Meet the Pure Coaches
Keagan Pontious
Current Coaching Status:
Keagan Pontious returns to the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her sixth summer. Pontious is in her third season at Hope College as the Head Coach. She lead the Dutch to the MIAA Conference Championship and finished the season with a 11-3 overall record.
Playing History:
In 2019, Pontious finished up playing DII lacrosse at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Her senior year, she was named a NCAA Division II Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse All-American and helped Seton Hill advance to the NCAA tournament for the first time. She finished her career leading the PSAC Conference in Draw Controls.
pontious23@gmail.com
Angelica Gero
Current Coaching Status:
Angelica Gero returns to the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her fourth summer. Coach Gero is in her fourth season at Aquinas College as the head coach of the Saints. She has lead the Saints to a winning record. Before coming to Grand Rapids, Gero was the head coach at DII Adams State University in Colorado and started the DII program at Felician University in NJ before that.
Playing History:
Her coaching career began in central NJ at Colts Neck High School, and she coached the high school team for United Lacrosse Club for 3 years before moving to Colorado. Coach Gero attended Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ. While at GCU Gero was a 4 year defensive starter for the women’s lacrosse team and 2 time first team all conference defender in the first 2 years that Georgian Court entered the CACC.
Carly Pieri
Current Coaching Status:
Carly Pieri returns to the Pure Advantage youth coaching staff for her fifth summer. Pieri graduated from Hope in 2021 majoring in Special Education and Elementary Education. She is currently a first grade teacher at Emmons Lake Elementary.
Playing History:
Pieri was a four-year midfield starter at Hope College. Her second year at Hope she re-wrote much of the college record books taking top honors with points, goals and assists per season. Pieri also earned all conference honors both her freshman and sophomore years at Hope in addition to be named to the Academic Honor Roll in 2018 and 2019.
Liv Ghent
Current Coaching Status:
Liv Ghent returns to the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her fifth summer. Ghent is a midfield starter at Trine University. She received MIAA All-Conference in 2021 leading her team to a fantastic season for the Thunder.
Playing History:
Prior to Trine University, Ghent was a two year starter at Tiffin University. Ghent is the graduate of Caledonia High School. While attending, she was awarded with All-Conference Honorable Mention and All-State First Team. Ghent also earned Academic All-Conference.
Courtney Pontious
Current Coaching Status:
Courtney Pontious returns to the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her third summer. Pontious is currently working at Pennell CPA as a Staff Accountant.
Playing History:
Pontious played four years as a starting midfielder at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. As a sophomore, junior and senior she was First team All-Region and First team All-SAA. Prior to Transylvania, Pontious played at Seton Hill University in 2018. As a freshman, she was a starting midfielder for all 16 games.
Kendall Schneider
Current Coaching Status:
Kendall Schneider returns to the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her third summer. Schneider is a junior at Niagara University a D1 in New York. She was also a member of the MAAC academic honor roll.
Playing History:
Prior to Niagara, she was a four year starter at Caledonia High School receiving All-American status her senior year.
Amber Kaludis
Current Coaching Status:
Amber Kaludis joins the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her second summer. Kaludis is currently a Staff Accountant at Pennell CPA.
Playing History:
Kaludis played at Davenport University for four years where she was a starting attacker. She won a NAIA national championship in 2016 and was captain in 2018. Following her collegiate career, she coached for two years at Davenport. Kaludis has experience coaching all ages. She previous coached with Mitten Select.
Brooklyn Neuman
Current Coaching Status:
Brooklyn Neuman is a senior midfielder at University of North Carolina. As a junior, she appeared in 16 games scoring a goal against Mercer. She dished out a pair of assists in the April 16 win over Virginia.
Playing History:
Neuman was also apart of the U19 U.S. Women’s National Team who won a gold medal at the 2019 World Lacrosse Women’s U19 World Championship.
Ally Mesman
Current Coaching Status:
Ally Mesman will be rejoining the Pure Coaching staff this summer. Mesman is the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Calvin University. She also currently works full time as a fitness trainer at Max Effort Fieldhouse in Caledonia.
Playing History:
Mesman was a four year attacker at Calvin University and graduated in 2020 before playing a 5th year due to COVID. At Calvin, she went to the NCAA National tournament twice and helped her team to several MIAA finals. After graduating, she became the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Calvin University and is looking forward to the 2022 season.
Carli Taylor
Current Coaching Status:
Carli Taylor is joining the Pure Advantage coaching staff for her first summer! Taylor is currently a senior defensive starter and captain for Aquinas College.
Playing History:
Taylor earned WHAC first team as well as NAIA second team All American. She also received WHAC All Academic honors (2021) and led Aquinas in draw controls and caused turnovers.
Maddie Yakes - Goalie Specialist
Current Coaching Status:
Maddie Yakes is entering her second summer with the Pure Advantage coaching staff. Yakes is a sophomore starting goal keeper at Hope College where she is studying Neuroscience.
Playing History:
Yakes recored a save percentage of 48.7% her freshmen season and received a MIAA Defensive Player of the week honor. Yakes is a Rockford High School alumni.