Lauren Schneider was handpicked to lead the first-ever SUNY Old Westbury women’s lacrosse team ahead of the 2013 season. Now entering her seventh season in 2019, Schneider has developed 14 All-Skyline Conference honorees and holds a 28-70 overall record with a 17-29 mark against Skyline opponents.
Schneider has built a program that is has enjoyed postseason success as the Panthers advanced to Skyline Championship play in back-to-back seasons (2016-17). The 2017 squad finished with a 7-10 overall record and went 5-3 in conference play to set program records for wins and conference wins. Old Westbury earned its first-ever Skyline Championship win as the third-seeded Panthers defeated sixth-seeded Purchase College before suffering a season-ending loss to second-seeded St. Joseph's College (L.I.) in the semifinals for the second-straight season. Schneider's efforts saw the Skyline Conference recognize Old Westbury with a pair of first and second-team selections. She led the program to unchartered territory in 2016 with their first-ever Skyline Championship appearance. The fourth-seeded Panthers ended their season with a semifinal round loss to the top-seeded and eventual champion St. Joseph’s (L.I.). After concluding the season with a 6-12 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the league standings, Old Westbury placed four student-athletes on All-Skyline teams, as well as a Co-Rookie of the Year selection in Natasha Treuman. On the national scene, Old Westbury ranked eighth with 13.50 caused turnovers per game. The team also ranked second in the conference in caused turnovers per game and ground balls per game (21.78).
Old Westbury set a program record with a 6-9 campaign in 2015, and nearly missed out on a post-season berth with a 3-4 conference mark. The Panthers finished the season with a pair of all-conference selections due in part to her squad ranking second in the conference in caused turnovers per game (2nd, 11.67) and third in ground balls per game (19.27).
In 2014, Old Westbury increased its win total by one game to finish the season at 3-13 and 1-6 in the league standings. Schneider produced the program’s first ever all-conference selection when Sara Bey was recognized on the first team. The Panthers also formed their identity as a defensive oriented team after finishing the season ranked third in the conference with 11.56 caused turnovers per game. Old Westbury hosted Wilkes University on April 14 for its first-ever home game at Panther Park.
In just its fifth game in program history, Old Westbury recorded its first win with an 18-7 decision against the United States Merchant Marine Academy on March 19 in Kings Point, New York. The Panthers would set another program first three games later on March 25 with a 7-5 victory against Purchase College to register its first-ever Skyline Conference win. Old Westbury finished its inaugural season with a 2-15 overall record and 1-9 in league play.
Schneider used the 2011-12 academic year to build a schedule, develop the infrastructure of her program and recruit a team for the inaugural season in 2013.
In six academic years, Schneider has placed 132 student-athletes with a 3.0 or greater semester grade-point average on the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll, and 44 with a 3.3 or greater in-season GPA on the Skyline Conference Academic Honor Roll. In 2015 and 2016, Old Westbury has been recognized three times (2015, 2016, 2018) as an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad for carrying better than a 3.0 grade-point average for the academic year. The IWLCA has also recognized seven Old Westbury student-athletes who achieved a minimum junior status, while also maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater.
In October 2011, Schneider was appointed to serve as head coach for the Ireland National Women's Lacrosse Team. She played for the Ireland National team for two seasons (2008-09) and was named team MVP in 2009.
Prior to her arrival at Old Westbury, Schneider served as the head junior varsity women's lacrosse coach at Cold Spring Harbor High School in 2011. She got her start in college coaching as an assistant coach at Long Island University – C.W. Post. Schneider spent two seasons (2008-10) at Long Island University-C.W. Post, making back-to-back trips to the final four of the NCAA Championship Tournament, compiling a two year record of 32-5. In 2010, the team won the ECC Championship with a record of 16-2. She handled the coordination of the offense and assisted in the recruiting process as her main coaching responsibilities.
As a player, Schneider was a strong, dynamic attacker for the University of Maryland lacrosse team. Schneider’s mantle includes four consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament, advancing to the quarterfinals as a junior and senior. As a senior, she was named Second-Team All-American, IWLCA All-South Region First-Team in addition to All-ACC and All-ACC Tournament team selections after registering 49 goals and 10 assists. Schneider finished her career as a Terrapin with 89 goals and 26 assists..
Schneider grew up in Farmingdale, New York, where she attended Farmingdale High School where she was a two-time All-American and a four-time All-Nassau County standout before starring at the University of Maryland. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies from Maryland University in 2008. She went on to receive her Masters of Science from the School of Counseling at Long Island University-C.W. Post in 2011.
Schneider and her husband, Ryan, currently reside in Massapequa Park, New York with their sons, Bodhi and Danny, and daughter, Samantha, and half boxer-lab, Sadie.
