AMHERST, Mass. - Former Northwestern University standout Sarah Walsh has been named assistant coach for the UMass women's lacrosse team as announced by second-year head coach Alexis Venechanos. Walsh replaces Sarah Albrecht who accepted a similar position at Harvard. Venechanos also announced that Angela McMahon, also in her second year, has been promoted to Associate Head Coach after serving her first season as the program's top assistant.

Walsh, 24, is a 2005 graduate of Northwestern University where she teamed up with McMahon and Albrecht when Venechanos served as assistant coach of the Wildcats. She helped Northwestern to an NCAA National Championship title in as a senior and played as an attack and defender in her four years as a Wildcat.

"We are extremely happy to have Sarah join the UMass family. She was a integral part of the 2005 Northwestern National Championship team and it was a pleasure to coach her," said Venechanos. "I'm looking forward to working and learning from her as her playing experience and her understanding of defensive concepts will be an asset to the program."

Originally from Annapolis, Md., Walsh was a part of the original team that started the lacrosse program at Northwestern University. She was a three time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a member of the American Lacrosse Conference Academic Honor Roll.

This will be Walsh's first collegiate coaching position although for three years she served as a coach for the Kelly Amonte-Hiller Lacrosse Camps in Evanston, Ill. While there she trained middle and high school age girls, beginners to advanced levels, to play lacrosse.

Following her graduation, she spent the 2005-06 year as an English Teaching Assistant/Tutor in Tours, France.

McMahon, 25, is responsible for all facets of day-to-day coaching and practice organization along with the Minutewomen's recruiting efforts, alumnae relations, and scouting. She primarily works with the attacks on offense.

"I can't say enough about Angela. Her dedication and devotion to UMass Lacrosse has been instrumental in the programs success," said Venechanos. "I value her insights in all of aspects of the program. Her professionalism allowed us to bring in first-class recruits to the program as we build the foundation of championship success here. We are very fortunate to have Angela as part of the UMass family."

Prior to coaching at UMass, McMahon served as head coach of Bentley's women's lacrosse program during the 2006 season. While there, she guided the NCAA Division II Falcon's to a 7-8 overall record and a fourth-place finish in the Northeast 10 Conference. At Bentley, she also served as a member of the Division II North Regional Committee.

A native of Weston, Mass., McMahon began her collegiate lacrosse career at UMass before transferring to Northwestern in 2001 to help rebuild a program that had been dormant for the previous 11 years. She spent three seasons with the Wildcats as an attack where she finished her career with 44 goals and 23 assists. She was a two-time tri-captain of the squad and helped lay the foundation for Northwestern's back-to-back national titles in 2005 and 2006.

In her senior season, she earned Academic All-Big Ten honors and American Lacrosse Conference Academic Honors. She graduated from Northwestern in 2004 with a degree in communication studies.

Since 2002, McMahon has also worked for Amonte Sports Camps as a counselor and administrator. During that time, she instructed campers of all skill levels and helped with the organizational camp operations. From 2004 to 2006, she also worked for Reebok International as an account services representative.

The Minutewomen will open the 2008 season on Feb. 19 at home against Holy Cross.

2007-12-17