Lebanon Valley College Athletics

Career Highlights • 45 wins as LVC's Head Coach • Three All-Metro Region honors at LVC • One MAC Freedom Goalie of the Year at LVC (Gigi Ditsky) • One MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year at LVC (Chloe Moser) • 20 All-Conference selections at LVC • Three postseason appearances at LVC • Two MAC Freedom Championship finals at LVC • Landmark Coaching Staff of the Year honors at Scranton  • Four Academic All-District honorees at LVC • Three IWLCA Academic Honor Squad selections at LVC

Rachel Perla has been the Head Coach of Lebanon Valley College's women's lacrosse team since 2021. 

In her tenure at LVC, Perla holds a 45-42 overall record. She has led the program to three postseason appearances, including two Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship finals. She also guided the Dutchmen to their first victory over a nationally ranked opponent in program history, as the team defeated No. 22 Christopher Newport University 15-12 on March 12, 2022. In her five seasons at the helm, Lebanon Valley has received three Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Metro Region selections (Veronica Venezia ’21, M’24 twice, and Chloe Moser ’28) and 20 All-Conference honors. Additionally, Perla has coached one MAC Freedom Goalie of the Year (Gigi Ditsky ’26) and one MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year (Moser). 

Perla worked with Venezia for three seasons, and the attacker finished her career with program records of 411 points and 200 assists. She also coached goalkeeper Julia Abendschoen ’23 for three years, who graduated with program records of 484 career saves and 212 saves in a season (2022). Additionally, Emily Beard ’24 set a single-season program record of 75 goals (2025), and Moser set a single-season program record of 133 draw controls (2025) under Perla’s tutelage. Moser holds LVC’s single-game program record for draw controls as well, as she tallied 17 in the 23-1 victory over Delaware Valley University on April 12, 2025.  

Perla has also mentored the academic achievement of student-athletes in her five seasons at LVC, as four players have been named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Women’s At-Large Team and 66 have been listed on the MAC Academic Honor Roll. Seven players have been chosen to the Eastern Athletic Communications Association (EAST-COMM) Academic Honor Roll as well. Additionally, 29 student-athletes have been recognized on the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, while the Dutchmen have been named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad three times.   

Perla came to Lebanon Valley from the University of Scranton, where she served as the Assistant Coach at Scranton from July 2017 through the 2020 season. Perla and the other coaches of the Royals were recognized as the Landmark Conference’s 2018 Coaching Staff of the Year, after leading the team to the conference championship game. In 2019, she helped guide Scranton to being nationally ranked for the first time in team history, resulting from a program-best 16-3 record. 

Currently, Perla also serves as the Nike Lacrosse Camp Director in Lawrenceville, N.J. Her duties include creating teams, as well as camp agendas for all skill levels. Additionally, she provides a fun and positive learning experience for all campers and is responsible for hiring and paying a staff of workers and athletic trainers.
 
Perla earned her bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies in 2017 and played lacrosse at Division I St. Bonaventure (N.Y.). In her three-year career on the field for the Bonnies, Perla netted 53 goals and added 19 assists for 72 points as an attack/midfielder. Overall, she started 46 of the 50 games she played and served as team captain as a senior. In the classroom, Perla was named to St. Bonaventure's Dean's List from 2015 through 2017 and served as an Intern for the women's lacrosse program in the fall of 2015.
 
A native of Liverpool, N.Y., Perla was named a Brine All-American and helped her high school, Christian Brothers Academy, earn two New York State High School Lacrosse Championships in 2011 and 2013.

Perla lives with her husband, Mike, and their dogs, Betty and Beau. 
 

Perla File

	Overall				Conf.
Year	Won	Loss	Tie	Pct.	Won	Loss	Tie	Pct.	Accolades
2021	6	7	0	.462	4	4	0	.500	MACC Quarterfinal
2022	9	10	0	.474	4	4	0	.500
2023	5	12	0	.294	2	6	0	.250
2024	12	7	0	.632	6	1	0	.857	MACF Final
2025	13	6	0	.684	6	1	0	.857	MACF Final
5 Seasons	45	42	0	.517	22	16	0	.578