Courtesy: @UPB_WLAX on Instagram
BRADFORD, PA (PTTP)- The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women’s lacrosse is preparing for their inaugural season at the varsity level competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. This will be their first season as a member of the NCAA after competing at the club level in 2025.
The team is led by Head Coach Tyrone Bowen. He was Athletic Director Bret Butler’s first call following the previous coach’s departure for SUNY Morrisville a month prior. Bowen was an assistant on Pitt-Bradford’s men’s lacrosse team during their inaugural varsity season in 2025. Prior to that, Bowen played a significant advising role to Butler when initiating efforts to bring lacrosse to Pitt-Bradford.
Bowen originally hails from across the state line on the Seneca Nation Reservation in western New York. He has been involved in lacrosse locally there for most of his life and is an active advocate to grow the game. Lacrosse has been played by Native Americans for generations, and he hopes to be a part of the sports rising popularity. He also plans on using his platform to use lacrosse as a vehicle to spread awareness on issues Native Americans and athletes face.
Junior captain Haley Carlo is optimistic and excited for the season. She credits the positive family atmosphere the team brings to building a sustainable culture for future generations of women’s lacrosse players at Pitt-Bradford. Transferring from Tiffin University in Ohio before the club season last year, she is well-versed in college lacrosse and brings some much needed experience to this younger team. Carlo also believes this team will be severely underestimated. She thinks this team will surprise some people and that they have the talent to be competitive at the NCAA level in year one. The Panthers open their season at home on February 14th taking on Geneva College.