East Ave
Girls Coaches

Meet the staff behind the East Ave girls program

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Program leadership & lead coaches

Who leads East Ave Girls

Grainne Kelly

East Ave Girls Director

grainne@eastavelacrosse.com
  • Former Head Coach at Illinois Wesleyan University and Lockport High School
  • Record-setting player at IWU: career leader in goals and points, with the top two single-season point records
  • Honors & Awards: 3x CCIW First Team All-Conference, 2x All-Region, Academic All-District, Merle Chapman Leadership Award, multiple Academic Honor Rolls
  • Coaching Recognition: Named 2021 IGLCA Positive Coach of the Year

Mackenzie Haack

Elite Program Manager

  • Coach with East Ave youth teams, Glen Ellyn Guardians, and Wheaton Wolverines
  • Glenbard West Girls Lacrosse assistant coach
  • US Lacrosse certified referee
  • Two-sport NCAA Division II athlete at Roberts Wesleyan (lacrosse & soccer); 222 career lacrosse points through high school and college
  • Honors include Frontier League All-Star, All-North First & Second Team, and NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention

Sloane Baumgartner

HS Elite Coach

  • Head Coach - Elmhurst University Women's Lacrosse (since 2024)
  • Previous coaching: Graduate Assistant at North Central College (2020-2022); Club Director & Coach at club
  • Playing career: 4-year starter at Ohio Wesleyan University, program's all-time leader in goals (159) and ranked third in career points (216)
  • Honors: 2x All-NCAC Honorable Mention; tied school record with 11 points in a single game

Alexis Crowley

Coach

  • Coaches U12 team and goalies
  • 3 years with East Ave Girls
  • Former goalie at Aurora University

Tracy Bonaccorsi

Coach

  • Former captain at Concordia University Irvine
  • JV coach at Beckman High School (CA)
  • Former head coach at Trinity High School, River Forest (3 years)
  • Head coach at Fenwick High School (currently in 7th season)

Lori Schlegel

Coach

  • Played collegiate lacrosse at Aurora University
  • Part-time assistant coach at Aurora University (2022 season)
  • Head JV coach at Valley (2023-2024)
  • Head coach at Oswego (2025-present)

Ryleigh Nelson

Coach

  • Two-year team captain at Lake Forest College; named 2024 MLC Attacker of the Year
  • Led conference in total points; ranked 2nd in both goals & assists
  • Finished 2024 season ranked 5th in NCAA Division III in assists (64) and 9th in total points (118)
  • Lake Forest College's all-time leader in career points and assists
  • 3 years of coaching experience with the youth programs

Kenzie Wattles

Coach

  • NNHS senior captain 2025/2026
  • Attacker with over 100 goals and over 70 assists
  • 2x All-State, All-Sectional, and All-Conference
  • Committed to DI Butler University
  • Experience in coaching & playing sports including lacrosse, basketball, soccer, and XC/track

Coaching staff

The rest of the bench

College head coaches, current college players and East Ave alumnae who coach across our girls teams.

MS

Mariah Smith

  • Head Coach, Lewis University (NCAA DII)
AM

Anna Mapes

  • College of Wooster defender, Class of 2026

Elise Huseman

  • Head Coach, Riverside-Brookfield High School
MB

Maddie Berni

  • Head Coach, Carthage College

Auggie Claridge

  • Carthage College attacker (current)

Alex Olsen

  • Former Hinsdale Central player; assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University
AS

Avery Setzler

  • Illinois Wesleyan University midfielder, Class of 2026

Kelsey O'Brien

  • CMU midfielder (current); East Ave Elite Class of 2025

Karsen Jumatti

  • St. Ambrose University midfielder; East Ave Class of 2025

Bella Kerr

  • University of Cincinnati goalie (current)

Sophia Fountain

  • Lewis University goalie (current)
SZ

Sophia Zeiml

  • UConn defender (current)

Michaela Busse

  • North Central College midfielder (current)
SR

Sarah Riepe

  • Illinois Wesleyan University defender, Class of 2026
AS

Ashley Sardon

  • Elmhurst University (current)
SS

Samantha Sandedur

  • Lewis University (current)

Kaelyn Roth

  • Former East Ave Elite player, Class of 2025

Join the program

Play for East Ave

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