Frisoli joins Huntingdon coaching staff

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon College recently took the next step in the development of its women's lacrosse program.

Liz Frisoli was hired before the start of the school year and arrived on campus this week.

"I feel like Huntingdon was the best opportunity out there," Frisoli said. "I really liked the idea of coming to an area where lacrosse is not that well known yet. I'd like to thank President J. Cameron West and athletic director Buzz Phillips for giving me this opportunity. It's exciting to be able to start a team and bring women's lacrosse to Huntingdon College."

Frisoli was an assistant coach at Curry College last season and played collegiately for Holy Cross. As a senior in 2005, she was the runner-up for Defender of the Year in the Patriot League. During her junior season, she studied abroad and was the captain and MVP for the University of York in Yorkshire, England.

After college, she played for the 2005 South Australian lacrosse champion Glenelg Seahawks and was named MVP of the Grand Final championship game.

"We feel very fortunate to have been able to hire a coach of her caliber to help start our program," Phillips said. "She brings so much talent, experience and motivation to the program. With her personality and work ethic, we know she will hit the ground running and we know that she will be successful."

Huntingdon will field a men's lacrosse team in the spring of 2012. The women's program will begin competition in the spring of 2013.

Frisoli said two of her long-term goals are to be an ambassador for the sport in the South while establishing a winning program at Huntingdon.

More immediately, Frisoli will be hitting the recruiting trail, which presents another interesting challenge. Lacrosse is not a sanctioned sport for Alabama High School Athletic Association teams or Alabama Independent School Association teams. Only a few high schools in Alabama have lacrosse teams. The closest teams are in the Birmingham area.

Outside of that, Frisoli will be scouring the southeast and other portions of the country for the members of her first team.

"I love to travel," Frisoli said. "I'll go where I need to go to find the girls we need. As a school, I think Huntingdon's reputation speaks for itself. For athletics, the opportunity to help make history and start a Division III program is unique. That's something that's exciting for a coach and for players."