Max Sacco

Women's Lacrosse Begins Bitka Era with Road Contest at Lock Haven

2/22/2025 11:00:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Max Sacco, Assistant Athletics Communications Director | msacco@daemen.edu

2025 HAS ARRIVED
After multiple schedule changes, the Daemen University women's lacrosse team will take the field for their first game of the 2025 season with a road trip to the Quaker State to face Lock Haven. Opening draw from Charlotte E. Smith Field is set for 2 p.m.

NEW LEADER
Former Slippery Rock goalie and second team All-America honoree Emily Bitka was tabbed as the second head coach in Daemen women's lacrosse history on Dec. 11. Bitka brings six seasons of collegiate coaching experience to Daemen where she ascends to a head coaching position for the first time. Most recently, Bitka served as an assistant coach at Seton Hill University, a fellow NCAA Division II member and affiliate of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). In her one season with the Griffins, Bitka helped the team to a 13-6 overall record, an 11-1 mark in league play which garnered a PSAC West Division title, and an NCAA tournament berth. She also helped mentor Makayla Kintner and Skylar Orlowski who were named Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All Americans with Kinter landing on the second team and Orlowski getting tabbed to the third team.

BACK IN THE BLUE AND WHITE
The 'Cats return 16 players to their roster from last season including two of their top three scorers from 2024 with juniors Avery Castner (Penn Yan, N.Y.) and Ella Bouley (Auburn, N.Y.). Bouley led the 'Cats offense in both goals (32), total points (45) and draw controls (48) while Castner ranked second on the squad in points with 32. Also back this season for the Blue and White is sophomore Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) who ranked ninth in the ECC last season for assist per game at .88. On the defensive side of the ball, junior Jenna Havert is back after she led Daemen in ground balls with 33.

NEW FACES
Daemen added multiple this offseason with the additions of Maria Salvo (Clarence, N.Y.) from now Division I Mercyhurst, Katelynn Deaveans (Clinton, N.Y.) from Medaille, Cameron Briggs (Buffalo, N.Y.) from Notre Dame College in Ohio and Grace Heath (Corning, N.Y.) from Corning Community College. The 'Cats also added four freshmen with Adison Pollutro (West Seneca, N.Y.), Molly Evans (Fulton, N.Y.), Gabby Bocketti (Kenmore, N.Y.) and Marianna Szamoskozi (Port Coquitlam, British Columbia) joining the team ahead of the season.

A LOOK AT THE POLLS
Daemen University was tabbed fifth in the 2025 East Coast Conference Women's Lacrosse Preseason Coaches' Poll following a vote of the leagues seven coaches. Roberts Wesleyan, the defending ECC Tournament and regular season champions, topped the poll with 49 points and secured all seven first-place votes. Mercy landed in second place with 42 points and Molloy rounded out the top three with 34 points of their own. D'Youville was tabbed fourth with 29 points with Daemen close behind in fifth with 21 points. St. Thomas Aquinas (14 points) and District of Columbia (7 points) rounded out the remainder of the poll. The ECC Women's Lacrosse Championship semifinal is slated for May 1 and the final set for three days later on May 4 with the top four teams qualifying for the postseason.

SCOUTING LOCK HAVEN (2024: 14-4, 9-3 PSAC)
The Bald Eagles were selected to finish third in the PSAC West Division in the PSAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Seton Hill, who Daemen will play later this season, earned four first-place votes to earn preseason favorites in the West, while Slippery Rock comes in behind them after earning two first-place votes. Attacker Gabby Gunnip, defender Mackenna Brown and midfielder Nadia Baskot are set to return for the Bald Eagles after earning their first all-conference honors. Gunnip led Lock Haven in goals (57) and points (77) last year while Brown led team ground balls (44) and caused turnovers (33).

SERIES HISTORY
Lock Haven defeated Daemen, 15-8, last year on March 2 in the first meeting between the two sides in program history.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats will make their home debut on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. when they face Lake Erie.

Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen women's program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWLAX.

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