Wildcats Begin New Season This Week

2/16/2026 4:00:00 PM

By: CONTACT: Connor Griffin, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications | cgriffin@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. — The Daemen women's lacrosse team opens the 2026 campaign on the road Thursday, traveling to Lake Erie College for a 6 p.m. contest.

The Wildcats enter the season under second-year head coach Emily Bitka, who helped guide the team to a 5-11 record in 2025, including a 3-3 East Coast Conference mark. Daemen qualified for the ECC tournament for the first time in program history. The Wildcats were picked fourth in this year's ECC preseason poll.

Daemen had a strong defensive presence last season, leading the conference in caused turnovers per game (9.69) and ranking third in ground balls per game (17.31). The Wildcats also led the conference in women-up goals (39) and women-up goals per game (2.44). Additionally, Daemen was fourth in assists per game (5.56).

The Wildcats return their top goal scorer from the 2025 campaign, Ella Bouley (Auburn, N.Y.), who was named First Team All-ECC after scoring 25 goals and providing nine assists for a team-high 34 points. Bouley also ranked second on the team in draw controls (42), forced 16 turnovers, and collected 27 ground balls.

Daemen's top point-leader from last season, Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y), also returns. Calandra logged 43 points behind 15 goals and a team-leading 28 assists, ranking fourth in the ECC in helpers. Avery Castner (Penn Yan, N.Y.) logged 28 points a season ago, finishing third on the squad in goals (20) while dishing out eight helpers.

On the defensive side, Jenna Havert (Newark, N.Y.) finished tied for the team lead in caused turnovers (20) and was second in ground balls (32), collecting Second Team All-ECC honors in 2025. She was tied for eighth in the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.25). Kylie Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) caused 16 turnovers and picked up 16 ground balls. Sophomore goalie Molly Evans (Fulton, N.Y.) played in 14 games, making 13 starts and logging a 14.53 goals-against average while making 113 saves.

Daemen welcomed six new players to the squad, with five freshmen and one junior, who will all look to make an immediate impact.

Following Thursday's game, the Wildcats head back to Ohio to play Walsh on Feb. 25. Daemen hosts Findlay on March 1 in its home opener and first game at its new field, Royal Park. The Wildcats will also host Gannon (March 11), District of Columbia (March 21), Dominican (April 2), Mercy (April 11), D'Youville (April 15), and St. Thomas Aquinas (April 25) in home contests.

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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