WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Williams College Athletics Department has announced that Alix Barrale '93 has been named the interim head women's lacrosse coach for the 2025-26 season.
"I am thrilled to share that Alix has agreed to serve as our interim head women's lacrosse coach," said Athletic Director Lisa Melendy. "Alix brings an incredible depth of experience and a strong background in lacrosse. She previously served as head lacrosse coach at Denison University and has contributed to our lacrosse program as an assistant and JV coach. She has built an outstanding legacy as our head field hockey coach, and will bring that same energy, vision and student-centered approach to this new role. I am truly grateful for her willingness to take this on."
Barrale has served as the Ephs' field hockey head coach since 2000, as she has compiled the most wins in program history. She has gone 260-151 overall for a .633 winning percentage, while powering the unit to NCAA Division III Final Four appearances in 2022 and 2024. Barrale has led her squads to 14 or more wins seven times, including a trio of 15-win campaigns and one 16-win season. The 16 victories during the 2024 season are the most in a single season in program history.
She has coached 21 field hockey All-Americans at Williams and has lifted the group to 10 NCAA Tournaments, including reaching the Elite Eight or deeper on four occasions. Barrale made an immediate positive impact in Williamstown, Massachusetts, as the Ephs won 3-of-5 NESCAC Championships from 2000-04 in the ultra-competitive conference.
As a Division III field hockey head coach, she has accumulated an overall mark of 310-179 for a .634 winning percentage. Prior to coaching at Williams, she was the head field hockey coach at Denison for four years and compiled a record of 50-28 for a .641 winning percentage. During a 4-0 victory at Trinity on Sept. 21, 2024, she earned her 250th victory at Williams and 300th triumph at the Division III level. Barrale previously served as the interim head coach of women's lacrosse at Williams during the 2000 season.
"I am incredibly excited to serve as the interim head coach for the Williams women's lacrosse team," said Barrale. "This decision came down to one thing, which is the students. Their energy, dedication and love for the game made it an easy decision. I am honored to help guide them through this next chapter."
Erica Blubaugh returns for her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Ephs during the 2025-26 season. During her first three seasons, Williams recorded six victories over top-15 ranked teams and earned seven NESCAC All-Conference selections. During the 2024 season, the program earned a No. 10 ranking in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) poll.
Elizabeth Morrison will step into the other assistant position for the 2025-26 season. She comes to Williams with seven years of collegiate coaching experience and was a standout multi-sport Division III student-athlete in lacrosse and field hockey. After graduating as a five-time All-American from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Morrison served as assistant coach at Trinity College for three years, working with the field hockey and lacrosse teams. She worked at the University of Hartford during the institution's transition from Division I to III, as she started as the assistant women's lacrosse coach and was promoted to head coach of the program during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
"We are excited to move forward with a dynamic interim coaching team for the 2025-26 season," said Melendy. "Together, this coaching team brings a fantastic mix of experience."
