Athletics
Field Hockey
| Carla Hesler | |
 |
Field Hockey - Head Coach
New Hampshire '82 11th season chesler@smcvt.edu 802.654.2634 |
Carla Hesler, who completed her 11th year at the helm of the Saint Michael's field hockey program in 2009, has established herself as one of the most successful coaches in Purple Knights' history.
The 2000 and 2002 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year and the 2000 NFHCA North Regional Coach of the Year has amassed a 118-90 record in 11 years, including an 11-8 mark in 2008. In 2000 and 2001, Hesler's squads made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II Semifinals, failing to reach the national championship by just one goal in both games. Saint Michael's was the NE-10 Regular Season Champion in 2000 and were Co-Champions in 2001 and 2002.
Her 2003 team went 13-7 overall and advanced to the NE-10 semifinals, her 2004 team earned yet another NE-10 playoff berth, and her 2005 team went 10-9 while making the NE-10 postseason and finishing the season ranked 10th in the national poll. Both her 2006 and 2007 squads advanced to the NE-10 Semifinals and in 2008, she guided the program to an 11-8 record.
In 2009, Hesler coached the 300th win in program history, a 3-2 win at Assumption on Oct. 17, and she coached her 200th field hockey game for the Purple Knights versus Southern Connecticut on Sept. 26.
Hesler brought a wealth of field hockey experience with her to Colchester, Vt. She has led her teams to a career record of 206-193-8 as head coach in a combined 23 years at Colgate, Yale, and Saint Michael's. She has also worked as an assistant coach at Boston College, Old Dominion, Brown, Northeastern and Princeton.
Hesler has been actively involved in the USFHA Developmental programs, including acting as an instructor at the U.S. Field Hockey A, B, and C Camps. She was the head coach of the USA Under-21 National Team that competed in Seoul, Korea, in 1997. She also is a 2007 graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches' Academy, and on Nov. 1, 2009, was inducted into the New Agenda: Northeast Women's Hall of Fame, an award that honors those who have promoted sport for girls and women in New England as a coach, official, and/or advocate.
From 1990-95, Hesler was the regional coaching director and head coach for the USFHA Futures Program-Atlantic Region.
A 1982 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Hesler played both field hockey and lacrosse as an undergraduate, and was a member of the U.S. National Field Hockey Squad from 1979-82. She participated in three National Sports Festivals in the early 1980s and was named a collegiate All-American in 1979 and 1981. On top of all that success, she was named UNH's Female Athlete of the Year in 1982 and was inducted into the University's Hall of Fame in November 2001.
The Lynnfield, Mass., native also brings a strong lacrosse background to the Purple Knights' program. She owns a 93-83 record as a collegiate lacrosse coach, serving as the head coach at Colgate from 1986-89 and as head coach at Saint Michael's since 2001 (where she holds the program record with 61 victories). Colgate was the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association runner-up in both 1986 and 1987 under Hesler.
Hesler's Year-By-Year Results
| Year | School | Wins | Losses | Ties | Notes |
| 1985 | Colgate | 10 | 5 | 2 | |
| 1986 | Colgate | 8 | 10 | 1 | |
| 1987 | Colgate | 5 | 10 | 2 | |
| 1988 | Colgate | 11 | 7 | 0 | |
| Total (4 Years) | 34 | 32 | 5 | ||
| 1989 | Yale | 4 | 10 | 1 | |
| 1990 | Yale | 7 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1991 | Yale | 6 | 8 | 1 | |
| 1992 | Yale | 6 | 9 | 0 | |
| 1993 | Yale | 5 | 10 | 0 | |
| 1994 | Yale | 4 | 10 | 1 | |
| 1995 | Yale | 13 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1996 | Yale | 9 | 10 | 0 | |
| Total (8 years) | 54 | 71 | 3 | ||
| 1999 | Saint Michael's | 11 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2000 | Saint Michael's | 14 | 4 | 0 |
NE-10 Coach of the Year |
| 2001 | Saint Michael's | 14 | 6 | 0 | NE-10 Regular Season Co-Champion NCAA Division II Semifinals |
| 2002 | Saint Michael's | 12 | 6 | 0 | NE-10 Coach of the Year NE-10 Regular Season Co-Champion |
| 2003 | Saint Michael's | 13 | 7 | 0 | NE-10 Semifinals |
| 2004 | Saint Michael's | 8 | 11 | 0 | NE-10 Quarterfinals |
| 2005 | Saint Michael's | 10 | 9 | 0 | NE-10 Quarterfinals |
| 2006 | Saint Michael's | 12 | 8 | 0 | NE-10 Semifinals |
| 2007 | Saint Michael's | 9 | 11 | 0 | NE-10 Semifinals |
| 2008 | Saint Michael's | 11 | 8 | 0 | NE-10 Quarterfinals |
| 2009 | Saint Michael's | 4 | 14 | 0 | |
| Total (11 years) | 118 | 90 | 0 | ||
| Career Totals (23 years) | 206 | 193 | 8 |
| Kate Lipton | |
 |
Field Hockey - Assistant Coach
Vermont '08 Second season klipton@smcvt.edu 802.654.2709 |
Kate Lipton, a 2008 University of Vermont graduate, enters her second season as Saint Michael's College's first full-time assistant women's lacrosse and field hockey coach in 2009-10. She helped lead the Purple Knights to an 11-8 field hockey record in 2008.
