Judy Finerghty, the 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2014 Liberty League Coach of the Year, has been the head coach of Vassar Women's Lacrosse since the 1994 season. During her career, Finerghty has racked up 187 career victories with the Brewers. She holds a 70-64 record over the past ten seasons, while coaching 57 All-Liberty League selections since 2005.
Finerghty’s squads have reached new heights in recent years, as the Brewers qualified for the Liberty League playoffs in three consecutive seasons. Vassar tied its best-ever mark in the Liberty League regular season in 2015, finishing 6-3 in the conference for the third straight year. VC’s No. 3 seed in the postseason was the highest-ever for the program since joining the conference, while her Brewers handed RPI its first Liberty League loss since 2013 with a 11-8 overtime victory on April 3.Â
In the 2022 season, the Brewers opened with non-league victories over Coast Guard and Manhattanville before diving into a competitive Liberty League schedule that saw them post wins over RIT and Bard along the way. During the season, the Brewers - who faced five teams ranked in the top-25 - were fifth among the league’s-best in caused turnovers per game, while also sitting fifth in saves per contest. Vassar saw 19 players record at least one point with six finishing in double-figures. Senior captain Ashley Roberts led the way in points and assists with 33 and 14, respectively, while junior midfielder Maddy Kretten - an All-League Honorable Mention honoree - dished out a team-best 26 goals. Senior Jackie Molloy, sophomore Lauren Johns and rookie Bree MacMullen combined for 136 saves over 15 games in goal.
The Brewers returned to action in 2021 with another pandemic shortened season. Vassar posted a 2-4 mark overall in the limited season, paced by junior Calie Porette, who led the team in nearly every statistical category, including goals, assists, points, shots, shots on goal, game-winning goals and free position tallies. At season's end, Porette was named All-League First Team, senior Alessandra Fable was an All-League Second Team selection, while senior Skylar Herrera-Ross and rookie Lauren Johns were All-League Honorable Mention honorees.
During the 2020 campaign, which was shortened due to the global pandemic, the Brewers set a program-record for goals scored in a game. Vassar recorded 25 goals in a 25-11 win against Centre College on March 8.
Finerghty has brought in some of the Liberty League’s most talented players in recent memory as Dara Davis (’15) was named the conference’s Co-Player of the Year in 2014. Jackie Palma (’15) also made history under Finerghty’s direction, becoming Vassar’s first-ever Defensive Player of the Year honoree in 2015, while Caeli Porette ('23) was Vassar's third Rookie of the Year in 2019. Vassar has also produced nine IWLCA All-Empire Region selections since the 2009 season.
The Brewers have recorded double-digit wins in six seasons during Finerghty’s tenure. She was at the helm in 2005 and 2007 when the Brewers captured the Seven Sisters Championship and saw the team claim the ECAC Upstate Championship in 2007 as well.
Finerghty’s teams have also been among the nation’s elite in the classroom, as Vassar has produced 58 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selections since 2011. The Brewers ranked in the top three in team GPA nationwide in four consecutive seasons from 2009-12, including two years as the nation’s leader in grade point average in 2009 and 2011.
Prior to her joining the Vassar staff, Finerghty served as the assistant lacrosse coach at William Smith College and helped the team to a 1988 appearance in the NCAA Division III finals. After a two-year stint as an assistant lacrosse coach at Bates in Maine, Finerghty was named head coach for SUNY Albany's newly created lacrosse team. The Greyhounds finished 14-8 in her two seasons there. Finerghty was also the head field hockey coach at Vassar from 1993-2001 and 2003-2008.
As a player at Guilford (Md.) College, Finerghty was named team MVP in 1987 and received the Richard Joyce Sportsmanship Award that year. In 1986, she was a Quaker Club Scholarship Award recipient.
