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Colleen Dawson
After leading the William & Mary lacrosse team to its best campaign in more than a decade, Head Coach Colleen Dawson returns for her fifth season leading the Tribe.
Last spring, W&M recorded the program’s best record – and the team’s most conference wins – since 2011. Additionally, a trio of W&M standouts garnered postseason all-conference honors after tremendous seasons. Sarah Cipolla highlighted the impressive group, as she finished her career as the program’s all-time record holder for draw controls (177).
The foundation for last season’s success was built during the previous year when five W&M standouts garnered all-conference honors, which included three All-Rookie Team selections. Additionally, W&M led the Colonial Athletic Association in ground balls per game (20.12) for the third consecutive season, while it also ranked first in caused turnovers per game (9.12) and saves per game (10.69). The Tribe’s ground balls average ranked seventh nationally.
The 2021 campaign saw W&M emerge among the CAA’s leaders in multiple statistical categories as it led the conference in ground balls per game (19.33) and ranked second in caused turnovers per game (9.0). The caused turnover average ranked ninth on the program’s single-season list, while its 12.57 draw controls per game ranked just outside W&M’s all-time single-season top-10 list (11th).
Individually, Belle Martire garnered second-team all-conference honors after ranking among the CAA’s top 10 in goals per game (3.25), points per game (4.0) and draw controls per game (3.5) – a figure that ranks fourth on the program’s single-season list. Additionally, she ranked among the top 10 nationally in free position goals per game (1.42) and free position shooting percentage (.739). Courtney Vasquenza also earned postseason honors and was named to the All-Rookie Team after ranking among the conference’s top 10 in caused turnovers per game and ground balls per game.
Although the 2020 season was cut short due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, there were many highlights from Dawson’s initial campaign in Williamsburg, including wins against Old Dominion and George Washington. Additionally, W&M was on pace for one of its most productive seasons ever in totaling ground balls, as it led the CAA and ranked 12th nationally with 20.14 per contest.
Martire highlighted the team’s individual accomplishments, as she garnered VaSID All-State honors after leading the CAA and ranking 11th nationally in goals per game (4.0). The sophomore set a single-game school record with nine goals in the Tribe’ season-ending win against George Washington, while Sarah Cipolla posted a single-game school record 11 draw controls in the triumph versus the Colonials.
Dawson’s leadership has also produced exceptional results in the classroom, as the entire roster earned the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award each of her first two seasons, while 88 percent (68 of 77) of the squad garnered the distinction during the last two years. Additionally, during her tenure the program has garnered 72 W&M Provost Awards and been selected as an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad every season.
Having won a national title as a student-athlete at the University of Maryland and posted a record-breaking tenure as an assistant at Saint Joseph’s University, Colleen Dawson was selected as the W&M head lacrosse coach in August, 2019.
Dawson was instrumental in the Hawks’ success during her five seasons as an assistant, as SJU broke single-season school records for wins in back-to-back seasons (2017, 2018). Additionally, the program advanced to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament each of the last four seasons.
A number of Hawks also benefited from Dawson’s tutelage, as the squad produced the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year (2019) and the A-10 Rookie of the Year (2016). Additionally, the Hawks garnered 13 all-conference accolades, 10 A-10 All-Rookie Team selections and eight A-10 All-Academic Team honorees.
En route to registering double-digit win totals during each of the last three seasons at SJU, Dawson’s tenure with the Hawks was highlighted by a 2018 campaign that saw the team set a school record with 12 wins, including a 7-2 mark in conference play. Additionally, the 2019 squad etched its name in program’s record book by breaking single-season school records for points (412), goals (265) and assists (147).
While Dawson assisted in all facets of the program at SJU, her primary responsibilities were coaching the draw control specialists and offensive unit.
Dawson joined the Hawks after spending two years as the director of lacrosse operations at Loyola University of Maryland in Baltimore, where she was primarily responsible for running day-to-day operations of the program, including but not limited to film breakdown, travel, and meals, and fundraising.
Dawson was a member of the Maryland women's lacrosse program from 2008-11, helping the Terrapins to three consecutive ACC Championships and the 2010 NCAA Championship. The scholar-athlete also excelled in the classroom, where she earned ACC Student-Athlete Honor Roll recognition and was a member of the Leadership Group.
Following her collegiate career, Dawson spent a year abroad working with and coaching youth lacrosse programs in Australia. She coached the Footscray U-17 Team to the 2012 Premiership title and led all scorers on the 2012 Footscray State League Team.
Dawson is a product of West Chester East High School, where she was a 2007 All-American, the All-Chester County Female Athlete of the Year, and an All-Conference and All-Area First Team selection.
Dawson earned a bachelor's of science degree in kinesiology from the University of Maryland in May 2011 and an M.S. in Organization Development and Leadership from Saint Joseph's University in May 2018.
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