PURCHASE, N.Y. – Binghamton graduate Anna Riordan, a former captain for the Division I Bearcats and nominee for the NCAA Sportsmanship Award, has been named Manhattanville's Head Women's Lacrosse Coach, becoming the sixth person to hold that post in the program's 15-year history.

"I'm looking forward to the upcoming season and the opportunity to begin my collegiate coaching career," Riordan said. "Manhattanville is a great area for lacrosse and this program has a strong reputation."

A four-year letterwinner for the Bearcats, Riordan scored 99 points in her 62-game career and was also a strong defensive player, picking up 112 ground balls. A Yorktown, N.Y. native, Riordan served as Binghamton's captain last season, starting 14 times and leading the team with 13 assists. While at Binghamton, Riordan was a member of the school's Student Athlete Advisory Committee and volunteered with the Saint Jude's Children Hospital and Johnson City Mentor Program.

Since her graduation, Riordan has worked as a coach for Velocity Lacrosse, a traveling lacrosse team of Westchester County players age 11-17 that is based out of John Jay High School. Riordan has also worked as a coach at the Nutmeg Lacrosse Clinics and was the Director of the 2005 Future Stars Lacrosse Camp.

Riordan takes over for Jessica Rickershauser, who resigned after leading the Valiants to a 13-19 record in two seasons. The 2008 Valiants return their top eight scorers – including All-Conference standouts Abbe Grimes (Hamden, Conn.), Cory Alcorn (Orangeville, Ontario) and Colleen Holahan (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) – and will compete for the first time as members of the Middle Atlantic Conference.

"The team we have this season has a lot of potential," Riordan said. "We're moving to a more challenging conference, but I see it as a great opportunity for us to play against a higher level of competition."

The Valiants will announce their 2008 schedule and roster in the coming weeks. For more information on the Manhattanville Women's Lacrosse program, visit www.GoValiants.com/Womens/Lacrosse

2007-12-06