Ohio Wesleyan University Women's Lacrosse

Paige Messersmith is in her seventh season as head women's lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. Last year, the Battling Bishops finished with an 11-5 record and tied for third place in the North Coast Athletic Conference.  It was Ohio Wesleyan's fourth consecutive season reaching double digits in victories, accomplishing that feat for the first time since 2005-08. The 2024 Battling Bishops went 13-4, setting a school record for victories in a season.  Ohio Wesleyan finished second in the NCAC standings with a 5-1 record and hosted an NCAC tournament game for the first time since the 2008 season. In 2023, the Bishops went 11-6, including a 4-2 record in the NCAC, good for a third-place finish in the final conference standings, and made their first NCAC tournament appearance since the 2010 season.  The Battling Bishop staff was named NCAC Coaching Staff of the Year in recognition of those accomplishments. The 2022 Bishops compiled a 12-5 mark, tying the school record for victories in a season. Messersmith made her head coaching debut in 2020, with Ohio Wesleyan winning 2 of its first 6 games before the remainder of the season was canceled. Messersmith came to Ohio Wesleyan from Dickinson (Pa.) College, where she was an assistant coach for 4 seasons, working with the offense, draw team, and goalkeepers as well as assisting in practice planning, individual player development, recruiting, scouting, and strength and conditioning programming.  She helped the Red Devils to a 40-31 record and 3 tournament semifinal appearances in the Centennial Conference, one of the most competitive leagues in NCAA Division III. Off the field, she has been active in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association, working with the organization's all-region selection and convention planning committees. She began her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Catholic (D.C.) University, where in 2 seasons, she helped the Cardinals compile a 28-10 record, win a pair of Landmark Conference tournament championships, and make 2 NCAA Division III tournament appearances, including a run to the national quarterfinals. Messersmith is a 2013 graduate of McDaniel (Md.) College, where she capped a stellar playing career by receiving Centennial Conference Woman of the Year honors.  She was an All-America selection in lacrosse, won 5 all-region citations in lacrosse and field hockey, garnered all-conference laurels 7 times in lacrosse and field hockey, and was a 2-year team captain in both sports.  She graduated with a degree in exercise science and continued her education with a master's degree in psychology from Catholic. She is a native of Phoenix, Md. Messersmith's Career Coaching Record Year School Record Pct 2020 Ohio Wesleyan 2-4 .333 2021 Ohio Wesleyan 2-7 .222 2022 Ohio Wesleyan 12-5 .706 2023 Ohio Wesleyan 11-6 .647 2024 Ohio Wesleyan 13-4 .765 2025 Ohio Wesleyan 11-6 .647 Career 6 years 51-32 .614

Rachael Yoho is in her fifth season as an assistant women's lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. Yoho was part of a staff that was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2023 after guiding the Battling Bishops to an 11-6 record and their first NCAC tournament appearance since the 2010 season. She came to Ohio Wesleyan from the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus, where she served as club director, overseeing all staff activities, programs, youth members and operational functions related to the Knowledge Is Power Program, Columbus charter school.  She also has experience with the United Way of Central Ohio, working in advancement. Yoho is a 2017 graduate of Wittenberg University, where she played lacrosse for 3 years.  During her playing career, she helped the Tigers advance to the 2016 North Coast Athletic Conference tournament championship game and appeared in the 2015 and 2017 NCAC tournament semifinals.  Yoho began her coaching career shortly after graduating from Wittenberg, serving as the Tigers' interim head coach during the fall of 2017. She is a native of New Albany, Ohio.  

Patricia Ryan is in her fifth season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Ohio Wesleyan University women’s lacrosse team. Ryan was part of a staff that was named North Coast Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year in 2023 after guiding the Battling Bishops to an 11-6 record and their first NCAC tournament appearance since the 2010 season. She served as Ohio Wesleyan's interim head coach during the 2019 season, guiding the Bishops to a 9-8 record, Ohio Wesleyan's first winning season since 2010.  Ryan was an assistant coach for the Battling Bishops during the 2018 season and again during the 2020-21 seasons. Ryan returned to Ohio Wesleyan in the fall of 2017 after serving one season as assistant coach at Earlham College.  She was responsible for recruiting and planning and running practices as Earlham was preparing for its return to intercollegiate competition. She is a 2016 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan, where she was a 4-year letterwinner on the Battling Bishop women's lacrosse team.  During her Bishop playing career, she led the team in assists for 3 consecutive seasons and twice served as team captain.  She majored in history at Ohio Wesleyan and is pursuing her master's degree in special education. Ryan is a native of Upper Arlington, Ohio.