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New sport, new coach

June 24, 2011 3:00 PM

PIKEVILLE, KY

Pennsylvania native to be first Lacrosse coach at UPIKE

Amongst her career highlights, Erica Erb says, is a goal she once scored against the Lacrosse powerhouse from the University of North Carolina.

Hopefully, she’ll add many things to that during her tenure as the first Lacrosse sport in University of Pikeville history.

Erb was introduced at a press conference on Friday afternoon in the lobby of the Administration Building on the institution’s main campus as UPIKE announced women’s Lacrosse to be its 20th varsity sport.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to be at the University of Pikeville and to help introduce Lacrosse to Eastern Kentucky,” said Erb. “I love Lacrosse and what it can do for young people who play it.

“I believe the university has made a wise choice in starting Lacrosse and am thrilled to introduce this amazing sport to this area. I’m thankful to Governor Paul Patton and his staff for affording me this opportunity.”

A native of Boyertown, Penn., Erb realized her dream of playing Division I Lacrosse when she signed on at Old Dominion University. As a senior, Erb and her Monarch teammates were ranked as high as 17th in the country. From there, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in political science with a minor in geography in 2009.

“There are a lot of life lessons that can be learned from intercollegiate athletics,” said Gov. Paul E. Patton, president of UPIKE. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring Lacrosse to our campus and afford our female student-athletes another opportunity to participate in athletics.

“We feel very strongly about Coach Erb and what she will bring to our campus community. She is young, energetic and vibrant, the kind of person we want representing our university.”

After working an internship with the Walt Disney Company for the following year, Erb enrolled in a Leadership Skills/Studies session, which she will complete in July. Last year, she was an assistant coach at Alvernia University, an NCAA Div. III institution in Reading, Penn.

During her playing days at Old Dominion Erb scooped 37 groundballs and as a low defender compiled 6 draw controls. Erb was the leading defending her junior year with 16 caused turnovers and 29 overall. She registered the overall most minutes played in 2008 while scoring three goals.

Erb’s history will have her well in line with the NAIA’s Champions of Character initiative. During her time at ODU she participated in the Hampton Rhoads Youth Clinics and was a volunteer assistant in the preparation and planning of the clinics through various drill development, game preparations, and overall scheduling of the clinic.

Also, Old Dominion Women’s Lacrosse team was a two-time proud participant in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5K Run to raise money and awareness for cancer.

She is also a veteran youth official and referee of both girls’ and boys’ Lacrosse.

UPIKE will play its first season of Lacrosse in the Spring of 2013.

Vice President James Hurley, Erb, Patton and Athletic Director Robert Staggs.

--PC--