Elston steps down as coach

Meg Elston is stepping down as the coach of the Mercer Island High School girls lacrosse team and moving to Boston, Mass.

Elston told the news to her players following the final game of the season but did not make it official until June 1, during the girls lacrosse program’s awards banquet. She was not available for comment before the time of press.

“She definitely had a huge impact on why I started lacrosse, and she was a big inspiration,” said Islander Caroline Mahony, who led the Islanders in scoring this season.

Elston’s tenure as head coach was brief, just two seasons, but she made an impression, winning the league’s Coach of the Year award in her first season and then guiding her team to the state semifinals this year.

She finishes with a record of 23-6-1 as head coach.

Elston graduated from Mercer Island High School in 2001 and played offense for the Islanders along with soccer.

Elston returned to the Island in 2002 while attending and playing for the University of Washington and became the junior varsity coach under Sara Milo. In 2003, Elston was promoted to the position of varsity assistant head coach. The two coaches guided the Islanders to the state semifinals for the first time in the program’s history during the 2004 season.

“She really helped the girls and had a good understanding of the game,” said VanDerHorn. “She was such a good player and has been a great coach.”

VanDerHorn coached Elston while she was a sophomore at Mercer Island High School.

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