Katie Thomson returned to the Capital Region and the University at Albany in June 2018 when she was named head coach of the Great Danes women’s lacrosse program. Entering her eighth season in 2026, Thomson has guided UAlbany back to national prominence, capturing multiple America East Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 2025, Thomson led the Great Danes to a 9-10 overall record and a 4-2 mark in America East play, earning them a 3-Seed in the conference tournament and securing the program’s sixth America East title. UAlbany battled through one of the nation’s toughest non-conference schedules, facing nationally ranked opponents including Syracuse, Harvard, Stony Brook, UConn, Boston College, and Clemson. The Great Danes would go on and avenge its regular season loss to UMass Lowell, defeating the No. 2 Seed Riverhawks, 18-10, in the America East semifinals and again avenging a regular season loss to Bryant, the No. 1 Seed of the tournament, 14-10, in the championship game. UAlbany carried that momentum into the NCAA Tournament against No. 5 Yale, leading the Bulldogs the entire game, taking a 7-6 lead into the fourth quarter, before falling 12-9, in the first round. Individually, Gracie McCauley earned Axia Time Inside Lacrosse National Division I Player of the Week honors, for her record setting eight goal performance in the America Each championship game. For All-Conference honor, the Great Danes recorded 11 selections with Paisley Cook and Mackenzie Salentre earning First Team All-Conference.
In 2024, UAlbany finished 8-10 overall and 5-1 in conference play, earning a share of the program’s fifth America East Regular-Season title and the top seed in the conference tournament. The Great Danes opened league play with a 15-13 win over eventual conference champion Binghamton and advanced to their 13th-straight America East title game after a 12-11 semifinal win over UMass Lowell. UAlbany held an early 5-0 lead in the championship game before narrowly falling to Binghamton, 12-11. Individually, Katie Pascale repeated as America East Midfielder of the Year and became the first player in program history to reach 300 career points. She ranked among the nation’s leaders in points and assists per game prior to injury and earned recognition on the 2024 Tewaaraton Award Watch List, Inside Lacrosse Midseason All-America Honorable Mention, and as a SUNY Scholar-Athlete. Grace Cincebox was named America East Goalkeeper of the Year, Mackenzie Salentre earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Haley Phalines ranked among the conference leaders in draw controls. In total, the Great Danes earned 14 America East All-Conference and major award honors.
The 2023 season was one of the best in program history as the Great Danes finished 13-7, captured both the America East Regular-Season and Tournament titles, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. UAlbany went a perfect 6-0 in conference play and defeated Binghamton, 14-13, in the title game to claim the program’s third-ever tournament championship and first since 2012. Katie Pascale was named America East Midfielder of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player after setting program and conference tournament records, including 12 points in the semifinal against New Hampshire and a single-season record of 139 draw controls. Sarah Falk set the program’s single-season goals record with 72. In the NCAA Tournament First Round, UAlbany erased a 10-3 deficit to upset No. 12 Virginia, 16-14, before falling to No. 5 Denver, 8-6, in the second round. Nationally, the Great Danes led Division I in free-position percentage and ranked among the top 10 in shot percentage and draw controls per game.
In 2022, the Great Danes clinched hosting duties for the America East Tournament for the first time since 2011. Katie Pascale, Sarah Falk, and Aislinn Sweeney each moved into the program’s top 10 in multiple career and single-season categories, while all three surpassed major career statistical milestones. During the season, Thomson’s jersey was retired by Syracuse University, making her one of the first four women honored by the department.
In 2021, Thomson was named America East Coach of the Year after leading UAlbany to an 11-7 overall record and a 7-2 conference mark in the program’s first full season following the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Seven of the Great Danes’ 18 games came against ranked opponents, including three against conference rival Stony Brook. Katie Pascale was named America East Rookie of the Year, marking the third-straight season a Great Dane earned the honor, while Clancy Rheude was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year. UAlbany made its 10th-straight appearance in the America East championship game, and three players reached 100 career goals.
The 2020 season was cut short after just five games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UAlbany had opened the year 3-2 and was picked second in the preseason conference poll. Senior Sam Tortora recorded her 100th career assist in what became the team’s final game of the season.
In Thomson’s first season in 2019, the Great Danes finished 11-7 overall and reached their ninth-straight America East title game. UAlbany earned eight America East All-Conference First Team selections, including Offensive Player of the Year Madison Conway, while Sam Tortora set the program’s career assists record.
A native of Delmar, Thomson previously served as an assistant coach at UAlbany from 2011-12 before becoming head coach at Wagner College from 2016-18. At Wagner, she compiled a 31-27 record and led the Seahawks to two Northeast Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, including a preliminary-round NCAA Tournament victory in 2018.
A three-time First-Team All-American at Syracuse University, Thomson (formerly Katie Rowan) is one of the most decorated players in women’s lacrosse history. Syracuse’s all-time leader in points and assists, she totaled 396 career points on 232 goals and 164 assists, becoming the school’s first three-time First-Team All-American. She led the nation in scoring in 2008 and was a finalist for both the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Honda Award. A four-time All-BIG EAST First Team selection and two-time BIG EAST Attack Player of the Year, she set then-school single-season records for points (142) and assists (69) while leading Syracuse to its first national semifinal appearance.
Following graduation, Thomson spent a season as a volunteer assistant at Syracuse before joining UAlbany’s staff in 2011, helping the Great Danes win back-to-back America East championships and make NCAA Tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012. She returned to Syracuse as an assistant in 2013, helping coach standout attackers Alyssa Murray, Kayla Treanor, and Halle Majorana. Thomson has also won two Federation of International Lacrosse World Cup gold medals with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2009 and 2013.
