Women's Lacrosse
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Florida, '19
- Email:
- hhicklen@athletics.pitt.edu
- Season at Pitt:
- Third
Haley Hicklen joined the Pitt lacrosse coaching staff in July 2020 as an assistant coach.
In 2023, the Panthers finished second in the ACC in saves per game under Hicklen's watch. Goalie Hannah Van Middelem was third in the conference in saves per game (7.76) and fourth in total saves (132).
During Hicklen's first season assisting the Panthers in 2022, she helped lead the team to 9 wins in their inaugural season and saw starting goalie Paulina DiFatta record an historic season. Difatta set ACC Championship records for saves in a tournament and saves in a single game. Difatta was named Inside Lacrosse All-American Honorable Mention and earned her spot as an IWLCA All-Region Second Team performer. She was drafted to the Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse League for July 2022. Difatta also earned Second Team All-ACC honors.
Hicklen came to Pittsburgh after spending a year at George Washington as the Defensive Coordinator and goalie coach. The Towson, Md., native was also a member of the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) Brave out of Baltimore, Maryland and playled a season with Athletes Unlimited. Prior to her professional career, Hicklen was a standout goalie at the University of Florida.
While at Florida, Hicklen accumulated an impressive list of honors and awards, as well as records within the program. Hicklen was a three-time Tewaaraton nominee, IWLCA Second Team All-American, 2019 American Athletic Conference (AAC) Goalkeeper of the Year, two-time Big East Goalkeeper of the Year.
Hicklen is Florida’s all-time leader in saves (566), groundballs (197), and minutes played for a goalie (3866:17). Through her final three seasons, she started 62 all games. The Gators made trips to the NCAA tournament all four years Hicklen was on the squad.
Hicklen graduated from the University of Florida in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Sustainability and the Built Environment with a minor in Landscape Architecture.
The goalie also spent time with Sky Walkers Lacrosse Program in Baltimore working with the defensive and goalies. Hicklen has also worked numerous Division I summer camps over the years.
