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Jessica Drummond
Former Oregon lacrosse standout Jessica Drummond has been selected as the fourth head coach in program history, UO director of athletics Rob Mullens announced on Friday, June 23, 2023.
A four-year letter winner midfielder from 2009-2012, Drummond becomes the first UO lacrosse alumna to hold the position of head coach.
Drummond spent the last seven years at the University of Vermont, first as an assistant coach for three years before serving as the Catamounts’ associate head coach for the last four seasons. Over the last five years, Drummond helped UVM compile a 40-30 record with five consecutive .500-or-better seasons. In the course of her tenure, Drummond coached two honorable mention Inside Lacrosse Women All-America honorees, two IWLCA All-Region picks, an America East Defender, Attacker, Goalkeeper and Rookie of the Year, nine all-conference selections, five all-tournament players and 10 members of the America East All-Rookie team.
Vermont ended the 2023 campaign with its third consecutive America East Tournament appearance, a program first, and an 8-8 overall record. The Catamounts defensively finished fourth nationally in caused turnovers per game (12.44), 17th in ground balls per game (18.19) and finished with the best scoring defense in the America East (10.19), coming in at 29th nationally.
Individually, Carolyn Carrera became the first player in Vermont history to take home America East Defender of the Year in program history after setting the single-season program in caused turnovers (58), leading the nation in caused turnovers per game (3.56) and finishing 25th in the country in ground balls per game (2.69). Midfielder Ava Vasile was named co-attacker of the year in the conference after an all-around productive season leading the Catamounts in goals (45), points (54) and draw controls (71) while finishing second in caused turnovers (29) and fourth in ground balls (26). Both players earned IWLCA All-Region honors with Carrera getting the first-team nod and Vasile earning second-team honors as well as first-team all-conference recognition. Jane Trauger was named conference rookie of the year after finishing second for Vermont in goals (34), assists (10) and points (44) and Camille Argentieri and Sophie McLaughlin earning second-team honors.
Drummond played a key leadership role in Vermont earning its first America East Tournament championship in program history in 2022. The Catamounts posted a program-best 14-5 record and made their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance, highlighted by the second win all-time over UAlbany in a 12-11 victory in the America East Tournament final. The team was built on a defensive foundation ranking fourth nationally in caused turnovers per game (11.89) and 17th in scoring defense (10.21).
Carrera and Vasile took home the first All-America honors in program history for their contributions in 2022 in the form of honorable mention recognition from ILWomen. Carrera finished in the top five nationally with 2.89 caused turnovers per game and 3.28 ground balls per game (2nd and 3rd respectively). Vasile scored a program-record 63 goals and matched the all-time single-season best mark with 79 points. Each also received IWLCA All-Region honors with Carrera getting the first-team nod and Vasile earning second-team recognition and both received first-team All-America East status. Attacker Taylor Mullen also earned first-team all-conference honors while Camille Argentieri finished second-team all-conference. As a result of Vermont’s America East Tournament title, five Catamounts featured on the all-tournament team, including Carrera, Vasile, McLaughlin, Molly McDonough and America East Tournament Most Outstanding Player Grace Giancola. The Canton, Conn., native earned the award after tallying seven points (six goals, one assist), including the game-tying and game-winning goals over the Great Danes in the tournament final.
The year before, Vermont secured its first America East playoff berth since joining the league, clinching the No. 3 seed with a 6-6 record after going 6-3 in conference play. Vasile earned the first of three first-team America East All-Conference honors after leading the team in goals (32), assists (9), points (41), caused turnovers (15) and draw controls (33) in her second season for Vermont. Sophie McLaughlin received first-team all-conference and America East Goalkeeper of the Year honors after finishing with a .454 save percentage and a team-leading 31 ground balls. Giancola and Argientieri also received all-conference recognition in the form of second-team selections.
The 2020 team posted a 4-4 overall record before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, UVM won eight games (8-7), a five-win improvement from the 2018 season and the most victories for the program in five years. The progress was sparked by all-conference honorees Jenna Janes (first team) and Giancola (second team).
Drummond arrived in Burlington after three seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth (2014-16). With the Big Green, Drummond served as the defensive and draw specialist coach while also serving a fundamental role in the program’s recruiting efforts. In 2016, Dartmouth finished averaging 15.33 draw controls a game, the eighth best mark in the nation. Jaclyn Leto was named a third-team IWLCA All-American choice and unanimously voted as the Ivy League Midfielder of the Year after leading the Big Green in points (58), goals (53), draw controls (49), caused turnovers (17) and ground balls (28).
Drummond began coaching as an undergraduate assistant coach at Oregon following the 2012 season, working with the full-time staff on daily tasks associated with practices and game management in 2013.
Drummond graduated from Oregon in 2012 after a four-year playing career, leaving as a three-time second-team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation selection (2010-12). She finished her career ranked fourth in program history in career draw controls (130), fifth in caused turnovers (61) and sixth in ground balls (98), still ranking eighth, ninth and 10th all-time in the respective categories. During her senior year, Drummond helped the Ducks claim the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament play-in game as part of the best season in program history with a 14-5 record.
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