VESTAL, N.Y. – Following a decorated and resilient collegiate playing career that included winning two national championships, Alecia Nicholas joins the Binghamton women's lacrosse program as an assistant coach, Head Women's Lacrosse Coach
Stephanie Allen announced Thursday.
"Coming off of two national championships during her collegiate career, Alecia brings a wealth of experience and a champion-level mindset to the Bearcat program," said Allen. "We are excited about her ability to relate to the players, while also challenging them to meet the high standards we have set for this team. She is incredibly passionate about the game of lacrosse and will bring that energy, along with her knowledge, to help this staff lead our program to another great campaign in 2026."
"I am extremely excited to be able to be a part of this program," said Nicholas. "This is a special group of athletes, and I feel honored to be a part of their growth as both lacrosse players and young women. Both Coach Allen and [Associate Head Women's Lacrosse] Coach [Shannon] Mackesey are very skilled leaders, and I am eager to see what we can learn and achieve together."
Nicholas, who hails from Ithaca, N.Y., had a stellar career as a goalie at North Carolina from 2022-25. In 2023, she was named an Honorable Mention All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine and was also selected to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List. She finished the year tied for the team lead in ground balls with 33. At the end of the season, Nicholas led the Atlantic Coast Conference in goals against average at 8.51, while also ranking seventh in the country in that category.
In the fall of 2023, Nicholas faced a difficult challenge off the field when she was diagnosed with cancer. After immediately undergoing treatment, Nicholas appeared in all of the Tar Heels' 17 games in 2024, starting in 16 of them. Her return to the field was named the Best Comeback Story in USA Lacrosse's, "Best of Lacrosse 2024," campaign.
Nicholas finished her collegiate career with 24 wins, 231 saves made, a goals against average of 9.26 and a save percentage of .415.
"We are so excited that Alecia has decided to follow her passion and get into college coaching," said North Carolina Head Coach Jenny Levy. "She will bring a love for the game, great technical training for goalkeepers and a tireless work ethic. As a player, she loved practice, working to improve, and being part of the team. Alecia has worked more camps than any player who has come through our program and truly loves to share what she has learned with young goalkeepers. I have no doubt that she will have a positive impact on the Binghamton lacrosse program."
Nicholas also succeeded in the classroom, being named to the All-ACC Academic Team in both 2023 and 2024. She graduated from North Carolina in May with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science.
Aside from coaching, Nicholas will also be able to continue her playing career in national competition. On Sept. 12, she was named by Lacrosse Canada to one of the women's national teams. She will compete in the World Lacrosse Super Sixes – Canada from Oct. 10-12, in Oshawa, Ontario.
Binghamton will play in a series of games this fall as part of its Fall Ball schedule. The Bearcats will first play at Columbia's Baker Athletic Complex on Saturday, Oct. 4, in an event that features Columbia, Rhode Island and Stony Brook.
Binghamton's 2026 schedule will be announced at a later date.
Arctic Bear Plumbing, Heating, Air & Water Treatment is the presenting sponsor of Bearcats Women's Lacrosse.
