Women's Lacrosse

Joelle-Sara Prata was named women's lacrosse head coach at Tusculum University in September 2018.

Prata served as graduate assistant coach during the 2017-18 academic year for former head coach Jenna Handshoe, who stepped down to accept a similar position at NCAA Division I Presbyterian College.

Prata and her Pioneers overcame injuries and a depleted roster to finish the 2019 season with a 4-12 record and a 2-6 mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Junior Juliette Cusano was named second-team All-SAC after setting a single-season TU record with 61 goals, and senior Rachel Holmes was an honorable mention selection.

In 2018, Prata helped the Pioneers to finish in the top half of the SAC standings with a fourth-place finish and a berth to the SAC postseason.  TU led the conference in shots on goal percentage (.826) and finished second in shooting percentage (.465). The Pioneers also finished third in clears (253).

Prata helped mentor three All-South Atlantic Conference honorees in Madison Malone, Juliette Cusano and Rachel Holmes.

The New Bedford, Massachusetts native played her collegiate career at St. Andrews University where she served as team captain in her second of two seasons at the Laurinburg, North Carolina school.  She finished her playing career at NCAA Division II Lees-McRae College where she played in 32 games with the Bobcats in Banner Elk, North Carolina.  She totaled 64 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers and won 32 draw controls.  She was also named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll.

She graduated from Lees-McRae in 2017 with a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology where she was a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society.