THE 2026 ROSTER
Head coach Brandon Bitka brings an experienced squad featuring 15 upperclassmen this season. After bowing out in last season's AMCC Semifinals, the Hawks have been picked to finish fourth and once again qualify for the postseason in this year's Pre Season Coaches Poll.

In the poll, juniors Olivia Cleary and Sam Accurso were named as "Players to Watch" heading into their third collegiate seasons.

Along with Cleary and Accurso, seniors Madeleine Cook, Madison Matuszak, and Olivia Horn are expected to lead the Hawks on and off the field this season.

Cleary will be relied upon to anchor the Hilbert defense after starting all 12 games for the Hawks last season, making 154 stops while grabbing 40 ground balls and causing three turnovers. She was named AMCC Defensive Player of the Week on March 24^th, 2025, and set a new single-season program record with a .471 save percentage.

Accurso and Matuszak will be key in the midfield for the Hawks this season. Accurso was tabbed as a "Player to Watch" after recording five goals and two assists while starting all 12 games for Hilbert last season. She also won 22 draw controls, scooped 30 ground balls, and was credited with 19 caused turnovers.

Matuszak led the team with six assists last season while adding three goals, 20 ground balls, 18 draw control wins and nine caused turnovers.

Horn returns for her senior season after tallying 13 points on 11 goals and two assists last season. Horn led the team with a .458 shooting percentage and contributed eight ground balls and five caused turnovers.

Defensively, Cook will look to lead the way after posting 18 ground balls, eight caused turnovers, and a pair of draw control wins on her way to earning the team's "Most Improved Player" honor last season.

THE 2026 SCHEDULE
Hilbert will open the 2026 campaign at home on March 4^th against Keuka College at 4 pm. Following the home-opener against the Wolves, the Hawks will head into a three-game road stretch including trips to Buffalo State (March 11^th) Lycoming College (March 14^th) and Hiram College (March 18^th).

The Hawks return home for the team's final two non-conference games ahead of AMCC play. Hilbert will take on Centenary University, and Allegheny College in Hamburg in late March to wrap up non-league action.

Hilbert begins AMCC play on the road at Mount Aloysius College on April 4^th. The Hawks host Alfred State College on April 7^th before traveling to Pitt-Bradford on April 11^th. The regular season home finale comes on April 18^th, when Hilbert welcomes La Roche University to Hamburg for their final regular season contest.

Following the regular season, the top four teams in the AMCC will head to the postseason beginning with the semifinals on April 21^st, with the winners advancing to the conference championship game on Saturday, April 25^th. This year's AMCC Champion will take on the winner of the United East Championship for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

THE COACHING / SUPPORT STAFF
Brandon Bitka enters his second year leading the Hilbert College Women's Lacrosse program in the 2025-26 academic year.

In his first season with the Hawks, Bitka guided the team to its first victory since the 2018 season (the first of his collegiate career), as well as a second-consecutive AMCC postseason appearance. Skylar Holzman earned her second straight AMCC All-Conference nod, to become the first All-League player under Bitka's guidance, while Olivia Cleary set a new single-season record with a .471 save percentage and shifted to the all-time leader with .457 save percentage in two seasons.

Bitka is once again joined by Charleigh Rondeau who had a standout career at Sipppery Rock where she graded as the program leader in Draw Controls and Games Played.  She was also recognized at the conference and regional level as a first team All-PSAC selection while earning IWLCA All-Region honoree.

Rounding out the coaching staff are Courtney Geier and Gabi Accurso.

Geier competed in Women's Soccer and Lacrosse for the Hawks in the 2023-24 campaign, before shifting to her team manger role with the lacrosse program a year ago. Now, she rejoins the program as an Assistant Coach, brining four years of collegiate experience as a dual-sport athlete.

Accurso joins the Hawks as the team's Defense Coach after a playing career that included stops at Medaille and Division II Damen University. After competing in both Women's Soccer and Lacrosse with the Mavericks, Accurso made the jump to Daemen where she was an Academic All District Student-Athlete in 2025.

Mathematics professor Jenelle Lukasik continues to  support the women's lacrosse program by serving as the team's Faculty Team Advisor. She has been an additional source of academic support while serving a resource regarding academic issues for the Women's Lacrosse student-athletes and coaches. Professor Lukasik's association with the department also creates a communication link between faculty, student-athletes, and coaches.