Meet Catie Sobotor, our Girls Black Bear Girls Director. Catie is a 2005 Spring-Ford Alum and has helped/coached youth through high school girls for the past 18 years at Methacton & Upper Perkiomen, as well as with Dynamite Lacrosse Club from 2010-2016. Coach Sobotor is in charge of developing our Cub curriculum and practice planning.

While in Middle School/High School, Catie was a multi-sport athlete where she played field hockey,basketball and lacrosse. Catie decided her sophomore year she really wanted to play lacrosse in college. She played on 2 travel programs in the area, which helped showcase her talents on the field. She earned many awards and accomplishments in her lacrosse career. Academic All-American her Junior year, All PAC Team Junior and Senior Year,Captain her Senior year, scoring over 100 goals, and a scholarship to play at the college level at Ursinus College.

Her college career brought many fond memories with her teammates. She was a part of the 1st Women's College lacrosse team DI,Dll,or Dlll to accomplish 500 wins.

After college Catie went right into coaching lacrosse at Methacton High School where she coached from 2010-2017. While at Methacton she also helped coach with the Methacton Youth Lacrosse Organization. She started coaching locally for Dynamite Lacrosse from 2010-2016.

After having her daughter, Catie became the Upper Perkiomen Head Girls Varsity Coach in 2019. She has turned the program around the past 6 years and has led her team to the programs 1st round District 2A victory ever in school history in 2022.

Off the field, Catie resides with her husband and daughter in Schwenksville, Pa. She can not wait to share her passion for lacrosse with her daughter as she grows up. She enjoys watching the Eagles on Sundays and attending as many Phillies games as she can each season.

Meet Nikki our MS & HS Director and 2028 Head Coach. She began her lacrosse career in Delco, having grown up in Aldan and attending Penn Wood Sr. HS. She had an amazing high school coach, Kathleen Geiger, who influenced her greatly and prepared her for a collegiate career.

Nikki then attended Millersville University, on a partial scholarship, and played 4 years, having been named a captain her senior year. Majoring in Psychology with a minor in Athletic Coaching, with the goal of becoming a Sports’ Psychologist, she fell in love with the idea of coaching foremost.

She was in luck, as the assistant coach at Millersville left right as Nikki was graduating. She got to coach alongside Barb Waltman for 4 seasons, while also earning a master’s degree in Sport Administration. This then led to a head coaching position at Widener University.

At WU Nikki was the head women’s lacrosse coach and assistant field hockey coach for 5 years. She built the lacrosse program up, breaking a few records and getting them into post-season play her last 3 seasons. After getting married and a 2 nd child on the way, she stepped down to be at home for a few years. But she didn’t leave lacrosse.

Perkiomen Valley HS was searching for a head lacrosse coach. She had recently moved into the area and took over for 6 years. After this she became a Rec League, Middle School and High School referee while also coaching club. One year with 380 Lacrosse followed up by 11 years with Dynamite Lacrosse. While at Dynamite she held the position of Recruiting Director for a few years and then Assistant Director. In the middle of this she was coaching PV youth lacrosse for 7 years.

Wanting to get back into college coaching, she took the head coaching job at Gwynedd Mercy University for 2 seasons part-time. The team made conference playoffs in the first season.

Unfortunately, GMU was unable, at that time, to make it a full-time position. Refereeing, Club and Rec coaching kept her in it while she took on a sales job with Aramark.

Later she combined her sales knowledge with her lacrosse background and became the Lacrosse Manager for Longstreth Sporting Goods. After 2+ years the lacrosse business was acquired by BSN Sports where she became the Women’s Lacrosse Category Manager in 2020 to present. If you have any questions about lacrosse equipment, feel free to ask her!

In her spare time, she loves spending time with her boyfriend Mike, son Kevin and daughter Maya. She enjoys trips with friends, yoga, a good book, the beach, and playing with her rescue dog Reese.

Meet Valene Lawrence, Our Assistant Travel Director and Summer Camps Director

Passion and dedication - two qualities that drive success in any endeavor. As the Assistant Director of the Black Bear Lacrosse girls’ program, with over 15 years of coaching experience, I can confidently say that these qualities are the foundation of our girls' programs.

But my journey in the world of lacrosse goes beyond just one team. As the director of Boyertown Optimist Lacrosse Team girls program and the one who started the girls' lacrosse program in OBX, I have witnessed the power of dedication and passion in shaping young athletes into strong and confident players.

