From Maryland to Corona del Mar with Girls Lacrosse Coach Jessica Murray

Jessica Murray’s Background (1:40)
Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, Jessica played at Broadneck High School and went on to play collegiate lacrosse at the University of Virginia. After graduating, she entered the finance world as a trader but left the intense “no days off” lifestyle to travel Europe with friends.

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Upon returning, she moved to California and began coaching lacrosse at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla. There, she met her husband, a Navy officer. The two later moved overseas to Naples, Italy, where Jessica stepped away from coaching and became a teacher.

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After her husband left the Navy and enrolled at UNC’s business school, Jessica became a volunteer assistant with the UNC women’s lacrosse team for two years. The family later relocated to Washington, D.C., where she coached at powerhouse St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School.

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Eventually, a job opportunity brought her family back to California, and Jessica joined the Corona del Mar girls lacrosse coaching staff in 2012.

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Coaching Philosophy and Influences (10:40)
Jessica’s underdog mindset was shaped early on by her high school coach, who encouraged her to pursue lacrosse when she doubted herself.
At Virginia, coaches Julie Myers and Heather Dow instilled discipline and pushed her to rise to challenges.
While at UNC, she learned from Jenny Levy’s competitive yet fun approach.
Kathy Jenkins at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes modeled a no-excuses, work-hard culture that deeply impacted Jessica’s values as a coach.

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What Defines a Jessica Murray Team (15:30)
Respect is central—toward officials, teammates, opponents, and the game itself. Her teams play with class and don’t talk back.
Jessica’s players stay positive, have fun on the field, and look for silver linings even in defeat.

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Season Progress and Player Development (20:20)
Jessica calls her bench players “game changers” because of their ability to shift momentum.
Senior Helena Fratantaro brings speed, discipline, and team chemistry.
Freshman Bijou Luong (brother of boys player Auggy Luong) has strong hands and operates well around the crease.
Senior captain Meg Vanis leads by example with quiet authority and high expectations.
Senior attackers Rihanna Quinn and Ashley Solarczyk bring offensive experience, while senior Maile Lyle and junior Miley Perisi add crease work and top-field movement.
Defense is anchored by lone senior Anita Oranghi, and junior goalie Sofia Petek, who only began playing goalie in February 2023, is now starting.
Grace McCarthy returns to the lineup after starting as a sophomore last season, while Gabi Bales brings blazing speed to the defensive unit and has clearly put in the work to elevate her game.

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Notable CdM Lacrosse Alumni (28:00)
Several former players—Sara Machoskie, Sophia Newton, Aralyn Balcazar, Emily Turner, and Gabbi Garcia—have returned as coaches.
Frankie Garcia is a standout at San Diego State, one of the top scorers as a sophomore.
CdM also has a standout goalie alum at Emerson College.
Jessica maintains strong communication with college coaches to advocate for her players—not just for their talent, but as people.
She keeps in touch with Amanda Moore, head coach at Ohio State and a UNC alum, always seeking what’s best for her athletes.
Jessica values nurturing long-term relationships with players and fellow coaches nationwide.

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Jessica’s Family (35:00)
Jessica’s daughter Tatum is a senior at Pacifica Christian, committed to play soccer at Utah and also rides horses.
Her son Tucker is a sophomore at CdM.
Her youngest daughter is in 6th grade at Anderson Elementary.
Jessica’s husband, Alex, is a constant supporter of the family and makes many sacrifices for their success.

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