By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/15/17
Henderson grad Lauren Wray, the head coach at Haverford College the past six years, has been named as head girls’ lacrosse coach at Agnes Irwin.
Wray, a former assistant at Temple and Lafayette, posted a 56-46 in her tenure at Haverford.
Lauren Wray
Wray was an assistant at Temple for two years before moving to Haverford. She served as the head coach at Cedar Crest College from 2008-09 after spending one season as an assistant at Lafayette. Wray, who also will serve as Assistant Athletic Director at Agnes Irwin, recently was named as Director of the Mesa Girls’ Lacrosse program.
“I am honored and extremely excited to serve as the next assistant athletic director and lacrosse coach at The Agnes Irwin School,” said Wray. “I have been very impressed by both the athletic and academic community at Agnes Irwin and I am looking forward to working with all the students, faculty, staff and coaches to make the athletic experience a memorable and rewarding one for the girls. I would like to thank the Head of School Dr. Wendy Hill, and Athletic Director Courtney Lubbe for giving me this incredible opportunity.”
Said Agnes Irwin Athletic Director Courtney Lubbe: “The members of the hiring committee and I were impressed by Lauren’s thorough understanding of athletic operations, coaching experience at the collegiate and youth level, her warm communication style, and her passion for team-building and leadership development.
“We look forward to her contributions within our interscholastic athletic program and as a coach on the field with our talented student-athletes.”
Lubbe noted that Agnes Irwin currently seeks a JV head coach and varsity assistant.
Agnes Irwin did not renew former coach Jen Duckenfield’s contract after the 2017 season and Lubbe could not give any reasons, citing a policy that personnel matters could not be discussed.
Agnes Irwin gave this statement: “We thank Coach Duckenfield for her contributions to The Agnes Irwin School’s lacrosse program and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
Duckenfield arrived at Agnes Irwin in 2012 after a 2-16 season and posted a sizzling record of 98-23. The past four years, the Owls went 85-14 and won two Pennsylvania Independent School state titles (PAISAA) while sharing three Inter-Ac crowns with Episcopal Academy.
Duckenfield was named Phillylacrosse.com Coach of the Year in 2015 when she guided the Owls to a 23-1 record, a share of the Inter-Ac crown, the PAISAA title and a No. 3 ranking in the final STEPS Lacrosse North America Rankings.
In Duckenfield’s final game of 2017, Agnes Irwin downed Episcopal, 14-7, to win the PAISAA title and cap a 21-5 season that ended with eight victories.
Ironically, Agnes Irwin’s top rival for the Inter-Ac and PAISAA championships since Duckenfield arrived, Episcopal Academy, is coached by Josie Ferri – who was an All-American under Wray her senior year at Haverford College.
Wray’s best season at Haverford occurred in 2013 when her squad established a program single-season mark for Centennial Conference wins (7) and tied the program record for overall wins (13) on its way to entering the Centennial tournament as the third seed—the highest finish in program history.
The 2015 season saw Haverford win at least 10 games for the fourth time in six seasons, finishing at 11-8 overall, including victories over NCAA Tournament participants Cabrini and No. 4 Gettysburg.
Wray (nee Gallagher) was a four-year letterwinner at Duke University from 1999-03 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering and economics in 2004. Over her career with the Blue Devils she accumulated 140 goals and 53 assists earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in the 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons and was selected as a three-time Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American. Wray began her coaching career as an undergraduate assistant with Duke during the 2003-04 season while finishing work on her degree.
In the summer before heading to Duke, Wray played for the United States Under-19 Women’s Lacrosse Team which competed at the 1999 World Championships in Perth, Australia. She was later selected to the USA Developmental Squad, training as a member of Team USA with thirty developmental players in the summers from 2001-04.
During her time at Haverford, she mentored sixteen student-athletes to Centennial Conference selection, and three Centennial Conference tournament appearances.