Audrey Canata, Tiffany Kelley Named 2025 Breschi Scholarship Winners

USA Lacrosse announces Audrey Canata of West Springfield, Mass., and Tiffany Kelley of Columbus, Ohio, as the recipients of 2025 Michael Breschi Scholarships.

Established in 2007 to honor the life and memory of Michael Breschi, son of University of North Carolina men’s lacrosse head coach Joe Breschi, the scholarships are awarded annually to two high school seniors who are attending college and are the son or daughter of a coach who serves as a full-time employee of an educational institution.

Criteria considered include academic qualifications, extracurricular activities, internships, community service, and employment experience. USA Lacrosse administers the scholarships, with winners selected annually by the Breschi family.

Canata is a graduate of West Springfield High School, where she was a three-sport athlete in soccer, indoor track, and lacrosse. She served as a team captain in both soccer and lacrosse, and earned USA Lacrosse All-America honors as a midfielder as well as all-league honors. Off the field, Canata serves as a volunteer middle school coach, seeking to give back to the game. She is now enrolled at Central Connecticut State University and is a freshman member of the women's lacrosse team.

"Audrey is a talented athlete, a natural leader, and a caring member of the community," said Han Giang, her high school lacrosse coach. "On the field, she leads by example, showing sportsmanship, discipline, and an encouraging spirit that lifts up her teammates. Whether she Is pushing herself or supporting others during a tough game, Audrey is a true leader who has earned the respect of coaches and teammates. She is a smart, kind, and hard-working young woman who will continue to make a difference in college and beyond."

Kelley graduated from St. Francis De Sales High School and was a standout member of both the lacrosse team and the swim & dive team. As team captain in lacrosse, she helped lead the squad to two straight state championships. As a diver, she helped her team capture its first league title in 20 years. Academically, Kelley finished with grade point average above 4.0 for her high school career. She is how attending Winthrop University as a freshman member of the women's lacrosse team.

"Tiffany embodies the qualities of a driven and focused individual, on and off the lacrosse field," said Brittney Fauss-Johnson, director of Lucky Lax.  "As a standout player, Tiffany has consistently demonstrated her dedication to the sport and her team at every opportunity. She has embraced the values of teamwork and camaraderie, while also serving as a role model for her peers and younger athletes. Her commitment to using sports as a platform to inspire and support others underscores her deep-rooted passion for making a positive impact."

Joe Breschi noted that his family was delighted to recognize the deserving recipients of this year’s scholarships.

"On behalf of my wife Julie and our four beautiful daughters, Sam, Abby, Lucy & Emily, we are thrilled to announce this year’s recipients of the Michael Breschi scholarship," Breschi said. "We want to thank all the applicants who shared their personal stories with us and for USA Lacrosse for continuing to keep our son Michael's memory alive.  Audrey and Tiffany personify the type of people we would have wanted Michael to be around. They are two young women who have worked hard to achieve excellence both in the classroom and on the playing field. We wish both of them tremendous success on their journey through college over the next four years."

● See the full list of prior scholarship winners here

About USA Lacrosse

USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse fuels the growth, enriches the experience, and fields the best National Teams, supporting more than 425,000 members across the country.