Women's Lacrosse Announces Staff Additions
Sep 12 | Women's Lacrosse
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers head coach Laura Brand announced two additions to the women's lacrosse coaching staff, Cristina Curiale and Kristen Wong.
Curiale returns to her alma mater as an assistant coach. She played four seasons with the lacrosse team, graduating in 2004, and was named co-captain her senior year. That season Curiale was also a preseason All-BIG EAST player and made the BIG EAST Academic All-Star team. As a junior she was Rutgers' Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-BIG EAST Second Team. Brand is excited to have a former player back in the fold.
"Cristina brings so much knowledge and enthusiasm to our program," the sixth year coach said. "Her ability to translate her exceptional personal skill into instruction will impact our players immediately. Being a Rutgers alum, she believes in the vision of this program and is ready to reach the next level."
After her playing career, Curiale stayed involved with lacrosse. She co-founded LaxConnect, a lacrosse company specializing in the development and advancement of lacrosse skills through camps and clinics. She worked as an assistant coach for the Monmouth Hawks, during which time they were the NEC Regular Season Champion twice and NEC Tournament Champion once. Her last year as assistant coach the team reached the NCAA Tournament. Curiale has also worked as the head coach of the Metro Lacrosse Club and as an assistant lacrosse coach for the Pingry School.
Wong is a 2007 graduate of the College of William and Mary where she starred on its women's lacrosse team. She earned Second Team Virginia All-State VaSID Lacrosse Team honors in 2006, First Team All-CAA Conference honors in 2006 and 2007, and was Second Team All-South Region in 2007. Wong was selected for the North-South Senior All Star game in 2007 and is a member of the U.S. Elite Team.
"Kristen brings an outstanding athletic background to Rutgers," said Brand. "Her experience as a top Division I athlete will help foster the talent we have on this young team. That coupled with her current involvement with the US Team will help catapult our program onto the National stage."
Wong also has extensive experience coaching lacrosse. She coached the Middle School Intramural team, she was an assistant coach for the Richmond Summer League Clinic, and she's worked for many lacrosse camps, including Trinity Episcopal, Merestead Sports, and the College of William and Mary.
"We are very excited to pick up where we left off last year," said Brand. "Cristina and Kristen will help us improve on the success we achieved last season. The talent and drive on this team is the best I have seen and I can't wait to see all of their talent and hard work pay off."
