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Messiah University

Messiah College Athletics Department
One College Avenue, Suite 4501 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
Division 3 Pennsylvania Northeast
Private Small Developing team

Coaches

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Heather (Greer) McKay

The 2024 season marks Heather (Greer) McKay's 17th season at the helm of the Messiah women's lacrosse program, a role she began in 2008.


COACHING INSIGHTS OVER THE YEARS


10 NCAA Tournament Appearances


Regional Final in 2021


Seven Conference Championships


2009, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021


Division III Metro Region Coach of the Year by IWLCA


2021


Seven-time Conference Coach of the Year


2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021


Coached Five MAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year


Rachel Dirksen (2012), Lizzy Keeney (2014), Molley Devilbiss (2015), Brooke Gamble (2017), Rachel Delate (2023)


Coached Seven Conference Players of the Year


Emily Mumford (2014), Brooke Gamble (2015), Alexa Dipeso (2017), Kendra Herbenar (2018), Rachel Delate (2021 & 2023), Grace Gormley (2023)


Coached nine Conference Rookies of the Year


Kara Geiman (2008), Rachel Dirksen (2009), Maddie Comfort (2010), Lizzy Keeney (2011), Claire Stikeleather (2013), Brooke Gamble (2014), Courtney Wagner (2016), Rachel Delate (2021), Emma Hagg (2022)


Coached 45 IWLCA All-Region (Metro) Honors


Coached 18 IWLCA All-Americans


COACHING BIO


A 2002 graduate of Messiah University, McKay took over the program in 2008 following a brilliant playing career for the Falcons, serving as a four-year starter at the midfield/attack position. Highly regarded for her presence as an athlete and leader, McKay was team captain as a senior and led the team’s offensive front. Her 169 total points placed her 5th on Messiah’s career points list at the time. However, many of her own players have eclipsed that total in recent years.


McKay also was a three-time MAC All-Conference selection and a four-time member of the MAC Conference All-Academic Team during her career.


After graduating from Messiah, McKay traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland as part of the English Lacrosse Association. While living overseas McKay played for Home Scotland and also was the coach and director of lacrosse at Fettes College. She also coached with the Scotland National U-19 team, helping them to the 2003 World Championships hosted in Baltimore, Maryland.


Upon her return to the States, McKay was the assistant coach at Randolph-Macon College while earning a master’s degree in sports leadership/athletic administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.


McKay was also selected to coach the South team at both the 2011 and 2016 IWLCA North-South games, with her 2011 appearance being the first-ever for a Messiah coach.


A Boston-area native, McKay currently resides in Harrisburg, Pa.


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Kendra Herbenar

Kendra Herbenar returns to the women's lacrosse program for her fifth season as an assistant coach to the team in 2022-2023. Herbenar was a four-year member of the Messiah women's lacrosse team as a play from 2014-2018.


Herbenar played an integral role in Messiah's historic 2021 season, winning its fifth MAC Commonwealth Championship in the past six seasons while making its deepest NCAA Tournament run in program history. As the program completed in eighth undefeated (8-0) conference mark in program history, Herbenar helped guide the Falcons to several individual accolades which included three AVCA All-Region honors and a total of six All-MAC Commonwealth nods.


A 2018 graduate from Messiah University, Herbenar was a key player for Messiah women's lacrosse as she started all 19 games during her senior campaign. During her senior season, Herbenar collected 92 draw controls, 67 groundballs, and 57 caused turnovers.


In her career, Herbenar finished third in program history in caused turnovers (128), 10th in draw controls, and tied for sixth in games played (74). She also tied the program record for most caused turnovers in a game with eight against Buffalo State on Mar. 27, 2018. Following her senior season, she was named MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-MAC Commonwealth, First Team IWLCA All-Metro Region, was selected to IWLCA Senior All-Star Game, and Second Team IWLCA All-American.


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