University of Colorado Boulder Women's Lacrosse

Ann Elliott Whidden was hired as CU’s first-ever head lacrosse coach on March 26, 2012, just short of two months after the school officially added the progra...

Grossmann joined the Buffs in August 2022, filling the role of Director of Lacrosse Operations. She comes to CU from the University of Washington, where she ...

Mitch Fenton works primarily with CU’s goalkeepers. When he joined the team full-time in 2017 he was an assistant coach and served in that role through 2022. Prior to the 2023 season, Fenton was promoted to his current role as associate head coach. One of Colorado’s strongest positions has been goalkeeper since the program’s inception with Paige Soenksen and Julia Lisella. Soenksen earned numerous all-conference and all-region honors as a four-year starter. A 2017 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-American third team selection, Soenksen led the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) in goals against average (8.45) and save percentage (0.491) as a senior. After Soenksen’s departure following the 2017 season, Lisella stepped into the starting goalkeeper position in the fourth game of the 2018 and went on to compile a 13-4 mark, which included a 9-1 record in conference play. She led the Pac-12 in saves percentage (.503) and was second in goals against average (9.34) and saves per game (9.17). Nationally, Lisella ranked seventh in goals against average, 10th in save percentage, 29th in saves and 31st in saves per game. As a redshirt sophomore, she was named the IWLCA Goalkeeper of the Year and was a member of the IWLCA All-America First Team. Additionally, she was selected to the IWLCA All-Region and All-Pac-12 First Teams. Lisella would start for the Buffs for the following three seasons, 2019-21. After the 2021 season, she was tabbed the Pac-1

Sam McGee joined the CU Athletic Department in July 2024 as an Assistant Coach for the Colorado lacrosse team. In her role, she helps coach the Buffs lacross...

Vaneza Cruz joined the CU Athletic Department in June 2024 as an Assistant Athletic Trainer for lacrosse. In her role, she provides medical care to the women's lacrosse team. Cruz graduated from the University of Utah in May 2024 with a Master of Athletic Training. At Utah, she served as an athletic training intern for the football and women's soccer teams during the 2023-24 season. Prior to Utah, she graduated from CU in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in Integrative Physiology. At CU, she was an undergraduate sports medicine intern for both men's and women's basketball. She is a member of National Athletic Trainers Association. While at Utah, she received the Bill Bean Award for Outstanding Athletic Training Student. She was also a Gates Millennium Scholar in the 2015 cohort. Born December 24 in Denver, Colo., she graduated from Brighton High School in 2016. Cruz lives with her fiancé, Tommy, and in her spare time she enjoys running, baking and finding the best gluten free restaurants in Colorado.