Rachel Perla

Rachel Perla enters her fourth season as the head coach of LVC's women's lacrosse team in 2024.

During the 2023 campaign, Perla guided Lebanon Valley to five victories. The team had several players that received individual recognition, as Sydney Zimmerman and Veronica Venezia were both named MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Week during the season. Veronica Venezia made history in the last game of the season, setting the program record for career points with 411. The program also received three selections to the All-MAC Commonwealth Team, as Zimmerman and Erin Zieber were named to the Second Team and Julia Abendschoen was listed as an Honorable Mention. The program was also represented in the selections for the IWLCA Senior All-Star Game, as Venezia was chosen to play in the contest.

In the 2022 season, Perla led LVC to the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal match. A highlight of the campaign came on March 12, as Lebanon Valley picked up its first program victory over a nationally-ranked opponent by defeating No. 22 Christopher Newport University 15-12. During the season, Julia Abendschoen was tabbed MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Week three times, and Veronica Venezia notched one MAC Commonwealth offensive Player of the Week. The team notched three All-MAC Commonwealth team selections, and Veronica Venezia landed a IWLCA Division III All-Region Second Team slot. Brittany Hathaway then capped off the season with earning a spot in the IWLCA Division III All-Star game.

In her first season at the helm in a COVID-19-shortened season, Perla guided the Flying Dutchmen to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Tournament.

Perla, came to LVC from the University of Scranton, and inherited a Dutchmen program that captured its first-ever MAC Commonwealth Championship in 2019 and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Perla served as the assistant at Scranton from July 2017 through the 2020 season, helping the Royals to two victories in 2020 prior to the season being cut short. Scranton earned dominating victories over Farmingdale State and Misericordia. The Royals drastically increased their strength of schedule for the 2020 season and were ranked No. 20 in the IWLCA Preseason Coaches' Poll. As an assistant coach in 2019, Perla 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. She's responsible for 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 of Science 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 (72 total 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.