Suzie Friedrich begins her ninth season on the sidelines for the Big Red women's lacrosse program in 2016-17 after being brought on staff in July 2008. She previously had served as head coach at Division III Washington College for five years.
With Friedrich's help, the Big Red had one of the best seasons in program history in 2016, beginning the season 8-0, marking the best start in program history. Climbing to a No. 13 ranking in the IWLCA Coaches Poll, the Big Red posted its second-most wins in program history, finishing the year 14-5 and 5-2 in Ivy League play, its best conference record since 2012. The Big Red earned No. 3 seed in the 2016 Ivy League Tournament and defeated Princeton in overtime in the semifinal for the program's first tournament win before topping host Penn for the championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Cornell then earned a No. 8 seed and the right to host NCAA Tournament First and Second Round games. The Big Red downed a hot Canisius team, 15-11, in the first round before suffering a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Massachusetts in the second round to end the storybook season. Co-captain Emily Tripodi '16 set a new school record in career assists, finishing with 116, and Catie Smith '17 set a new single-season standard in caused turnovers with 41. Smith earned First-Team All-Ivy honors, was named an IWLCA Regional All-American and finished the season with an IWLCA Third-Team All-America nod. Joey Coffy '18 was also named First-Team All-Ivy and a Regional All-American, while Tripodi, Taylor Reed '18 and Renee Poullott '17 were second-team All-Ivy. Poullott also earned second-team all-region honors.
Cornell reached the Ivy League Tournament for the fourth straight season and fifth time in program history. The team’s five All-Ivy selections in 2015 were tied for second-most in the league, with Lindsay Toppe making the first team for the third consecutive season after setting a new program record for career goals (149) and career game-winning goals (10). The Big Red finished 9-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
In 2014, Lindsay Toppe was named the Ivy League’s Attacker of the Year, as well as a unanimous First Team All-Ivy pick. The season also saw sophomore Sarah Hefner break the single-season record for draw controls (68) that was set by former teammate Caroline Salisbury ’13 last season.
Friedrich's fifth season, 2013, continued the success established over the previous few years. The Big Red reached the Ivy League Tournament for the second consecutive year and third time in four years while having the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year (Kate Ivory) on the roster. Lindsay Toppe was also an impressive First Team All-Ivy selection after scoring a career-high 47 goals that was second-best in school history for a single season. The Big Red started the season 6-0 after a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State at home, and the team went a near-perfect 6-1 on Schoellkopf Field.
In 2012, the Big Red finished 11-5 with its best record since 2006. Cornell made the Ivy League Tournament for the second time in three years, and Jessi Steinberg '12 and Cacki Helmer '12 were named First Team All-Ivy selections.
The 2011 Big Red came on late in the season, winning three of its last four contests and knocking off then-No. 2 Florida in its season finale. Five players earned All-Ivy accolades, including first-teamer Steinberg and Kate Ivory '13, both of whom were IWLCA all-region picks.
Friedrich helped turn around Cornell's fortunes after a 2-6 start in 2010, helping the Big Red place third in the Ivy League and giving them a spot in the conference's inaugural postseason tournament. Four Big Red players were named All-Ivy, including unanimous selections Steinberg and Tissy O'Connor.
In her first season, Friedrich was integral in helping a young Big Red squad that featured just four seniors win nine games, including three contests against ranked teams. O'Connor was named a second-team All-American and was one of four All-Ivy League selections.
At Washington, Friedrich coached four all-region selections, including first-team selection Lindsay Fox, during her tenure and posted a 34-50 overall record. Her teams matched or increased the previous year’s win total each of her final three years, including posting an 8-8 record during the 2008 campaign. Her 2004 team set a school record for goals in a game with a 24-14 win over Muhlenberg. Among her former players is the school’s all-time assist leader, Lindsey Eichner, whose 136 assists rank among the top 20 all-time in Division III. Eichner also set the school record for assists in a season with 48 in 2004.
Prior to her time at Washington, Friedrich was at Garrison Forest School, coaching junior varsity lacrosse and middle school basketball during the 2002-03 school year. She also coached at Morristown HS and Collingswood HS in New Jersey and at the Penn State, Merestead and Washington College lacrosse camps. She served as the United States Women’s Lacrosse Association National Chair for Schoolgirl All-Americans from 1993-97 and the USLWA Baltimore Schoolgirl Chair from 1993-98.
Friedrich served as athletic director and head of the physical education department at St. Paul’s School for Girls from 1997-2000. During that time, she coached lacrosse at both the varsity and junior varsity level and also coached basketball, field hockey and golf. She also taught physical education and golf for grades 5-12. She began her career as a coach and instructor at the school from 1992-97.
As a college player, Friedrich played for three Final Four squads at Penn State (1982, '83, '85) and helped her team to the national finals in 1982. A three-year member of the United States Women’s Lacrosse squad (1989-91), Friedrich also played for the Central District 1 team from 1985-92 and the South District team from 1993-97. She graduated from Penn State in 1985.
Updated May 18, 2016
