University of Delaware Athletics
Lazo Named Philippines National Team Head Coach
2/29/2024 12:07:00 PM | Women's Lacrosse
NEWARK, Del. – University of Delaware women's lacrosse associate head coach Steph Lazo has been named the Philippines National Team Head Coach, the club announced Tuesday. The Philippines are the 50th program to join World Lacrosse.
"I want to thank Ron Garcia, President of the Philippines Lacrosse Association, for this amazing opportunity and for trusting me to lead this team," Lazo said. "I am incredibly honored to represent the Philippines and to continue to grow the game of lacrosse. I am looking forward to this journey ahead as I am confident we will accomplish great things at the international level, and make Philippines lacrosse history!"
Lazo will lead the team on its quest to qualify for the World Cup in 2026 held in Japan. There will be tryouts in Denver this June and training weekends throughout the fall. The team will also be going to Australia in January 2025 for another qualifying tournament.
In her fifth season at UD, she was promoted to associate head coach this past summer.
"This is an incredible honor and opportunity for Steph, we are all extremely excited and proud of her," Delaware Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Amy Altig said. "We look forward to supporting her and the Philippines National Team on their quest to qualify for the World Cup. Steph is the perfect person for this role, and we know she will make a great impact on the team through her knowledge and love of the sport. They are lucky to have her leading the Philippine National Team!"
Lazo aided the Hens' Delaney McDaniel and Lizzie Yurchak to All-CAA honors in 2023, with Morgan Gore and McKenzie Didio receiving All-Rookie team laurels. The previous year, McDaniel was named CAA Rookie of the Year and an All-CAA selection. Under her guidance, UD saw an increase in both goals and assists the past two seasons.
Lazo joined the Blue Hens as an assistant coach in June 2019 and has been overseeing the program's offensive unit, scouting, and alumni relations.
She arrived in Newark after spending the 2019 season as a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, Penn State, and the 2018 season as an assistant coach at Mount St. Mary's.
A two-time All-American for the Nittany Lions, Lazo helped guide PSU to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the semifinals.
In addition to her All-American accolades, the Stevensville, Md. native was a three-time All-Region selection, two-time All-Big Ten selection, two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and the 2017 Big Ten Attack Player of the Year. As a senior, Lazo was a unanimous All-Big Ten pick, leading the conference in points (89) and assists (43). Her 89 points as a senior were the most for a Nittany Lion since the 1989 campaign while her 43 assists are good for second-most in program history. She also earned IWLCA Senior All-Star Game MVP honors in 2017.
The 2017 Penn State Female Athlete of the Year, Lazo finished her career ranked seventh all-time in program history in points (211) and assists (89).
She was selected by the New England Command in the inaugural Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) draft in 2018 and helped lead the Command to the Inaugural Championship title that season.
Lazo earned a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation and human services from Penn State University in 2017. Her mother, Sue Whitfield Lazo, played women's basketball for the Blue Hens from 1984-88 and still has her name littered within the program's record book.
"I want to thank Ron Garcia, President of the Philippines Lacrosse Association, for this amazing opportunity and for trusting me to lead this team," Lazo said. "I am incredibly honored to represent the Philippines and to continue to grow the game of lacrosse. I am looking forward to this journey ahead as I am confident we will accomplish great things at the international level, and make Philippines lacrosse history!"
Lazo will lead the team on its quest to qualify for the World Cup in 2026 held in Japan. There will be tryouts in Denver this June and training weekends throughout the fall. The team will also be going to Australia in January 2025 for another qualifying tournament.
In her fifth season at UD, she was promoted to associate head coach this past summer.
"This is an incredible honor and opportunity for Steph, we are all extremely excited and proud of her," Delaware Head Women's Lacrosse Coach Amy Altig said. "We look forward to supporting her and the Philippines National Team on their quest to qualify for the World Cup. Steph is the perfect person for this role, and we know she will make a great impact on the team through her knowledge and love of the sport. They are lucky to have her leading the Philippine National Team!"
Lazo aided the Hens' Delaney McDaniel and Lizzie Yurchak to All-CAA honors in 2023, with Morgan Gore and McKenzie Didio receiving All-Rookie team laurels. The previous year, McDaniel was named CAA Rookie of the Year and an All-CAA selection. Under her guidance, UD saw an increase in both goals and assists the past two seasons.
Lazo joined the Blue Hens as an assistant coach in June 2019 and has been overseeing the program's offensive unit, scouting, and alumni relations.
She arrived in Newark after spending the 2019 season as a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, Penn State, and the 2018 season as an assistant coach at Mount St. Mary's.
A two-time All-American for the Nittany Lions, Lazo helped guide PSU to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the semifinals.
In addition to her All-American accolades, the Stevensville, Md. native was a three-time All-Region selection, two-time All-Big Ten selection, two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and the 2017 Big Ten Attack Player of the Year. As a senior, Lazo was a unanimous All-Big Ten pick, leading the conference in points (89) and assists (43). Her 89 points as a senior were the most for a Nittany Lion since the 1989 campaign while her 43 assists are good for second-most in program history. She also earned IWLCA Senior All-Star Game MVP honors in 2017.
The 2017 Penn State Female Athlete of the Year, Lazo finished her career ranked seventh all-time in program history in points (211) and assists (89).
She was selected by the New England Command in the inaugural Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) draft in 2018 and helped lead the Command to the Inaugural Championship title that season.
Lazo earned a bachelor's degree in rehabilitation and human services from Penn State University in 2017. Her mother, Sue Whitfield Lazo, played women's basketball for the Blue Hens from 1984-88 and still has her name littered within the program's record book.
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