Hicklen enters her second season as an assistant coach for the Florida lacrosse team after wrapping up year one in 2025.
Hicklen coached the Florida goalkeepers to the 23rd ranked save percentage in the country, saving a total of .464 percent of shots. The Gators had three different goalkeepers register a .460 save percentage or better in Georgia Hoey (.479), Susan Radebaugh (.467) and Elyse Finnelle (.462). Finnelle earned the Big 12 Goalkeeper of the Year award, courtesy of the coaching from Hicklen. Overall Florida held their opponent under 10 goals 11 times in 2025, while the Gators tallied a .450 or better team save percentage in 12 games.
Hicklen spent the last three seasons at the University of Pittsburgh, where the Panthers ranked first in the conference in saves per game during the 2022 and 2024 seasons, while finishing second in save percentage (.465) in the ACC during 2022. In 2022, Hicklen helped anchor Pitt’s goalkeeper Paulina Difatta to an ACC Tournament record 19 saves in the Panthers first round victory over Louisville.
Previous to Pittsburgh, Hicklen spent a year at George Washington University as the Defensive Coordinator and goalie coach.
“I am proud to come back to Florida,” said Hicklen. It is a dream come true to return to my alma mater to coach alongside my long-term mentor, Mandee O’Leary. I am eager to give back to the student athletes, program, University, and Gator Nation. Florida lacrosse has a tradition of excellence that I am proud to uphold and help push to reach new program heights. As an alum myself, I know what it means to be a Florida Gator and I feel an extra sense of responsibility to honor those who have been a part of making this program special.
Hicklen returns to Gainesville after playing goalkeeper for the Gators from 2016 – 2019, where she appeared in 80 games and started 62 of them. The Towson, Md. native is the all-time leader in minutes played (3868:27 minutes) and ground balls (194), along with ranking second all-time in saves (566) at UF. She posted a career 48-15 record in net for the Gators, becoming a one-time IWLCA All-American and a three-time Tewaaraton Watch List nominee. She was named AAC Goalkeeper of the Year in 2019, after receiving Big East Goalkeeper of the Year in 2017 and 2018.
Coach Amanda O'Leary announced the hiring of Hicklen on August 14, 2024.
Professional Playing Experience
The former goalkeeper took part in the Women’s Professional Premier League (WPLL) in 2019, where she won a championship with the Baltimore Brave. She also participated in the 2021 Athletes Unlimited Professional Lacrosse season.
Gator Graduate
Hicklen graduated from UF in 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Sustainability and the Built Environment with a minor in Landscape Architecture.
