Max Sacco

Women's Lacrosse Prepares for Lake Erie in First Home Contest of 2025

2/27/2025 9:00:00 AM

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

BACK HOME
The Daemen University women's lacrosse team returns to the Queen City for their first home game of 2025 when they face Lake Erie. Opening draw against the Storm is set for 7 p.m. on Feb. 28.

THE FIRST WIN
Daemen defeated Lake Erie, 14-10, back on Feb. 26. 2023, for the Wildcats first win in program history in their first game in program history as well. Dana Bacher scored five goals and Casey Decatur added three goals and four assists to lead the way today. Blair Pfohl (Lockport, N.Y.) went the distance in goal for the Wildcats and made three saves to earn the win in her collegiate debut. Kylie Miranto got credit for scoring the first goal in program history, as her goal off a pass from Decatur just 1:15 into the game gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Daemen led by as much as seven and never looked back en route to their 14-10 win. Daemen finished with a 29-17 edge in total shots. Decatur led the way with eight shots, while Bacher scored five goals on just six shots.

SEEING DOUBLE
Junior attacker Avery Castner (Penn Yan, N.Y.) and sophomore attacker Cadence Baran (Lancaster, N.Y.) each tallied two goals against Lock Haven (Feb. 23) in the opening game of the year for Daemen. For Caster, it marked the 14th multi-goal game of her career while for Baran, it was the first time since April 14, 2024 against UDC that she scored twice in one game.

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 Castner and junior 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.

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 LAKE ERIE (0-2)
The Storm have dropped both of their games this year as they lost to William Jewell 12-3 in their season opener on Feb. 7, before falling to Lewis on Wednesday by a final score of 22-8. Junior attacker Madelyn Goodrich has led the early attacking efforts for Lake Erie with five goals and is tied with sophomore midfielder Brooke McNeal for the team lead in points with five as well. Prior to the season, the Storm were picked sixth in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen won the lone prior meeting between the two schools back on Feb. 26, 2023.

UP NEXT
Daemen closes their season-opening homestand with a 6 p.m. battle against Walsh on March 6.

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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