Meghan Smith '12 was named the head coach of the women's lacrosse program in the fall of 2015 and begins her 12th season at Saint Anselm in the 2026-27 academic year.
Over 11Â seasons on the Hilltop, Smith has led the Hawks to 94 victories, 58 of those coming within the highly-competitive Northeast 10 Conference. She has coached 57 All-NE10 selections as well as 17 Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IWLCA) All-Region picks.
In 2026, the Hawks posted an 11-7 (5-4 NE10) record while maintaining a top-25 national ranking in the IWLCA Division II Coaches Poll the entirety of the season. Under Smith’s leadership, Saint Anselm concluded the campaign with a No. 23 ranking following a return to the NE10 semifinals. Junior Alyssa Hill, sophomore Ayla McDermod, and senior Elyse Scales were recognized as IWLCA East Region Second Team selections.
Smith led the Hawks to their second NCAA tournament berth in program history in 2025 with an at-large selection. The Hawks placed seven student-athletes on NE10 All-Conference teams and had two major award winners. Senior Elizabeth Driscoll claimed her second NE10 Goalkeeper of the Year award in the last three years, and freshman Ayla McDermod became the first NE10 Rookie of the Year for the Hawks since 2012. Driscoll, along with sophomore Lucy Mawn, and freshman junior Elyse Scales collected All-Region honors. Driscoll was named to the IWLCA First Team All-America list as well as the USA Lacrosse Magazine Second Team and was named the IWLCA Division II Goalkeeper of the Year. Saint Anselm concluded the season No. 25 in the nation with an overall record of 12-7.
Saint Anselm went 11-7 in 2024 with a 7-4 NE10 mark finishing with a No. 22 ranking in the final national poll. Five student-athletes earned All-NE10 honors while senior Erin Doyle was selected as an IWLCA All-Region First Team pick.
Smith and the Hawks tied the program record for wins in a single season in 2023 with a 13-5 record. Saint Anselm was backstopped by NE10 Goaltender of the Year, IWLCA First Team All-Region selection, and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American Honorable Mention pick Elizabeth Driscoll. The Hawks finished the season at No. 16 in the final national poll of the season.
The Hawks posted a 7-9 record in 2022 with a 5-8 mark in NE10 play. The 2022 squad opened the season with a win in each of its first three games for the third consecutive season. Saint Anselm was ranked No. 25 in the final national poll.
Under Smith's guidance in 2021, the Hawks finished the year with an 8-3 overall record and were ranked as the No. 22 team in NCAA Division II in the final IWLCA Division II Coaches' Poll. Saint Anselm defeated Franklin Pierce in the NE10 Divisional Semifinals, earning the program's second-ever victory in the conference postseason and its first since the 2014 campaign.
The Hawks led the NE10 in caused turnovers per game (11.09) in 2021, finishing third in the league with 13.09 draw controls per tilt and the league's third-best winning percentage (0.727). Four earned NE10 All-Conference honors following the season and two student-athletes earned IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. Across the last two seasons, Saint Anselm has won 12 of its last 15 games.
The 2020 season saw Saint Anselm play just four games, but the Hawks won each of those games in convincing fashion for the squad's best start since the 2014 season. Saint Anselm picked up victories over two nationally-ranked opponents in that stretch and finished the year as the No. 20 program in NCAA Division II, according to the IWLCA Division II Coaches' Poll.
Smith led Saint Anselm to its first NE10 postseason appearance in three seasons in 2018, finishing the year with eight wins while playing 10 nationally-ranked opponents across the team's 18-game schedule.
Smith arrived back on the Hilltop following a one-year stint as an assistant women's lacrosse coach at the College of the Holy Cross, where she assisted with all facets of the Division I program. She helped two Crusaders attain All-Patriot League honors and the team was a Patriot League All-Academic Team.
Smith wrapped up her playing career as the Hawks' all-time leader in points (244), goals (203) and draw controls (372). Earning induction into the Saint Anselm Athletics Hall of Fame in February 2022, Smith served as team captain her senior year, while also being chosen as an IWLCA North Region Second Teamer. Smith, a four-year starter, was a three-time All-NE10 performer, including a First Team selection her senior year.
Smith has also been the head coach for Boston Laxachusetts Lacrosse Club since 2013, providing training and skill instruction to girls ages 8-18. She has also served as a camp counselor at Boston College, Vanderbilt University and Army West Point.
She was selected as an assistant coach for Ireland's U19 women's national team in early 2017. The team competed in the 2019 World Cup.
A native of Pittsford, N.Y., Smith earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Saint Anselm and currently lives in Boston.
