Cornell women's lacrosse assistant coach Ashley O'Brien has been named defensive coordinator for Ireland's women's national Sixes team as it prepares for Olympic qualifying.
The appointment gives O'Brien an international coaching role alongside her work with the Big Red, Cornell announced Tuesday.
Sixes is the version of lacrosse that will be played at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with six women's teams qualifying for the field.
Ireland's path begins with the European Sixes competition in Salou, Spain, scheduled for Nov. 2-18, followed by further qualifying stages in 2027 and 2028.
O'Brien joined Cornell in 2023 after a season as an assistant at Canisius and four seasons as head coach at Buffalo State.
Her Buffalo State teams won 25 games and reached consecutive SUNYAC tournaments.
A four-year starting goalkeeper at Buffalo State from 2008 through 2011, O'Brien earned first-team All-SUNYAC honors twice.
She joins a Cornell coaching connection to international lacrosse that includes former Big Red captains Ashleigh Smith Gloster with England and Cacki Helmer Lanquest with Ireland.
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