Lizzy Johnson recently completed her second season as an assistant coach in 2018 - one of the best seasons in program history.
She helped the Quakers to a 13-2-1 record and a share of the Ivy League crown - their first since 2010 - after going 5-1-1 in league play. In 16 games, Penn allowed just five goals - the fewest in program history - and secured 12 shutouts on the year, just one off the record. The ability to defend was crucial and much of the reason behind its success. At the conclusion of the regular season, Penn led the nation in both goals-against average and save percentage, while sitting tied for the best shutout percentage. The Red and Blue went over 1000 minutes without conceding a goal in the run of play and put together seven consecutive shutouts. The Quakers trailed just twice all season, and finished 7-1 away from Rhodes Field. The 13 wins are the second-highest total in program history and, consequently, the two losses were the second fewest in a season. Penn entered the season finale at 13-1-1 and 5-0-1, the best records to that point all-time. At one point, Penn went 12 consecutive games unbeaten, matching the longest streak in program history and won seven of those in a row. The Quakers scored 30 goals, tied for the ninth most in a season and scored six against Delaware State, tied for the sixth most in a game. When scoring first, Penn was 13-0 and only allowed an equalizer twice on the year. Most notably, the Quakers entered halftime at 0-0 nine times, but behind locker room adjustments, they went 8-0-1 in those games and went 6-2 in one-goal games. Penn opened its season 6-1 in non-conference action with the only blemish coming to then-No. 13 North Carolina State in a 1-0 battle. After the NC State game, Penn went on its 12-game unbeaten streak, and opened conference play with a scoreless draw with Harvard then ripped off seven wins, including a 2-0 win over Brown at Rhodes Field that clinched the Ivy title. Six Quakers were rewarded with All-Ivy nods, most notably Cami Nwokedi earning Defender of the Year. Joining her on the first team was Emily Sands and Kitty Qu; Allie Trzaska became the seventh player in program history to garner All-Ivy honors all four years when she was named to the second team; Sasha Stephens and Megan Lloyd were honorable mention picks. Of those six, three of them will return in 2019 and eight of the 11 starters will also be back.
Johnson came to University City after spending the last six years coaching youth soccer in Northern California. She most recently served as the San Bruno Lowen Soccer Club U16 Girls head coach in San Bruno, leading the team to a second-place finish in the NorCal State Premier division in the fall of 2016 – earning the team a promotion to the NorCal State Championship division for spring 2017.
Prior to her time in San Bruno, Johnson was the Girls Director of Coaching for the San Mateo County Football Club – in addition to head coaching duties of the U17, U16 and U14 Girls National Premier League teams – during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. As head coach of all three SMC clubs, each team was promoted to the next level of the National Premier League after just one season and oversaw two of her players lead all NPL divisions in goals scored in the fall of 2015.
She got her start in coaching in Tallahassee, Fla. as the Tallahassee United Football Club ‘94/’95 Girls head coach, as well as working with Warner Soccer as a player development coach from 2007-10. While in the Sunshine State, she served as a coach with Florida ODP where she scouted, evaluated and selected players for Florida state ODP teams. Johnson was also the assistant coach at the 2009 Region III Camp.
Johnson brought a wealth of collegiate soccer knowledge to Penn, having been a four-year letter winner at Vanderbilt University. Following her sophomore season for the Commodores, Johnson changed positions from midfield to forward and produced on the front line immediately – scoring in each of her first three starts. Johnson made 14 starts and played in 32 of 33 games over her final two season in Music City. She was twice named to the SEC Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (2000, 2001).
Johnson earned a Bachelor’s of Engineering with a minor in mathematics from Vanderbilt in 2003. She earned her United States Soccer Federation (USSF) ‘A’ License in 2014, as well a NSCAA Regional Goalkeeping Diploma.
