Geoff Schneider

Daemen Opens ECC Action at Home Against UDC

3/20/2026 4:15:00 PM

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

BACK HOME TO KICK OFF ECC PLAY
The Daemen women's lacrosse team is back home on Saturday, welcoming the University of the District of Columbia to Royal Park for its ECC opener. The Wildcats are 5-3 after falling to Franklin Pierce and Southern New Hampshire on the road. Daemen has already tied its win total from last season with five and is now looking to improve on last season's three ECC victories.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats fell 16-15 in overtime at Southern New Hampshire on Monday. Trailing 11-7 at the half, Daemen mounted a mighty comeback, scoring six goals in the fourth quarter, including the game-tying goal at 2:16 from Shannen Calandra (Rome, N.Y.) to send the game into overtime. The Wildcats and Penmen battled to the very end of the extra period, but SNHU's Kailyn Cuddahy scored the game-winner with 11 seconds left on the clock. Daemen dropped both road games in New Hampshire this weekend and moves to 5-3 on the year. Senior Ella Bouley (Auburn, N.Y.) tallied four goals on nine shots on goal and added three assists, five ground balls, and four draw controls for a team-high seven points. Calandra also finished with four goals -- including the game-tying goal late in the fourth to send the game to overtime. Sadie Schlesselman (Lancaster, N.Y.) was one of two Wildcats to finish with two goals. Adison Pollutro (West Seneca, N.Y.) also totaled two goals on three shots on goal, adding one ground ball. Freshman goalkeeper, Mia Caryl (Marcellus, N.Y.) finished with seven saves on 33 shots faced.

SCHLESSELMAN EARNS ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Schlesselman was named ECC Rookie of the Week, announced by the conference on Monday. Schlesselman logged nine points with six goals and three assists in two games. She scored twice in an 18-8 win over Gannon on Wednesday. Schlesselman then led the Wildcats with a season high of four goals, three assists, and seven points against Franklin Pierce on Saturday. The freshman also posted two caused turnovers and scooped up a ground ball in the contest. She currently has 20 points with 13 goals and seven assists.

MAKING HISTORY
Bouley scored her 100th career goal against Gannon on March 11. The senior also broke the program record for goals (8) and points (10) in a game during the win over Tiffin. Avery Castner (Penn Yan, N.Y.) also surpassed 100 career points against Tiffin, becoming the second player in program history to achieve the feat, along with Bouley.

SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Wildcats have scored 112 goals, averaging 14.0 per game. Among the top performances are the Wildcats' 14 goals against Walsh, 16 against Lake Erie, 18 against Gannon, and a season-high 21 against Tiffin. Leading the way is Maria Salvo (Clarence, N.Y.) with 20 after her six-goal performance against Gannon. Bouley has 20, while Castner follows closely with 18. Salvo ranks tied for third in the ECC in goals per game (2.75). Bouley is tied for fifth (2.50) while Castner is sixth (2.25). Salvo is also third in points per game (3.75), while Bouley is tied for sixth (3.38) and Calandra is 10th (3.00).

IN THE RANKINGS
Daemen currently leads the ECC in goals per game (14.00), assists per game (7.13), and points per game (21.13). The Wildcats also sit second in total ground balls (128) and caused turnovers (70).

SCOUTING DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (0-5, 0-1 ECC)
The Firebirds have yet to get into the win column this season. UDC fell 23-1 to D'Youville last Saturday in their ECC opener. Jada Williams is the team leader in goals (5), points (6), and caused turnovers (7). She is also tied with Sysali Banks for the team lead in ground balls (12).

SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats are 3-0 against the Firebirds, including a 23-7 road win last season.

UP NEXT
The Wildcats are back on the road next weekend, heading to Molloy on Saturday for a 12 p.m. contest.

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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