Liz Grote Named IWLCA Pilgrim Region Coach of the Year

BRUNSWICK, Maine - Bowdoin head women's lacrosse coach Liz Grote has been named the 2011 IWLCA Pilgrim Region Coach of the Year. Grote led the Polar Bears to a program record in wins and the team's first-ever appearance in the Division III "Final Four" this past spring.

Grote paced the Polar Bears to 13-2 record (7-2 NESCAC) during the regular season, finishing second in the conference standings. After earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Polar Bears caught fire, rolling off four consecutive victories, including wins over previously-undefeated Trinity and TCNJ, who had entered the tournament as the top two ranked teams in the nation. Bowdoin advanced to its first-ever national championship game, where they lost to Gettysburg and finished as national runners-up.

The 18 victories were the most-ever by a team in program history and the win in the national semifinals over TCNJ was the 104th of Grote's Bowdoin career, moving her past long-time head coach Sally LaPointe for the most in program history. Three Polar Bears earned IWLCA All-American honors this spring while six captured IWLCA All-Region recognition.

It is the second time Grote has earned IWLCA recognition, as she claimed the New England Region Coach of the Year in 2005.