Colgate University Athletics

Former Raider standout Heidi Ross Shafer is in her fourth season as an assistant coach at her alma mater, where she has been in charge of running the Raiders' defense for the past three seasons. In her initial season, she was a member of the coaching staff of the 2008 and 2009 Patriot League title teams which advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

During the 2009 season, Shafer was the architect of Colgate's stingy defense, which ranked sixth best in the nation. The Raiders allowed six or less goals seven times while limiting the opposition to 8.79 goals per outing in the 2009 campaign. In other defensive categories, Colgate ranked third nationally in ground balls (23.37) and 10th in caused turnovers (11.05). Ross helped coach Maddie Kearns to the 2009 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year.

As a Raider, Ross led Colgate to back-to-back Patriot League Tournament championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005. The 2005 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, Ross was named to the all-Patriot League first team in 2004, 2005 and 2006. She finished her career with a school-record 108 draw controls, including 34 draw controls during her senior season, which is tied for eighth on Colgate's single-season list. Ross also ranks fourth in school history with 176 career ground balls, and caused 68 turnovers over her four years on the turf.  She was a two-time captain for the Raiders.

Ross returned to Colgate from New York City, where she worked as a student teacher at the High School for Leadership and Public Service. Three years ago, Ross worked as a student teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus, N.Y., helping to instruct high school seniors in a college preparatory writing course. She has also worked as a tutor at Clary Middle School in Syracuse, and as a teacher's assistant at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass.

Four years ago, Ross served as a volunteer coach for the girls varsity lacrosse team at nearby Liverpool High School. 

Ross earned a spot on Colgate's Dean's List every semester of her college career. She was a four-time member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, and was selected to the IWLCA National Honor Roll in 2005 and 2006.

Ross graduated cum laude from Colgate in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in educational studies with a minor in English. She received her master's degree in English education from Syracuse in December 2007. 

Ross was married to Erich Shafer on August 7, 2010 in Philadelphia.