Gabi Accurso runs up the field against Saint Anselm

Road Game Against No. 18 Seton Hill and Home Contest with Molloy on Hand for Women's Lacrosse

4/8/2025 10:41:00 AM

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

BACK IN ACTION
The Daemen University women's lacrosse team returns to action with a pair of games during the upcoming week, starting with a test against No. 18 Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pa., on April 9 before returning home for the first time in 21 days to take on Molloy at Coyer Field in the Wildcats annual Morgans Message game on April 12. Opening draw against the Griffins is set for 4 p.m. while the game against the Lions is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK AGAIN
Freshman utility player Marianna Szamoskozi (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) was named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, the league office announced on Monday afternoon. Szamoskozi is the first player since Dana Bacher during the 2023 season to land two-or-more weekly awards in the same campaign. During the 2023 season, Bacher was named the ECC Rookie and Offensive Player of the Week on three separate occasions. She also joins Ashlinn Kelly of Mercy as the only two players this season to land rookie of the week honors on multiple occasions as well. The Port Coquitlam, B.C., native performed on both sides of the ball in the win over District of Columbia as she made one save in net during the first 30 minutes of action. Playing in the field for the second half, the freshman registered two points with a goal and an assist to help the Wildcats earn their first shutout in program history with a 21-0 win. The Daemen freshman becomes the only player in NCAA Division I, II or III to record a save and a goal in multiple games this season after registering both against UDC and earlier this year against Findlay on March 8.

BLANKED
A season-high 13 different players for the back of the net for Daemen as they earned their first shutout victory in program history with a 21-0 thrashing of the University of the District of Columbia back on April 5. The Wildcats are the first ECC team this year to secure a shutout as well. Senior midfielder Cameron Briggs (Buffalo, N.Y.) led Daemen with five total points on three goals and two assists. The Buffalo, N.Y., native also helped Daemen on the defensive side of the ball as she collected a team-best four ground balls to pair with six draw controls and two caused turnovers. Fellow senior Katelynn Deveans (Clinton, N.Y.) and sophomore Mikayla Myer (Geneva, N.Y.) each notched a hat trick of their own in the winning effort. Junior midfielder Avery Castner (Penn Yan, N.Y.) tallied a season-high three assists while on defense, junior defender Jenna Havert (Newark, N.Y.) snagged three ground balls and scored her second career goal as well. The Wildcats jumped ahead to a 6-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the contest, paced by a pair of goals from sophomore attacker Cadence Baran (Lancaster, N.Y.). Daemen added on four more goals before the opening stanza ended to start the running clock and command a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes of action. The Wildcats never slowed down the remainder of the way en route to their 21-0 victory as Daemen ended the contest with a 42-4 advantage in shots and 24-11 edge in ground balls.

BACK IN THE QUAKER STATE
Head coach Emily Bitka is no stranger to the Seton Hill women's lacrosse program as she coached there during the 2024 season. 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. The Wildcats head coach also played in the PSAC during her playing days with Slippery Rock as she became a two-time team captain and All-PSAC honoree with the Rock. Following her senior season, Bitka earned second team All-America and first team All-Atlantic Region honors, and she was named the PSAC Player of the Year.

BY THE NUMBERS
A select few members of the Wildcats are ranked within the top-10 of the ECC in multiple statistical catagories. Sophomore attacker Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) is ranked third in the conference for both total assists (19) and assists per game (1.90) with freshman Adison Pollutro (West Seneca, N.Y.) ranked 10th (1.00). Senior midfielder Cameron Briggs (Buffalo, N.Y.) is ranked fourth in the conference for caused turnovers per game (1.50), third in ground balls per game (2.60) and sixth in draw controls per game (4.00).

SCOUTING SETON HILL (7-4, 4-1 PSAC)
The Griffins moved from No. 14 to No. 18 in the national rankings this week after going 1-1 last week with a 14-5 win over Gannon and 16-11 loss at No. 22 Slippery Rock. Skylar Orlowski currently leads Seton Hill in scoring with 36 goals and 51 total points while Mila Udovicic ranks first on the squad in total assists with 28. On defense, Kayla Seiler has caused a team-best 16 turnovers. In net, Allison Hathaway has started all 11 games for Seton Hill and has made 62 total saves.

SERIES HISTORY
There have been no prior meetings between Daemen and Seton Hill

SCOUTING MOLLOY (4-8, 2-1 ECC)
After a slow start to the season, the Lions have found their form with three consecutive wins, highlighted by a 19-18 overtime win against No. 23 Mercy. Megan Rugolo currently leads Molloy in goals (37), assists (16), points (53) and draw controls (54) while on defense, Carly Howell has caused a team-best 26 turnovers and collected a team-high 27 ground balls. In net, Nicole Schaumloffel has started all 12 games for the Lions and amassed 89 saves which ranks second in the ECC and 43rd nationally.

SERIES HISTORY
Molloy has won both prior meetings between the two schools.

UP NEXT
Daemen is back in action on April 19 at home against Roberts Wesleyan with opening draw set for 3 p.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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