The Highlands Lacrosse Association is excited to announce the hiring of Maria Grant by Northern Highlands Regional High School as the next Head Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach. Coach Grant brings extensive background in girls lacrosse as a celebrated player and experienced coach.
As a two-sport record-setter at Rutgers University, Maria Grant was a four-year varsity letter winner for both field hockey (1981-84) and women’s lacrosse (1982-86) and was the first women’s lacrosse player at Rutgers to be named to an All-American squad. Earning Brine/IWLCA First Team All-American honors in her senior year as a goalie in 1986, she led the nation with a .689 save percentage with a then-school record 255 saves across 16 games. Altogether, she amassed 750 career saves, breaking the Rutgers career record multiple times with 215 saves in 1984, 254 saves in 1985 and 255 in 1986, with a consistent career save percentage of 68.9% with each of her stops made with a field player crosse as goalies at the time were not permitted to play with today’s larger regulation goalie stick. Along with being recognized with three IWLCA All-Region selections, her defensive skills as the team captain in between the pipes were displayed at the prestigious Lacrosse National North-South All-Star Game in 1986 at Johns Hopkins University. Coach Grant was inducted into the Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame in 2024.
Since her playing days, Coach Grant has had a wealth of experience coaching at the youth, club, high school and collegiate levels. Coach Grant is currently the Director of Girl’s Lacrosse at nationally ranked Building Blocks Lacrosse North Division.
Coach Grant will be working closely with the Highlands Lacrosse Association to assist with player development and enthusiasm within our girls’ youth program. We welcome Coach Grant into our Highlands lacrosse community and are thrilled to have such an incredible and knowledgeable mentor to lead our Northern Highlands Girls Lacrosse Team.
Go Highlands!!!