Alma Mater: Utica, ‘05
Career Record: 160-119-9, 11 seasons
Record at SUNY Morrisville: 81-66-9, five seasons
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- SUNY Morrisville (2014 – present)
- SUNY Canton (2012-14) – 17-28-4, two seasons
- Colgate University (2011-12)
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
- Adrian College (2008-11 – 52-25-6, three seasons
- Utica College (2005-08)
YEAR-BY-YEAR at SUNY MORRISVILLE
- 2021-22 - 6-16-1, 4-13-1 NEWHL
- 2020-21 - season canceled due to COVID pandemic
- 2019-20 – 12-13-0, 9-8-1 NEWHL
- 2018-19 – 16-9-2, 6-4-2 CHC
- 2017-18 – 17-8-3, 10-0-2 CHC
- CHC Champions
- NCAA Division III Quarterfinals
- Goaltender of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- 2016-17 – 20-6-1 overall, 8-4 CHC
- CHC Champions
- Rookie of the Year
- 2015-16 – 10-14-3 overall, 9-3-2 CHC
- CHC Semifinals
- Coach of the Year
ROAD TO MORRISVILLE:
Melissa Lomanto joined the SUNY Morrisville athletics department staff as the inaugural coach of the women’s ice hockey program in 2014, and in its first season of competition as a varsity program in 2015-16, directed the Mustangs to a 10-14-3 overall record on the ice and 9-3-2 Colonial Hockey Conference (CHC) stint.
That same season Lomanto's program earned a spot in the CHC Championship Tournament, winning the quarter-final round before concluding the season in the semifinals. Lomanto was also selected by her peers as the 2015-16 CHC Coach of the Year, as five earned All-Conference honors.
Across five seasons on the bench for the Mustangs, Lomanto has guided Morrisville to post-season appearances in each year, including two Colonial Hockey Conference Championship Titles (2017, 2018), where the Mustangs also earned the college’s first berth to the NCAA Division III Championship Tourney Quarterfinals in 2017-18.
Several have earned accolades for on-ice performances, as well as have received honors for their commitment to excellence in the classroom through the conference and ACHA affiliations.
In the 2019-20 season, the Mustangs moved to the Northeast Women’s Hockey League (NEWHL), competing against other SUNY schools, and come season end, battled their way to a semifinal appearance in the championship tournament.
Lomanto came to Morrisville with a wealth of playing and coaching experience, having previously held two head coaching positions with young programs. She began her coaching career in 2005 as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Utica College, after a stellar four-year career with the Pioneers.
During her three seasons on the bench with Utica, the team had three consecutive 18 win seasons, and advanced to the ECAC West Conference tournament each season. The program, at the time, also produced a school record three All-Americans.
In 2008 Lomanto was named the head coach at Adrian College, where she guided the Bulldogs to a 52-25-6 overall record over the next three seasons, earning a top ten national ranking in each season. Throughout her time with Adrian, Lomanto guided the Bulldogs to the 2011 NCHA Conference Championship, while becoming the first women’s program in Adrian history to make an appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
Lomanto spent a season as a volunteer coach with the Colgate University’s women’s program before joining the SUNY Canton staff as head coach. Over the course of two seasons, she guided the new program to an overall record of 17-28-4, posting a 9-14-2 record in the first year of NCAA Division III competition, with a program first win over a Division I program.
Lomanto has had several players earn all-Conference, All-Rookie and All-Academic accolades.
Aside from the pursuit of excellence on the ice and in the classroom, Lomanto’s teams were actively involved in the community. In 2012-13, her program was recognized with the SUNY Canton “Make a Difference” Award, and ACHA Community Service Award. In 2014, they earned the SUNY Canton Humanitarian Award.
Lomanto played in 102 consecutive games for Utica College across four seasons, where she earned ECAC West All-Rookie Team accolades and ECAC West All-Conference Team recognition for three consecutive seasons; along with Most Valuable Player, Coaches, Blue Collar and M. Lomanto Ironman awards. In 2006 she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in health studies, and is pursuing her Masters of Science degree in educational leadership at St. Lawrence University.
Active in the camp and clinic circuit in Central New York, Lomanto continues to serve as a coach and evaluator with USA Hockey since 2003 and has been an on-ice instructor with the Blueline Hockey Camps since 2005.
