was the head coach of the Northern Arizona Women's Club Lacrosse team. Faxon is a student of the game and has attended multiple coaching clinics as well as completing the US Lacrosse Coaches Education Program.
A graduate of The Citadel, Faxon currently serves as the director of youth activities and religious education at St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church in Northern Virginia. Faxon with all facets of the program and will bring his technological and analytical skills to the program.
Faxon resides in Fairfax, Va.
Sarah Finney
Sarah Finney enters her first season as a member of the coaching staff. Finney graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia in 2008 with a degree in English. After a decorated playing career with the Eagles, Sarah brings a wealth of playing experience to the program. Finney started as a midfielder all four years and played in a record tying number of games. She earned all First Team Capital Athletic Conference honors in 2006 and 2008. During those same years, Finney also earned Second-Team All-Region honors. As a Co-Captain during her senior year, she also earned VA-SID All State Second-Team honors.
The Alpharetta, Ga. native has coached at camps in
both Ga. and Md. with Coach McDonogh. She currently works at PKAL
& ICO, a non-profit in the District of Columbia.Finney resides
in Vienna, Va.
Meredith Phillip
Meredith Philipp joins the CUA coaching staff this season after being an assistant coach at the Bishop Ireton High School in Virginia as well as coaching at many camps. She also has extensive playing experience as a goalkeeper. Philipp graduated from Northwestern University in 2005. She was a member of a very successful Wildcat program that won the NCAA National Championship in 2005 after an undefeated season. Her team also qualified for the NCAA Quarter-Finals in 2004. During 2004 and 2005, Northwestern was also the American Lacrosse Conference Champions.
Philipp was a member of the American Lacrosse Conference Honor
Roll in 2004 and the Big-10 Honor Roll in 2005. Philipp is
currently in her third year of law school at CUA and resides in
Washington, D.C.
Laura Thomas
Laura Thomas joins the CUA coaching staff this season for the first time. Her playing and coaching experience will be an asset to the program. She was a four year member of the nationally ranked club lacrosse team at Pitt, where she played midfield and defense. She also coached the team and led them to two WDIA Championship tournament appearances. In addition to this, Thomas as also coached at Oakland Catholic (where she coached current Cardinal Melissa Brashear) and with Peters Township, and Intrepid (where she also coached current Cardinal Sarah Lindell).
After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2006 with
a B.A. in History and Political Science, Thomas received her
certificate in Dental Hygiene in 2008. Thomas is currently a first
year law student at CUA and a part-time dental hygienist in
Washington, D.C. She resides in Silver Spring, Md.
