BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State Bengals women’s lacrosse team enters the 2025 season with a clear goal: take the next step toward a SUNYAC playoff berth. The Bengals return a solid core of experienced players and look to capitalize on a reshaped conference landscape. Buffalo State will open their season tonight as they welcome Alfred State on Coyer Field.
Head Coach Ashley Holdridge enters her third season at the helm and continues to build a competitive and disciplined program alongside assistant coach Bean Minerd. With a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent, Buffalo State is focused on making meaningful strides in 2025.
“Things have been going awesome for us”, Holdridge exclaimed.
“We have an incoming class that is fully committed to playing Bengals lacrosse and returners that are excited to continue the advances that we made last season.”
Last Spring saw significant improvements for the Bengals. Buffalo State scored 174 goals on the year, their most in a season since 2019, while also tallying 57 assists, 246 ground balls, 154 caused turnovers, 204 draw controls, and a .768 clear percentage. That mark was the second best in the SUNYAC, only trailing Oswego who had a .866 clear percentage, and the best for the program since the team had a .792 clear percentage in 2013.
The Bengals also took full advantage on free position attempts scoring 40 goals, the most in a season for the team since they scored 51 of such goals back in 2012. That mark was also the fourth best in the SUNYAC.
Holdridge’s squad also scored 27 goals against SUNY Poly to set the new program record for goals in a single game.
The Bengals bring back 13 players, including several key offensive contributors. Vanessa Willick (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville East), who led the team with 47 goals and 55 points last season, will once again be a focal point of the offense. Sage Running Rabbit (Siksika, AB, Canada/Strathmore) returns as the team’s primary playmaker, coming off a 50-point season with a team-best 26 assists.
Defensively, Anastacia Wells (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) provides experience and consistency After setting the program record for career caused turnovers a season ago, she needs just five more caused turnovers to be the first Bengal to reach the 100-career caused turnover mark.
In goal, Moria Penot (Clifton Heights, PA/Upper Darby) and Brielle Lum (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara-Wheatfield) will anchor the defense, looking to build on last season’s solid performances.
“A goal we have for the team is to be consistent this year. We have a lot of talented players that are all working together toward one end goal and they all have each other’s backs on and off the field”, Holdridge added.
“Consistency is key to our success this year and if we stay disciplined and consistent we have won as a program.”
After their season opener tonight, the Bengals will travel to Utica (March 1) before returning for a home matchup with Geneva (March 5). The Bengals then hit the road to face Nazareth (March 8) and Grove City (March 12) before closing out the first part of the schedule with Senior Day against Plattsburgh (March 15).
Over spring break, the team will travel to Georgia for three non-conference games as they will face Piedmont (March 19), Berry (March 22), and Oglethorpe (March 25).
Buffalo State will continue conference play starting with a trip to Canton (March 29) before hosting Morrisville (April 2). The final stretch of the season includes road games at Potsdam (April 5), Fredonia (April 9) for the "Battle by the Lake" rivalry, and New Paltz (April 12).
Buffalo State then closes out the regular season with three home matchups: Oneonta (April 15) for the "Every Child Matters" game, Cortland (April 18) for the "Team Molly Game," and Oswego State (April 23) for the "Face Off Against Cancer" game.
“We’re excited as a coaching staff to continue to see our players grow into their talents and come together on the field”, Holdridge said.
The Bengals are a young and hungry team looking to position themselves for their first postseason appearance since 2018.
Credits:
Buffalo State Athletic Communications