BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- Bridgewater College has announced Ashley Hughes as the Eagles' new head women's lacrosse coach.

Hughes has won 72 games in 11 seasons as a head coach at the Division II and III levels. She joins Bridgewater from her alma mater Allegheny College, where she became the program's all-time winningest coach with a mark of 61-52.

She led the Gators to four North Coast Athletic Conference playoff appearances in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The 2014 squad recorded the best single season record in program history with a final mark of 15-2.

Hughes coached 12 IWLCA All-Region selections and 29 All-NCAC honorees, including three individuals who finished their careers as Allegheny's top record holders.

She was also the head coach at Saint Michael's College in Vermont, a member of the NCAA Division II Northeast-10 Conference from 2011-13. She led the 2013 Purple Knights to the program's highest win total since 2008.

"We are excited about hiring of Ashley Hughes as our next head women's lacrosse coach," said director of athletics Curt Kendall. "Ashley brings 11 years of head coaching experience to the position and has had very good success in her most recent position at Allegheny College. We feel she can provide much-needed stability and renewed energy to the program. She is a competitor and understands our desire to move our program into the top tier of the ODAC."

"I am thrilled to join the Bridgewater lacrosse community," said Hughes. "Thank you to Curt Kendall and the search committee for offering me the opportunity. The program has a high ceiling and I cannot wait to get to work in building a strong team culture and a program that can be a top competitor in the ODAC."

Prior to taking the helm at Saint Michael's, Hughes served as an assistant lacrosse and soccer coach for Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont during the 2009-10 academic year. She began her coaching career during the 2009 season as an assistant at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.

Hughes played both lacrosse and soccer at Allegheny, graduating as the lacrosse program's all-time leader in goals (125), assists (54), and points (179). A member of the NCAC All-Decade Team, she was a two-time second team All-Region selection, four-time All-NCAC honoree including three first team selections, and made two NCAC All-Tournament squads.

A two-time lacrosse team captain, she was also an honorable mention All-NCAC soccer player. She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics from Allegheny in 2008 and a master's of education in school leadership from Saint Michael's in 2018.

Hughes has also served on the NCAA Regional Ranking Committee and IWLCA All-Region Player Committee, along with numerous campus groups.

--- This release is courtesy of the Bridgewater College athletic media relations department. ---
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