Search

Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University Athletics
 501 E. 38th St. Erie, PA 16546
Division 2 Pennsylvania Northeast
Private Small Competitive team
I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Rich Wall

Rich Wall became the head coach of the Mercyhurst women's soccer team in December, 2022.


Wall brings a wealth of experience and success to Erie, having previously coached at the Division I and Division II level, as well as the semi-pro level. Most recently, Wall was the associate head coach at Coastal Carolina.


Prior to Coastal Carolina, Wall spent two seasons at Cincinnati, coaching a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Year and seven all-conference performers, while leading the Bearcats to the 2020 American Athletic Conference Championship game.


He was a former collegiate head coach at Lees-McRae College in North Carolina and an assistant coach at Ball State before joining the Bearcats staff in 2019. Wall compiled a record of 35-33-5 with the Bobcats and led them to a pair of 11-win seasons while climbing as high as No. 12 in the national rankings. During his four seasons at the helm, he coached two Conference Carolinas Player of the Year Award winners, the 2017 Conference Carolinas Freshmen of the Year, and the 2015 Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year.


Wall also spent time as a coach in the USL League Two as an assistant with the Tri-Cities Otters and was the head coach of West Virginia United. He helped West Virginia reach the second round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup during one of his two seasons with the team. Wall has also been a youth soccer head coach with the Ohio Elite ECNL Girls and the North Carolina Olympic Development Program.


Wall played collegiately at Gardner-Webb University and Wingate University in North Carolina and saw action in 70 matches. He graduated from Gardner-Webb with a bachelor's degree in sport management. Additionally, Wall has earned the United States Soccer Federation A-Senior License, and the United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma. In 2018, he was named to the United Soccer Coaches 30-Under-30 Program.

show more
Email coach

Lizzie Philibin

Philibin was hired in February 2023 as the assistant coach. She arrives to Erie from Kent State University where she spent one season as the Director of Operations for the women's soccer program.


Philibin received her Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Business Administration from Ball State University in December 2021. While at Ball State, Lizzie was a three-year member of the women's soccer program and was twice named to the Academic All-MAC Team. On the field, she appeared in 34 matches for the Cardinals, including all 10 matches during the shortened 2020-2021 season in which the Cardinals won the MAC West title and played in the MAC Championship game. In 2019 she played in 19 of the 20 matches for a team that would tie the program record for wins in a single season (15). That season she would score two goals. The first of her career came in a 3-2 road victory against Buffalo, and the second goal was the game-winning goal in another 3-2 thriller against Kent State.


Prior to joining Ball State in January 2019, she was a 2two-year member of the women's soccer program at the University of Michigan.


Philibin is a native of Youngstown, Ohio and played youth soccer for the Internationals ECNL Girls program in Medina, Ohio.

show more
Email coach

Gustavo Gutierrez

Gustavo “Gus” Gutierrez joins the women’s soccer coaching staff ahead of the 2023 season. As the graduate assistant, he will work closely with the rest of the coaching staff to gain experience in many areas. Additionally, he will serve as the goalkeeper coach.


Prior to his arrival, he spent one year as a goalkeeper coach with Kings Hammer FC. Gutierrez recently graduated from Mount Saint Joseph University in Cincinnati, Oh. During his four year playing career with the Lions, he made 50 appearances and recorded 217 saves while a single-season career high of 72 saves in 2022.


“Gus came highly recommended from the Director of Goalkeeping for Kings Hammer FC, Lou Liberatore, for his knowledge of the goalkeeper position, and his attention to detail as a young coach that wants to get better," Said Head Coach Rich Wall. "These traits aligned with what we sought for the position, and will provide a greater training and development experience for our goalkeepers moving forward.”

show more

College Bound Athletes

Showcase Tips

Are you ready for your next college showcase?
The site worked great for the tournaments I used it for. I had many coaches respond to my contacting them. The site helped me develop confidence in getting through the recruiting process.
- Katia SandovalWhat are others saying?