POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's lacrosse team opens its 32nd season at home this Saturday, February 28 against SUNY Poly. A pair of familiar faces will be leading the program this season. Taylor Swamp '25 will serve as interim head coach and Tessa Pierce '25 will be the assistant. The Bears are coming off a strong 2025 campaign where they were 7-8 and had three players earn All-SUNYAC recognition.
 
Senior midfielder/defender Auna Shadle (Massena, N.Y./Massena) will serve as team captain again this season. She is joined by first-year captains in senior attack Robin Gorton (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls) and junior midfielder Kiah Delles (Philadelphia, N.Y./Indian River). Of the 23 players on the roster, 15 are veterans and eight are new to Potsdam.
 
Offense
The Bears graduated a lot of scoring last season, but three of their top six scorers are back. Sophomore attack Jayla Thompson (Hogansburg, N.Y./Massena) had 49 goals and seven assists for 56 points in her debut campaign in Potsdam. She also recorded 18 ground balls, 12 draw controls and caused nine turnovers. The performance earned her second team all-conference honors. Senior attack/midfielder Megan MacWilliams (Parishville, N.Y./Parishville-Hopkinton) broke out last spring with a career-high 37 points on 29 goals and eight assists. She collected 21 ground balls and 17 draw controls and caused four turnovers. Senior attack Tatiana Hillicke (Holtsville, N.Y./Sachem East) had 10 goals and nine assists in 14 games last season. Sophomore attack Riana Baxter (Massena, N.Y./Massena) is also back after scoring three goals in nine games. Gorton returns after playing in 14 contests with a goal and an assist. Sophomore attack Ava Murphy (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) had a goal and two assists in 10 games last year. After a year away, junior attack Abby Kraus (Buffalo, N.Y./Frontier) returns to the offense. She had a promising start to her Bears career in 2024, registering 12 goals, an assist, nine ground balls, five caused turnovers and two draw controls. Freshman Abbey Light (Jay, N.Y./Lake Placid) is the lone newcomer to the attack, coming from Lake Placid High School where she was a three-sport athlete.
 
Midfield
Shadle and Delles anchor Potsdam in the midfield. Each player started all 15 games in 2025. Shadle totaled 28 ground balls, six draw controls and caused 15 turnovers. Delles has 17 ground balls and 11 caused turnovers. Sophomore midfielder/defender Maggie Akin (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) played in 13 contests with four starts while totaling four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Junior midfielder Iohseriio Tabor (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) had five points on four goals and an assist in 13 games for Plattsburgh last spring. She also recorded 10 ground balls, nine draw controls and five caused turnovers. Junior midfielder Kendyll Mack (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) opens her collegiate career this season. Freshman midfielder and Potsdam native Daly Duffy (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam), who is also a member of the Bears women's soccer team, completes the midfield corps. She was first team All-Northern with the Sandstoners.
 
Defense
The Bears are young in the defensive end of the field. Junior Rachel Madore (Peru, N.Y./Peru), also a setter on the women's volleyball team, started 12 games and played in 14 a year ago, picking up eight ground balls and causing five turnovers. Sophomore Juliana Blake (Albany, N.Y./Albany) started five of the 11 contests she played as a freshman. She had four ground balls, four caused turnovers and six draw controls. Senior Alyx Jenner (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Ogdensburg Free Academy) saw action in four games with one start last spring. The other four defenders are new to the team. Junior Olivia Lawton (Lisbon, N.Y./Lisbon) was a two-sport athlete at Lisbon High School. Junior Leah-Kristine Hunt (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) is also a member of the Bears women's swimming team. Junior Katelyn Ryan (Churchville, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) comes to the North Country from Churchville. Sophomore Karennahawi Barnes (Akwesasne, N.Y./Northfield Mount Hermon) joins the team after standing out for Salmon River.
 
Goal
Two senior stalwarts will split time in goal this season. In 29 career games, Olivia Minarich (Albany, N.Y./Albany) has 137 saves and collected 36 ground balls. Jane Olszewski (Thornwood, N.Y./Westlake) has 134 saves and 47 ground balls in 31 contests over three years.
 
Schedule
The Bears square off with the Wildcats at 1 p.m. on Saturday. They were originally scheduled to open at the season tomorrow at St. Lawrence, but frigid temperatures have postponed the contest. Potsdam hosts Clarkson at 7 p.m. on March 4 before heading to Hilton Head for matchups with Moravian and Muhlenberg on March 9 and 11, respectively. The Bears head to Castleton to meet the Spartans on St. Patrick's Day. They open their SUNYAC slate at Cortland on March 25. Potsdam hosts Oneonta on March 28 and New Paltz on March 31. The Bears travel to Buffalo State on April 3 and Plattsburgh on April 8. They host Fredonia on April 11 and wrap up the regular season at Oswego on April 15.
 
Fans can watch all home contests for free at: https://fan.hudl.com/potsdambears and follow the home live stats at: https://webspace.potsdam.edu/groups/sports/w_lax/XLIVE.HTM