And now, as the assistant director of the girls travel program, I am honored to continue cultivating the same values in our players and seeing them grow into not just skilled athletes, but also resilient individuals.

To all the young girls out there who have a passion for lacrosse, remember that it is not just about winning games, but also about the commitment and drive to constantly improve and push yourself to be the best version of yourself. And to all the coaches out there, let us never forget the impact we have on our players and the responsibility we carry to instill dedication and passion in them. Let's continue to inspire and shape the future of lacrosse together.

Meet Coach Mandy Wendell, Our 2028/2029 Head Coach. Mandy is a mom of three multi sport athletes, a project management professional and entrepreneur. With 20+ years of experience coaching across disciplines from sports to business professionals. Mandy not only teaches the necessary lacrosse skills but incorporates mind set and life skills to develop well rounded athletes. A graduate of division II Millersville University were she was a 4 year starter and all league midfielder. She has coached high school girls lacrosse at Harriton High School and Archbishop Prendergrast high school, college assistant at Millersville University and youth for Souderton area girls lacrosse. In any spare time Mandy enjoys golfing, skiing and the beach.

Meet Maya, Our 2028/2029 assistant coach. Maya is currently a Division II student-athlete at Millersville University, serving as a team captain. She has earned and maintained a starting spot on defense throughout her time with the team. Maya was named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete following the 2022 and 2023 academic years.

Previously, she was a member of the Perkiomen Valley High School Girls Lacrosse Team from 2017-2021. During this time, she was involved in Link Crew and volunteered with Montgomery County’s Youth Aid Panel. In her senior season, she was awarded the Coach’s Award for her work ethic and dedication to the team. Maya played club lacrosse for Dynamite Lacrosse through 5th-11th grade. She joins us following three years of coaching with True Dynamite (formerly Dynamite Lacrosse) where she was able to work with a variety of teams. She also has experience as a U.S. Lacrosse Certified Youth Official.

Outside of lacrosse, Maya is an ambassador for The Hidden Opponent, an accredited non-profit and advocacy group that raises awareness for student-athlete mental health. She helps organize events to discuss, spread awareness, and share resources regarding mental health topics in sports on Millersville’s campus.

Maya is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Administration with a minor in Athletic Coaching. She has also been accepted into Millersville’s Accelerated Master’s Degree program in which she will also graduate with her Master’s Degree in Sports Management in five years. She plans to have a career in collegiate coaching and continue to give back to the sport she loves most.

Meet Grace Bruno, Our 2028 assistant coach. Grace started playing lacrosse in fifth grade and I played for Perkiomen Valley. I was a two-year varsity starter for Perk Valley, and I played club for Dynamite lacrosse. Now I am on the York College women's Lacrosse team, which is ranked number six in the women's division three poll. My set position is defense, although I have experienced all positions on the field and I am very knowledgeable of each position. In my free time, I work at a pizzeria and I also am a referee for girls youth lacrosse. I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family and friends, and staying active by going to the gym and running! I look forward to teaching more girls how to learn and love the sport of lacrosse.

Meet Alexa Maloney, Our 2030/2031 head coach. I am proud to coach the Black Bear Girls 2030/31 team. After graduating from Methacton High School, I attended Division III, Allegheny College, playing attack as a four-year starter and senior captain. In college, I was a part of the NCAA Career in Sports Forum as well as the NCAA Branch Rickey Mentorship Program for coaching. I previously coached for Dynamite Lacrosse for 8 years and have refereed for youth lacrosse programs.

In my spare time you can find me traveling, volunteering, or reading new books!

Meet Tara Germana, our 2030/2031 assistant coach. Tara is a dedicated and accomplished lacrosse coach, and player with over 15 years of experience.

Following her college graduation, she embarked on an exciting journey, playing overseas in Australia as part of a US National lacrosse team. Her skills and passion for the game were recognized, and she was offered a full-time coaching position in Japan. However, she made the decision to prioritize her commitment to furthering her education in Grad School.

During her time at Widener University, she made a significant impact as a midfielder and demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities. Notably, she was honored as team captain during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. With her exceptional performance, she came close to achieving 100 goals before concluding her lacrosse career.

Her alma mater, Perkiomen Valley, also witnessed her extraordinary talent and leadership abilities. From her freshman year onward, she emerged as the strongest defender in the PAC, earning the esteemed role of team captain throughout her sophomore, junior, and senior years.

