Shannen Calandra runs to guard a defender

Meredith Wipper/Findlay Athletics

Daemen Hosts Saint Anselm Thursday ; Heads to STAC Saturday

3/19/2025 12:00:00 PM

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

ON DECK
The Daemen University women's lacrosse team returns home on March 20 to face undefeated Saint Anselm of the Northeast 10 before embarking on a season-long four game road swing, starting with their East Coast Conference opener against St. Thomas Aquinas on March 22. Opening draw against the Hawks is set for 6 p.m. while it is at noon against the Spartans.

HONOR ROLL
Senior midfielder Cameron Briggs (Buffalo, N.Y.) was tabbed to the ECC Honor Roll this past week. Briggs tallied five goals, one assists, seven ground balls, three caused turnovers and 10 draw controls over two games. The Daemen senior midfielder notched three goals, six ground balls, two caused turnovers, and six draw controls against Ashland and followed up with three points on two goals and one assist, one ground ball, one caused turnover, and four draw controls at Gannon.

LEADING THE WAY
A pair of Wildcats rank within the top 50 of the nation across multiple stat categories. Sophomore attacker Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) ranks second in the ECC and 39th in the nation for assists per game at 1.83. In net, freshman Molly Evans (Fulton, N.Y.) is 43rd nationally and second in the conference as well for goals against average at 11.86 through six games played.

WIN NO. 1
Head women's lacrosse coach Emily Bitka picked up her first collegiate win as Daemen defeated Lake Erie, 15-2, back on Feb. 28 at home. Senior midfielder Camryn Day (Hamburg, N.Y.) paced the Daemen offense with four goals and two assists for six total points. Also helping the Daemen attack was sophomore attacker Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) who matched Day's six points with a season-high four assists and two goals. Senior midfielder Katelynn Deveans (Buffalo, N.Y.) tallied two goals for three total points along with a team-high two ground balls. Additionally, junior midfielder Ella Bouley (Auburn, N.Y.) and freshman attacker Adison Pollutro (West Seneca, N.Y.) added two points each with a goal and an assist. Daemen never trailed the entire contest and did not allow a single first half goal to the Storm as well. Overall, Daemen outshot Lake Erie, 33-13, and held a 12-7 edge in draw controls.

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 SAINT ANSELM (5-0, 2-0 NEC)
The Hawks, who recently fell out of the IWLCA Top 25 Poll, defeated Southern Connecticut State, 8-7 in overtime, to remain undefeated. Alyssa Hill leads the Hawks offense with 14 points while Ayla McDermod has paced Saint Anselm with a team-high 12 goals. In net, Elizabeth Driscoll has started and won all five games for the Hawks while making 36 saves.

SERIES HISTORY
Saint Anselm won the lone prior meeting between the two sides, 18-5, on April 20, 2024.

SCOUTING STAC (3-2, 0-0 ECC)
The Spartans are 3-2 overall this year and won their last game, 21-14, at Chowan on March 13. The Spartans have been led by reigning ECC Offensive Player of the Week Hailey Galoson who dropped 17 points on 14 goals and three assists the past week. The STAC graduate student midfielder also recorded 27 shots (22 on goal), 21 draw controls, nine ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. In net, Lilah Magenheimer has totaled 55 saves through four games.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen is 2-0 all-time against the Spartans.

UP NEXT
The 'Cats will continue their season-long four game road swing with a trip to Mercy on March 29. Opening draw is set for 11 a.m.

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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