Former Cal State Fullerton standout midfielder Lauryn Pehanich returns to the sidelines for her fifth season as an assistant coach with the Titans on Head Coach Demian Brown’s staff.

Pehanich, nee Welch, was a four-year starter for the Titans from 2003-06, and is currently in the fourth year of her second stint on the sidelines at Titan Stadium. She served as an assistant coach on the sidelines for Fullerton’s 2007 campaign and returned to her alma mater prior to the 2009 season after spending time playing in Germany in the 2nd Bundesliga for FC Guetersloh 2000 in 2008.

A three-time All-Big West selection, Welch started all 73 matches in her career until a knee injury cut short her senior season in 2006 after 11 matches. She finished her career ranked seventh on the school’s points list (46) and was tied for sixth with 17 goals. Her 12 career assists rank tied for ninth all-time while her six game-winning goals are tied for third in the history of the program.

Welch experienced her best season offensively as a junior in 2005, helping the Titans to the third round of the NCAA Tournament and leading the team in scoring with nine goals and four assists. After earning All-Big West First-Team honors that season, Welch became the first Fullerton player to be named the Big West Tournament MVP after scoring three goals to help the Titans to the crown.

Despite missing 11 matches as a senior, Welch ranked second on the team in scoring with five goals and two assists and was named to the All-Big West Second Team as well as an NSCAA Scholar-Athlete for her work in the classroom.

“I am so excited to be back in blue and orange,” Welch said. “I have such a passion for this game and there is nowhere else I would rather be coaching than at Cal State Fullerton.”

Welch is currently the head coach for the GU12 Bronze squad for AC Brea and has also coached with the Fullerton Rangers as well as the Troy HS varsity and junior varsity squads. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in kinesiology in 2007 and also received her master’s in sport psychology in 2010 from Cal State Fullerton.

Pehanich and her husband, Joe, were married in June of 2012 and currently reside in Long Beach.