The position is funded in large part by the NCAA Division II Coaching Enhancement Grant (CEG). The purpose of the CEG is to address the issues of access, recruitment, selection and long-term success of women, ethnic minorities and other individuals in Division II who seek to overcome hiring barriers by providing grant money for the creation of assistant coaching positions in Division II.
Saint Michael's is one of 18 Division II institutions nationwide chosen to take part in this pilot program, and the only institution in the 16-member Northeast-10 Conference, of which Saint Michael's competes in 17 sports. Saint Michael's was selected based on its commitment to inclusiveness and recognition of the important roles of the senior woman administrator (SWA) and faculty athletics representative positions in the management of the department's affairs, and its engaged and active student-athlete advisory committee.
"We are thrilled that Saint Michael's College was selected for this grant program to provide a full-time coaching opportunity for women and/or ethnic minorities," said Geri Knortz, Saint Michael's Athletics Director and SWA, upon Lipton's hiring. "I have no doubt that Kate will do an outstanding job in her role as full-time assistant, and her presence will benefit the women's lacrosse and field hockey programs immensely, as well as further her career development in coaching."
"Hiring a full-time assistant coach is an extremely positive step for both the women's lacrosse and field hockey programs," said Carla Hesler, the winningest coach in Saint Michael's women's lacrosse history who enters her 10th season in 2009-10, in addition to her 11th season as field hockey head coach in 2009-10. "I'm excited that Kate has this opportunity to display her commitment and dedication to these young women, and I'm excited to get the chance to work alongside Kate in both sports."
Lipton was a star field hockey player at Vermont, where she was a two-time co-captain and earned America East All-Conference and All-Academic honors. She garnered the squad's Most Improved Player award as a senior, and was named to the NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad all four seasons.
In lacrosse, Lipton served as a director and coach of the 2006 Shelburne (Vt.) Lacrosse Camp, where she advertised and planned for the week-long program for kids ages 8-14.
An elementary education major at UVM with a 3.76 grade point average, Lipton was a student teacher at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Winooski (Vt.) in the spring, and has also served as a substitute teacher at the school. Originally from Newton, Mass., Lipton was a lacrosse and field hockey standout at Newton North High School.
| Aurelia Davidson '00 | |
 |
Field Hockey - Assistant Coach
Saint Michael's '00 Seventh season |
Aurelia Davidson completed her seventh season as an assistant coach for the Saint Michael's College field hockey program in 2009. In her seven seasons, she has helped lead the program to a 67-68 record, leading the team to the NE-10 Tournament six seasons.
Davidson (formerly Aurelia Simmons) was a three-year standout on defense for Saint Michael's from 1997-99, playing for both current head coach Carla Hesler and former head coach Karen Okun. She co-captained the 1999 squad, and her sister, Jessica Simmons, played four seasons for the Purple Knights from 2000-03 (another sister, Alexandra, completed a standout four-year career in 2008).
Davidson graduated in 2000 with bachelor's degrees in elementary education and psychology, and currently works for Underhill ID Elementary School.
| Jim Laskarzewski '86 | |
 |
Field Hockey - Assistant Coach
Saint Michael's '86 24th season |
Long-time assistant coach Jim Laskarzewski completed his 24th season with the Saint Michael's field hockey program in 2009. He assists Coach Hesler during most practices and games, and is the squad's goaltender coach. Saint Michael's has compiled 19 winning seasons since Laskarzewski started with the program.
Laskarzewski began his coaching career in 1985 while an undergraduate at Saint Michael's. Initially filling the role of manager and game videographer, he also assisted the goaltender coach. A 1986 graduate of Saint Michael's with a bachelor's degree in environmental science, "Ski" has filled a variety of roles, including keeping game statistics, team photographer, and using his EMT training to assist the athletic training staff. Eventually, Ski co-coached the "B" team for a few years until the two squads merged their practices.
Laskarzewski is employed by the State of Vermont as the Assistant Chief of Training for the Vermont Air National Guard fire department. He recently retired after 24 years of service as a volunteer Assistant Chief for Saint Michael's Fire and Rescue.
