Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Women's Lacrosse

Biography After spending two seasons as the Eagles' top assistant, Christina Nikolai was elevated to the position of head coach of the women's lacrosse program at Embry-Riddle in August 2024. In her first year leading the program in 2025, Nikolai led the Blue and Gold to the best season in program history. The Eagles were ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation and finished the year with a program-best 17-4 overall record. The Eagles posted a 6-1 record in Sunshine State Conference play, which included an upset of top-ranked Tampa, on the way to a share of the SSC regular season title, another program first. Embry-Riddle also advanced to its third straight Sunshine State Conference tournament and secured the program’s first NCAA II national tournament berth. As the No. 3 seed in the South Region, the Eagles defeated Mount Olive for the program’s first tournament victory.   During her second season in charge, Nikolai led ERAU to their second straight national tournament appearance with a 12-6 overall record. On March 28, 2026, she became the all-time winningest coach in program history with her 26th career win, a 17-7 win at Palm Beach Atlantic. The Blue and Gold opened non-conference play by winnning nine of their first 10 games and climbed to No. 4 in the national poll, as Nikolai's all-time record against non-SSC opposition improved to 14-1. Embry-Riddle qualified for the Sunshine State Conference tournament for the fourth consecutive season, earning a 16-11 victory over Florida Tech and proceeding to the national tournament as the No. 5 seed in the South Region. Over her first two seasons, Nikolai has seen several student-athletes garner individual accolades. The Eagles have had 13 All-SSC selections, six All-Americans, and seven All-Region honorees in the last two years, including the 2026 SSC Goalkeeper of the Year. Along with developing players, Nikolai has seen her teams excel in the classroom, boasting a 3.704 team GPA in the fall of 2026. Her successes in 2025 earned Nikolai Sunshine State Coach of the Year honors in her first season as a head coach. As an assistant coach, she helped the Eagles to a 25-11 record and back-to-back Sunshine State Conference Tournament appearances. Throughout that time, Nikolai helped recruit and mentor nine All-SSC athletes, in addition to Eliana Enners, the 2024 SSC Freshman of the Year. Prior to her arrival at Embry-Riddle, Nikolai was team captain and a five-year starting defender for the Stetson women's lacrosse team. As a junior, she was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Conference first team after leading the team in caused turnovers and finishing sixth in the league in ground balls per game (2.22). She also garnered ASUN Honor Roll and IWLCA Academic Honor Roll honors in 2021 and was an ASUN Academic Honor Roll selection in 2022. Nikolai spent a year and a half as the coach of the Burning River Lacrosse club program in Ohio. She was also a Student-Athlete Academic Success Specialist and Business Foundations tutor at Stetson. A native of Medina, Ohio, Nikolai graduated from Stetson with an undergraduate degree in Business Administration in 2020 and earned her MBA in 2022.  Coaching History Year Ovr. Pct. Conf. Pct. Postseason 2 Seasons 29-10 .743 10-4 .714 2025 17-4 .810 6-1 .857 SSC Regular Season Co-Champions; NCAA II Regional Appearance 2026 12-6 .667 4-3 .571 NCAA II Regional Appearance PERSONAL Hometown Medina, Ohio Education B.S. in Business Administration (Stetson, 2020) M.B.A (Stetson, 2022) ACCOLADES 2 NCAA National Tournament Appearances 1 SSC Regular Season Ttitle 29 Career Wins 2025 SSC Coach of the Year MILESTONES AT EMBRY-RIDDLE First Victory: Alabama Huntsville, 18-4 (Feb. 1, 2025) First Conference Win: #13 Rollins, 15-14 (OT) (March 25, 2025) All-Time Winningest Coach at ERAU: Palm Beach Atlantic, 17-7 (March 28, 2026) Number of Weeks in Top 25 Poll: 28 Longest Win Streak: 8 (March 5-April 5, 2025)  

Haley Cummins was announced as the Embry-Riddle Women’s Lacrosse assistant coach in December 2024.   Cummins came to the Sunshine State following a four-year career as a starting attacker at the University of Oregon. A native of Maryland, Cummins was a key contributor to the Ducks’ offense throughout her collegiate career scoring 43 goals in 61 games. In her senior campaign, she started all 15 games and was named to the 2024 All-PAC-12 Tournament Team. A 2024 IWLCA Honor Roll she graduated in June 2024 with bachelor’s degree in psychology.   Cummins leadership on the field was matched by her off-field advocacy, particularly around mental health. She served as a member of the Student Athlete Mental Health Panel and is an active advocate for mental health awareness through the Morgan's Message program, which provides crucial resources and support for student-athletes.   In addition to her playing career, Cummins brought prior coaching experience to Embry-Riddle. She worked as an assistant coach at various summer and winter lacrosse camps and clinics at the University of Oregon, where she designed and implemented stickwork drills, evaluated talent, and helped recruit future Ducks. She has also served as a national lacrosse trainer, working with female athletes ranging from ages eight to 20, leading group training sessions, analyzing game film, and developing individualized training programs.