Allegheny College Athletics

Hughes, a 2008 graduate of Allegheny College, recently completed her first season as head women's lacrosse coach, leading the Gators to a record-setting year on her first season on the sidelines.  Hughes, a four-year member of the women's lacrosse and soccer program during her time in the Blue and Gold, arrives at her alma mater after a three-year stint as head coach at Saint Michael's College, an NCAA Division II institution located in Colchester, Vermont. 
 
During her first year on the sidelines for the Gators, Hughes led the squad on the most historic season in program history.  Finishing the 2014 campaign with a program-best 15-2 mark, Hughes led Allegheny to a 10-0 start, the best record in program history while mentoring the Gators to seven conference victories, the highest total for the Allegheny lacrosse program. 
 
Under her tutelage, seven student-athletes were named to the All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) team, including a program-best four All-NCAC First Team selections.  Carly Minsterman ’14, Kelsey Rodgers ’15, McKenzie Bell ’16 and Kaelin Clogan ’17 each earned first team plaudits, as Bell also won the national assists per game title with 4.63 assists per game.  In addition, Minsterman, Bell and Clogan additionally earned Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches’ Association (IWLCA) All-Great Lakes Region honors, with Bell and Minsterman earning first team honors to compliment Clogan’s second team designation.
 
The 2014 Gators averaged 15.47 goals per game, finishing the year ranked 16^th in the nation.  Finishing the season with the highest win percentage in the NCAC, the Gators ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (9.29) and win margin (6.18), while Clogan ended the campaign with a 9.99 goals against average, the second highest total in the conference.

"I am extremely pleased to have Ashley return to Allegheny and take the reins of our women's lacrosse program," commented Hoeg.  "As an alumna, her experience as a standout two sport student-athlete will bring wonderful leadership to our program.  Ashley has experience in the holistic development of student-athletes, which is in alignment with our Combinations 2020 strategic plan and departmental philosophy. Ashley inherits a young and talented group of athletes and I am confident she will lead the team to success on and off the playing field."

Prior to her arrival in Meadville, Hughes led the 2013 Purple Knights, a member of the Northeast-10 Conference, to the program's highest win total since 2008, ushering the squad to its highest conference win total in three seasons.  In 2012, the Purple Knights finished eighth in the nation with 170 caused turnovers, a single-season program record.

Prior to taking the helm at Saint Michael's College, Hughes served as an assistant for Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont for the 2010 season.  Hughes began her coaching career during the 2009 season as an assistant coach at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.

In addition to her experience on the sidelines, Hughes has also been instrumental in the implementation of several successful camps and clubs.  While serving as the U-17 and U-20 Vermont Far Post Soccer Club coach from 2010 to 2013, Hughes also served as the director of the Saint Michael's College Total Knights Sports Camp in 2013 in addition to directing the Saint Michael's College Lacrosse Camp from 2011 to 2013.

"Thank you to Portia Hoeg and the rest of the hiring committee for the opportunity to return back to Meadville as an Allegheny Gator," commented Hughes.

"The Gator squad has done very well in the last couple of seasons and I am ecstatic to continue to further progress the Allegheny lacrosse program," she continued.  "With such a strong returning group and a large incoming class, the program has great opportunities in the very near future and I could not be more thrilled to be leading the charge.  I cannot wait to get to work with the student-athletes and continue to build the future of Allegheny lacrosse."

While playing for the Blue and Gold, Hughes cemented herself as one of the top scorers in program history, leaving Allegheny as the career leader in goals (125), assists (54) and points (179), effectively ushering in an era of prominent scorers for the women's lacrosse program.  Hughes currently ranks second on the all-time career assist list and is third in goals and points. 

During her time for the Gators, Hughes was named to a pair of Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) All-Region teams, earning second team selections in 2005 and 2006.  In addition, Hughes earned All-North Coast Athletic Conference First Team plaudits in 2005, 2006 and 2007, adding a second team notation in her senior year.  Hughes was also named to two post-season NCAC All-Tournament teams.

A two-sport athlete, Hughes was also a four-year member of the Allegheny women's soccer program, finishing her career with 20 goals and three assists for the Gators and earning an All-NCAC honorable mention selection as a junior.