Coach Shonly Wallace
Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach, University at Albany
Two-time Team Canada silver medalist. 117 collegiate goals. First female scout in NLL history. Trailblazer.
Born to Play
Shonly Wallace grew up in Mission, British Columbia, and lacrosse was in her DNA from the start. She was born in Richmond, B.C., and her family moved to Mission when she was twelve. Her father and other local families started the first girls’ box lacrosse team in their town—and Shonly was one of the first players on the roster.
Growing up playing box lacrosse in Canada gave Shonly the foundation that would define her career: quick hands, fearless play in tight spaces, a scorer’s mentality, and the toughness that the indoor game demands. She graduated from Mission Secondary School and was already turning heads nationally.
In 2018, she was named an Under Armour All-American—one of the top high school players in North America. She was the first lacrosse player from Mission to commit to an NCAA program, and the first Canadian woman to join the Stony Brook University lacrosse program. From a small town in B.C. to the American college stage—Shonly was just getting started.
117 Goals Across Three Programs
Shonly’s college career spanned three Division I programs, and she left her mark at every stop.
Stony Brook University (2019) — Shonly began her career with the Seawolves and was part of the team that captured the 2019 America East Championship.
University of Oregon (2020–22) — She transferred to Oregon and played three seasons for the Ducks in the Pac-12. In 2022, she led Oregon in scoring with 40 goals and earned Pac-12 All-Tournament honors. Over 36 games at Oregon, she scored 65 goals with 16 assists.
University at Albany (2023) — Shonly finished her playing career as a Great Dane, and it was the best season of her college career. She started 18 of 20 games and led UAlbany with 51 goals and 56 points, earning America East All-Conference First Team honors. She helped guide UAlbany to the America East Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance—including an upset of No. 12 Virginia in the first round.
Across her college career, Shonly scored 117 goals in 60 games. She was a scorer everywhere she went—and she did it at three different programs in three different conferences, proving she could adapt, lead, and produce no matter the system or the competition.
Representing Canada on the World Stage
Shonly has represented Team Canada in international competition multiple times—and she’s come home with silver medals twice.
In 2019, she was a key member of Canada’s U19 Women’s Field Lacrosse team at the World Championship in Peterborough, Ontario. She finished second on the team with 13 goals and third with 4 assists as Canada reached the gold medal game, earning a silver medal.
In 2024, she competed for Team Canada at the inaugural Women’s World Box Lacrosse Championship in Utica, New York—a historic event that put women’s box lacrosse on the international stage for the first time. Canada reached the gold medal final and earned a silver medal, falling to the United States 10–7. It was the program’s first-ever medal in Women’s Box World Championship history.
Shonly has also represented Canada at the World Lacrosse Super Sixes events in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025, and currently serves as an assistant coach for the Lacrosse Canada West U17 National Development Team—developing the next generation of Canadian talent.
Breaking Barriers
In October 2024, the Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League hired Shonly as a college scout—making her the first female scout in the history of the NLL. A few months later, she made history again when she filled in as video coordinator during a FireWolves game against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, becoming the first woman to coach behind the bench in an NLL game.
She continues in that scouting role with the franchise, now relocated as the Oshawa FireWolves. For Shonly, it’s about more than personal achievement—it’s about opening doors.
“I think females are capable of doing this just as well,” she’s said. “That’s what I’m excited to show.”
Coaching the Next Generation
After her playing career, Shonly moved immediately into coaching. She served as a coaching assistant at UAlbany in 2024, working on offensive development, goaltender support, and video operations while completing her graduate degree. She then joined Dartmouth College as an assistant coach for the 2025 season—her first Ivy League coaching experience. She also spent time as an assistant at Central Michigan.
In January 2026, Shonly came home to UAlbany, hired as a full-time assistant coach for the women’s lacrosse program under head coach Katie Thomson. She’s now coaching at the same D1 program where she put up 51 goals as a player—and she’s helping build the next generation of Great Danes.
“The University at Albany has always been a special place for me,” Shonly said when she was hired. “What a privilege it is to join this staff whose goal is always to continue to raise the level of our program.”
Why Rogue
Shonly Wallace is the kind of role model that changes how a young girl sees herself in the sport. She’s a two-time international silver medalist who represented her country. She’s an All-American who scored 117 college goals. She’s the first woman to scout for an NLL team and the first to coach behind an NLL bench. And she’s right here in the Capital District, coaching at UAlbany and training players at Rogue.
For the girls in Rogue’s programs, Shonly brings something that can’t be taught from a playbook: proof that a girl who grew up playing box lacrosse in a small town in British Columbia can compete on the world stage, play Division I, earn All-Conference honors, and build a coaching career that’s making history. She’s living proof that there’s no ceiling.
Shonly’s offensive expertise is her calling card. She scored 51 goals in a single season at UAlbany and led Oregon in scoring. When she coaches at Rogue, she’s teaching the shooting mechanics, off-ball movement, and scoring instincts that produced those numbers at the Division I level. She also brings her Canadian box lacrosse background—the quick-stick skills and tight-space creativity that set her apart as a player and that she now passes on to the next generation.
For every girl in the Capital District who dreams of playing college lacrosse, representing her country, or simply getting better at the sport she loves—Shonly is the coach who shows her it’s possible.
Career at a Glance
Current Role: Assistant Women’s Lacrosse Coach, University at Albany (2026–present)
Coaching: UAlbany Assistant Coach (2026–present), Dartmouth College Assistant (2025), Central Michigan Assistant, UAlbany Coaching Assistant (2024). Lacrosse Canada West U17 National Development Team Assistant Coach. Oshawa FireWolves (NLL) College Scout (2024–present)—first female scout in NLL history.
Playing — College: UAlbany (2023): 51 goals, 56 points, America East First Team. Led team in scoring. America East Champion. NCAA Tournament (upset of #12 Virginia). Oregon (2020–22): 65 goals, 16 assists in 36 games. Led Ducks in scoring 2022 (40 goals). Pac-12 All-Tournament. Stony Brook (2019): 2019 America East Champion.
International: Team Canada — 2x silver medalist. 2019 U19 World Championship (silver, 13 goals). 2024 Women’s World Box Lacrosse Championship (silver). World Lacrosse Super Sixes: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025.
Firsts: First female scout in NLL history (Albany FireWolves, 2024). First woman to coach behind the bench in an NLL game (2025). First Canadian woman to play at Stony Brook. First Mission, B.C. lacrosse player to commit to an NCAA program.
Education: Graduate degree, University at Albany (2024). Undergraduate degree, University of Oregon (2022).
Hometown: Mission, British Columbia, Canada