BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Former La Salle standout Renee Washington has joined the Lehigh women's soccer coaching staff as graduate assistant, as announced by head coach Eric Lambinus on Friday. Washington was a star forward for the Explorers, recording more than 100 career points. She helped in the recent surge to prominence for La Salle, which has made three straight NCAA Tournaments.
 
"I am very pleased to add Renee to our women's soccer staff at Lehigh," said Lambinus. "She brings instant credibility from all of her success at LaSalle. She helped elevate their program to an elite status over the past four years, winning two Atlantic 10 championships and playing in three straight NCAA tournaments. It is our hope she can bring that experience to help our student-athletes achieve the same level of success over the next few years."
 
Washington reunites with Lehigh assistant coach Amy Hough, who was previously an assistant for La Salle.
 
"It's exciting to be coaching and working at Lehigh, especially since I've played Lehigh every year for my four years as an undergraduate," said Washington. "I'm excited to work with Amy who was my coach freshman year at La Salle."
 
A star on and off the field, Washington was named a candidate for the prestigious Senior CLASS Award prior to last season. Her decorated career has included endless awards including NSCAA All-America, first team All-Atlantic 10 and All-Region recognition. She recorded 27 points as a freshman (12 goals, three assists) and sophomore (11 goals, five assists) while posting 23 points as a junior (eight goals, seven assists) and 24 as a senior (nine goals, six assists).
 
"To be able to come to such a beautiful school, I love everything about this campus," said Washington. "Lehigh has great academics so to be able to get my graduate degree at a prestigious institution like this, it was a great opportunity I definitely couldn't pass down."
 
Washington will join Lambinus and Hough on the coaching staff.
 
"I'm just hoping to bring a fresh outlook on things being that I'm just coming from playing myself, as recently as a few months ago," said Washington. "I hope to come in here, hopefully bridge the gap and be someone who the girls can talk to and look up to. I'm just another person the girls can really connect with on a professional level as a coach, as a friend, being there for them to help them out and bringing some insight from the levels I've played to help these girls out."
 
A young squad returns in 2014 as six of the team's top seven scorers were underclassmen, led by Danielle Salans who had a team-leading nine points behind four goals and an assist. The tandem of Ashley Blanks and Ani Nahapetian also return in goal after playing all but 90 minutes between the pipes. Together, the Mountain Hawks posted a strong 1.14 GAA and 83.2 save percentage last season.
 
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