Colgate University Athletics

Melissa Pearsall enters her second season with the Colgate women’s lacrosse staff. She is the defensive coordinator for the Raiders and assists the program in all areas.

Pearsall comes to Colgate after a two-year stint at Rochester Institute of Technology as an assistant coach. She and the staff turned a Tigers team around from a struggling program into a highly-competitive and successful team in three years. In 2009 alone, the Tigers set school records in five different categories, including most wins with 13 and goals with 212.

She coached a second team All-American and Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Year during her time, bringing her goals against down by an average of five goals. Pearsall won the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Associate Division III National Outstanding Assistant Coach Award for her efforts in 2009.

Pearsall had many responsibilities with RIT. She was the defensive coordinator, draw control coach, prepared game plans and was in charge of scouting.

In addition to her duties as an assistant coach at RIT, she was the administrative director and head coach of the modified girl’s club team with Relentless Hustle Lacrosse Club in Rochester. She helped start the team and made it into a nationally-recognized program. The team has had 5-10 athletes commit to Division I programs.

She has been a coach at the Syracuse Lacrosse Camp since 2004, where she has improved the skills and techniques for girls in the 12-18 age range.

Pearsall is a 2007 graduate of Syracuse University, where she was a defensive player for the Orange women’s lacrosse team. She won the BIG EAST title in her final season and was a two-time athletic honor roll recipient.

She also has received her Master's and Certificate of Advanced Studies in School Psychology from Roberts Wesleyan College.