Meet the Coaches

Coach Andy Steier returns as Varsity Head Coach and oversees both the Varsity and JV programs. This is his third year coaching at Valencia. Coach Andy fell in love with lacrosse after his daughter began playing and enjoying the sport. He previously coached Varsity volleyball for Westlake HS as well as baseball and soccer in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Outside of lacrosse, Coach Andy is an IT manager for an aerospace company in the San Fernando Valley. He and his wife have lived in the Santa Clarita Valley for almost 20 years. They have a son attending Arizona State University and their daughter, Lainey, plays Lacrosse as a college commit at the Milwaukee School of Engineering University, a NCAA Division III school.

Coach Andy likes to teach the girls how to play multiple positions so they understand the game from different perspectives and to challenge them to learn outside of their comfort level. He loves to see new players who have never picked up a stick excel at the game.

To contact Coach Andy, please email him at asteier@hartdistrict.org.

Coach Kat Lin is an Assistant Coach for Varsity.

Coach Carissa Montes is the JV Head Coach. Throughout her childhood and into her early high school years, she participated in various sports, with soccer and basketball being her favorites. She played soccer with AYSO for four years and basketball for eight years. During her freshman year of high school, she played basketball and earned the Defensive Player of the Year award. Following that, she played lacrosse for three years in all positions, showcasing her versatility and broad range of lacrosse skills and knowledge. In her sophomore and senior years, she was awarded Most Improved Player. In her senior year, she also earned the Scholar-Athlete Award and was selected for the CIF Foothill League All-League Team. This marks her third year as the head JV coach for Valencia High School. Outside of coaching, Coach Carissa is a full-time student at College of the Canyons, where she is studying nursing. As a coach, she strives to be seen as a mentor and someone the players can rely on. Her goal is to provide them with the best possible experience as athletes and foster an environment that promotes success. Coach Carissa is committed to helping these young ladies not only grow as a team but also develop into strong, confident young women.

Coach Ella Onesti is an Assistant Coach for the JV team. She is a graduate of Valencia High School where she played lacrosse all four years and was the Foothill League Girls All-Team Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. This is her second year coaching at Valencia.

Outside of coaching, Coach Ella is currently studying at College of the Canyons.

With a wealth of experience, both as a player and a coach, Coach Ella wants to empower these athletes to master the art of defensive play. She emphasizes teamwork, communication, sportsmanship and confidence, creating a strong foundation for success in both sports and life.

Coach Catalina Ortiz is Goalie Coach for both JV and Varsity.

Coach Andy Ruiz is an Assistant Coach for both the JV and Varsity teams. He leads the conditioning of the team and assists in coaching the goalies. Coach Andy is a graduate of Valencia High School where he played football for three years and learned various lifting and conditioning techniques. This is his second year coaching at Valencia.

Outside of coaching, Coach Andy is a full-time student at the College of the Canyons. He is studying to become a firefighter paramedic and has experience with providing care to civilians with various medical conditions.

Coach Andy likes to teach athletes the fundamentals of conditioning and how to push their boundaries to exceed their level of playing. He loves to see the players push themselves to become better players and also develop as leaders of the team.

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