Lydia Watkins enters her fifth season as an assistant coach for the Messiah Women’s Soccer team in 2026.
Watkins has helped the Falcons to an 81-12-8 overall record in her four seasons as an assistant coach. The Falcons have reached the Final Four twice, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen once in her four years.
Watkins has helped coach one National Player of the Year, five All-Americans, and 17 All-Region honors. She has also coached five Conference players of the year, two Rookies of the Year, and 38 All-Conference players.
In her career at Messiah, Watkins started 65 of 76 games appeared in goal for the Falcons. Watkins has played the fifth most minutes in goal in program history (5870:52), while finishing with the tied for second most solo shutouts (35), fifth best goals against average (0.31), sixth most saves (126), and the seventh best save percentage (0.863).
Watkins also earned second team All-American honors in 2019, while helping the Falcons win their sixth National Championship in program history. She earned All-Region honors in 2017 and 2021, as well as All-Conference honors in three seasons. Watkins also earned MAC Rookie of the Year honors in 2017.