Story Courtesy of Wellesley Athletics
Northborough, Mass. - October 8, 2026 – The IWLCA is proud to announce that Xeni Barakos-Yoder, Head Coach at East Stroudsburg University, and Corinne Desrosiers, Head Coach at Wellesley College, have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the Kristina Quigley Memorial Scholarship.
This award honors former Seton Hill Head Coach Kristina Quigley, who tragically passed away in 2013 in a bus accident while traveling with her team. The scholarship celebrates her lasting impact on the women's lacrosse community and her commitment to balancing coaching excellence with family and personal connection.
For 20 years, Desrosiers has found a way to balance her deep passion for coaching with her love for her family. After achieving her goal of becoming a Division I head coach, Desrosiers ultimately chose to step away from the Division I level to create more balance for her family and return home to New England, where her children could spend more time with extended family. Now at Wellesley, she is excited to build a program and welcome her first large recruiting class while continuing to share the lessons and advice she has gained from the coaches who helped her navigate the challenges of building a career and raising a family.
"Receiving the Kristina Quigley Scholarship is a true honor that resonates deeply with me, as I was also fortunate enough to coach at Kristina's alma mater and was able to hear about her person through those that knew and worked with her," stated Desrosiers when notified about her selection.
With this scholarship, Desrosiers now has an opportunity to bring her husband and five children to Convention—something that would otherwise be difficult for her family to experience together. With a newborn arriving shortly after Convention, bringing her family would allow Desrosiers to continue nursing while remaining connected to her children during a time when she is still on a partial maternity leave. "Being able to bring my husband and children with me to convention is an invaluable gift. Balancing the demands of collegiate coaching with a family of seven is a beautiful challenge, and this generous award from the IWLCA directly honors Kristina's legacy of family and passion for the game," added Desrosiers.
The Kristina Quigley Scholarship was created to honor Quigley's passion, commitment, and values. The award supports travel for the recipient's family to attend the annual IWLCA Convention, acknowledging the sacrifices coaches and their families make throughout the season. The opportunity to bring family to this professional gathering reflects the very spirit of Kristina Quigley.
The recipients will be presented with scholarships during the Awards Luncheon on November 18, during the 2026 IWLCA Convention, located at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Petersburg, Florida. Desrosiers will be accompanied by her husband Tim, her three sons Ethan, Maverick and Callan, and her daughter Ella.
About the NEWMAC
The NEWMAC is an association of 13 selective academic institutions: Babson College, Clark University, U.S Coast Guard Academy, Emerson College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mount Holyoke College, Saint Anselm College (beginning reclassification process with NCAA in 2027-28), Salve Regina University, Smith College, Springfield College, Wellesley College, Wheaton College, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute, that are committed to providing high quality competitive athletic opportunities for student-athletes within an educational and respectful environment that embodies the NCAA Division III Philosophy. The conference also partners with seven Associate Members: New York University (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), Norwich University (Football), Simmons College (Rowing), SUNY Maritime College (Football), SUNY New Paltz (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Football), and Vassar College (Men's Volleyball, 2026-2027), while sponsoring 21 sports.