Now, as a mother to three daughters, she has found immense joy in sharing her passion for lacrosse with the next generation. She actively contributes to the growth and development of aspiring young athletes, fostering their skills and nurturing their love for the game.

Off the lacrosse field, she works at Phoenixville Hospital where she is the Ultrasound Department Supervisor.

She enjoys her Sunday mornings at the local church where her and her family have been active members for the past 10 years.

She comes from a strong family line of lacrosse players and owes her success to her three brothers who never took it easy on her on the field and pushed her to be the player she is.

Being a mom is one of her greatest achievements.

In between all the chaos, she will always be found with her family, traveling the world (especially areas with beaches), finding adventure in every day, living life to the fullest and laughing until it hurts so good.

Meet Melissa Dzielak, Our 2032 assistant coach. Melissa played varsity soccer and lacrosse 4 years at Upper Perkiomen High School ('00). Played Division II Women's Soccer ('00) and Lacrosse ('01-'04) at Philadelphia University (now Jefferson). Lead the team in overall points as a Sophomore and Junior; led the team in assists Sophomore, Junior and Senior years. Team Captain for both Junior and Senior years. Coach for Boyertown Optimist Lacrosse Team (BOLT) since 2020 coaching youth grades 1st-6th. Licensed Architect, working in the commercial design & construction field for over 20 years. In my free time I enjoy gardening, DIY projects and spending time with my family, including my husband Jason and 2 daughters, Avrie and Abby who are both competitive gymnasts and lacrosse players.

Meet Amanda Smith, Our 2033/2034 Head Coach.

Achievements:

• 4 year starter lacrosse and field hockey at Albright college

• 4 time All-Commonwealth Team- Lacrosse

• 2 time All-Commonwealth Team- Field Hockey

• Senior All Star Game Division 3 participant- Field hockey and Lacrosse

• Second Team All Region Selection- Field Hockey and Lacrosse, senior year

• Career Goal Record Holder at Albright College- 200 career goals, lacrosse

• Career Draw Control Record Holder at Albright College- 313 career draw controls

Coaching Experience:

• Perk Valley Assistant Varsity Lacrosse Coach

• Perk Valley Middle School East- 7th /8th grade field hockey coach

• Shock Field Hockey Club- 2019-2023

Personal:

In my spare time, I love doing athletic activities. I enjoy going for runs and playing in adult leagues for field hockey and lacrosse. I am also a huge dog lover. I have two dachshunds (wiener dogs- Doug and Howie) and one German Shepherd (Henry) that I absolutely adore and spend a lot of my free time with.

Any other spare time I have I am with my family or friends or if it is summertime, you can find me at the beach relaxing.

Meet Beth Hill, Our 2033/2034 assistant coach. Coach Beth loved lacrosse from the moment her parents bought her a lacrosse stick in 3rd grade. That passion continued for the next 9 years and brought her to play division three lacrosse in college at Widener University. Her team was like her family while away at school, which is why she values team comradery so much.

Once Beth’s twin daughters started playing lacrosse in first grade, she decided to start coaching them on the Boyertown Optimist Lacrosse Team (BOLT). She has a passion for encouraging and teaching these youth players the game of lacrosse, all while making each practice FUN, so the girls want to come back each year and play! The core values she expects from her players at all levels are effort and respect.

She has worked in the accounting industry for 16+ years and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In her free time, she loves to golf, read, and spend time with her family, which includes her husband, Leif, twin daughters, Elaina and Alexandra (who also play piano and practice martial arts), and her rescued mutt, Bones.

Meet Lauren Foley, Our goalie coach. Lauren is currently attending Bloomsburg University as a Division II student-athlete. She has been a starting goalie for the past two years and earned PSAC defensive player of the week last spring season.

Lauren attended Perkiomen Valley High School and was on the girl's lacrosse team from 2017-2021. Her sophomore season she earned All-pioneer athletic conference first team, and her junior year she earned all-pioneer athletic conference second team. She also was awarded most valuable player by her coaches in her senior year. Lauren also played for Dynamite lacrosse through 8th-11th grade and was a goalie coach for dynamite lacrosse for one year.

Lauren is in school to get her bachelor's degree with a double major in Criminal justice and Sociology. She plans to attend the Act 120 program at Montgomery Community College after she graduates and pursue a career as a police officer. She hopes to continue to coach and be involved in youth lacrosse.