Project Missouri Girls Lacrosse Launches in St. Louis; Lauren Ottensmeyer Named Girls Program Managing Director and MICDS Varsity Head Coach

 

St. Louis, MO – July 3, 2025 — Project Missouri Girls Lacrosse, a groundbreaking new initiative focused on expanding and elevating girls lacrosse across the state, proudly announces its official launch and the hiring of Lauren Ottensmeyer as the program’s inaugural Girls Program Managing Director.

Ottensmeyer, a St. Louis native and former collegiate standout, will also take on the role of Head Coach of the MICDS Varsity Girls Lacrosse Team. 

Prior to joining Project Missouri, Coach Ottensmeyer served as the Managing Director at Lou Fusz Lacrosse, where she played a key role in program expansion, athlete development, and building a strong competitive presence on the regional and national stage.

A graduate of Parkway West High School, Ottensmeyer was a multi-time All-Metro First Team selection and one of the top scorers in program history. She went on to play Division I lacrosse at the University of Cincinnati, where she tallied 200 career goals and earned accolades including USA Lacrosse 2024 D1 All-American, Preseason All Big 12 Team, Preseason USA Lacrosse 3rd Team All-American, All-Big 12 Team, and multiple All-Conference Academic First Team honors.

In her coaching career, she has led teams to competitive success, while also mentoring assistant coaches and overseeing curriculum development and strategic planning.

 

“Project Missouri Boys Lacrosse has advanced the game on the boys side in ways the girls side simply hasn’t experienced yet in this region,” said Ottensmeyer. “I’m excited to tap into their deep tradition of excellence, strong national reputation, and commitment to being a lacrosse-first program. I truly believe we can bring that same standard to the girls’ side—and beyond.”

 

“Lauren brings unmatched experience and a powerful vision for growing the game in Missouri,” said Andy Kay, Founder of Project Missouri. “Her ability to connect high-level training with values-driven leadership makes her the ideal person to lead this effort.”

 

Project Missouri Girls Lacrosse will launch programming in fall of 2025 with a focus on skill clinics, competitive teams. Tryouts and program details will be announced soon at www.projectmissourilacrosse.com.

 

About Project Missouri Girls Lacrosse:

Based in St. Louis, Project Missouri is an innovative lacrosse development initiative focused on growing the sport for girls across Missouri. With a commitment to high-level coaching, character development, and community connection, the program aims to build a statewide culture of excellence in girls lacrosse.