New girls lacrosse coach at Eastern Regional

The girls lacrosse team will start the 2013 season with a new coach on the sidelines.

Although Lauren Ferrara is new to the upcoming season, she is not a new face in the Vikings lacrosse world.

Vice principal for athletes Phil Smart said Eastern needed a new coach after former coach, David Schlesinger, left Eastern to pursue other coaching prospects.

After interviewing five candidates, Smart recommended Ferrara to the Board of Education because of her past experience with coaching the team as well as her experience on the lacrosse field. The board approved Smart’s recommendation during a meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Ferrara coached two years ago under her madden name, Regan. She spent two years as head coach, played at Villa Nova University, and was the Division 1 lacrosse coach and graduate assistant at Drexel University.

Ferrara also spent time as and an English teacher at the high school while she coached the lacrosse team. Due to school budget cuts, Ferrara perused a career in pharmaceutical sales but continued to coach the team, Smart said.

She was unsure if she had enough free time to coach the girls, he said.

Schlesinger was hired to replace Ferrara and now she is back in the game.

Ferrara said it was difficult leaving the team the first time, but she kept in touch with the parents and players to make sure they were getting the most out of their practice time.

She said she watched the girls grow as players and had “unfinished business” on the field.

Last season, the team ranked 7th in the South Jersey area with a final record of 10–7, and won a game in the state tournament.

Ferrara has mixed emotions coming into this season.

“I am not sure what the competition looks like this year,” she said.

The upcoming season’s competition might look dark for Ferrara, but she knows the girls are motivated and ready to play.

“[The girls] are very driven and motivated. I think we should have a good season,” Ferrara said.