2018 ESU Lacrosse Quick Facts (PDF)

EAST STROUDSBURG – Coming off the most successful year in team history last spring, East Stroudsburg University's long-awaited 2018 opener is just around the corner.

The Warriors kick off the 2018 lacrosse season on Sunday with a 12 p.m. contest against Tiffin at Whitenight Field, looking to ride the momentum of a 2017 campaign which included a final record of 17-3, the program's first-ever PSAC Championship and its first appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament.

ESU won 12 games in a row, capped by a 10-9 win over Mercyhurst in the PSAC Final, before its season ultimately ended with a defeat to Florida Tech in the national tournament. As a result of that success, the Warriors will enter this weekend's contest listed No. 8 in the IWLCA Division II poll, the highest ranking in team history.

"We acknowledge the outside recognition," third-year head coach Xeni Barakos said. "But preseason rankings are just that; we haven't proven ourselves yet. We're trying to raise the bar for each other every day at practice so that we're prepared when we step onto the field on game day."

The team loses four 2017 third team All-PSAC performers in Bethany Cunningham, Emily Fitzsimmons, Lauren Green and Kerry Mulcahy. Eight starters, however, are back this spring, along with 11 incoming freshman to help round out a roster of 26 players.

GOALKEEPER

Returning sophomore Tatyana Petteway made a major impact in her debut collegiate season, earning third team IWLCA All-America, first team IWLCA All-South Region, first team All-PSAC and PSAC Freshman of the Year accolades in 2017. She registered a 14-3 record in the cage, with a 9.48 goals-against average and a .532 save percentage which ranked second in all of DII.

"Tatyana is an amazing goalie," Barakos commented. "She's super athletic, and she's in the best shape we've ever seen. We talk a lot with her about having a fresh slate. What she did last year was outstanding, but now we need to continue to build on that."

Petteway will be backed up by sophomore Michelle Dyck, who made three starts last year and earned victories in each of her two decisions.

DEFENSE

ESU will need to replace two starters on the backline in Cunningham and Mulcahy. Five of the team's incoming freshmen are defenders, with returning starters Natalie Jacobs and Madison Mulligan providing leadership to the group. Jacobs and Mulligan each started all 20 games in their sophomore and freshman seasons, respectively, a year ago.

"They both had outstanding years last season," Barakos said. "They were able to learn under Kerry and Bethany, and they're passing that knowledge on to the others in practice."

Three players who Barakos expects to see a lot of playing time in the early going are sophomore Megan Illes, freshman Kristen Andreychak and freshman Kayleigh Pokrivka. Illes made one appearance during her debut season at ESU.

"Megan is very physical, and she's strong," Barakos said. "She's one of our strongest defenders, and I'm interested to see how that complements our lineup this season."

Andreychak was a three-year letterwinner at Hillsborough HS in New Jersey, earning team MVP status as a senior, while Pokrivka was a three-time All-YAIAA first team selection at York Catholic.

"Kristen brings a calmness that reminds me of Bethany Cunningham on the field," Barakos remarked. "She's very composed, and she always seems to be in the right place at the right time.

"Kayleigh has been outstanding in practice," she continued. "She pushes herself every day and she's extremely vocal. She's been exceeding the bar so far."

Other contenders for playing time on defense include sophomore Sarah Campbell, freshman Gillian McEvoy and freshman Laurel Kennedy.

MIDFIELD

The 2017 PSAC Athlete of the Year and a third team IWLCA All-America honoree are included among ESU's returners in the midfield.

Junior Emma Rufolo took home the conference's top award in her first season as a Warrior. A transfer from Division I Gardner-Webb, she totaled 34 goals and 17 assists while leading the team in ground balls (61), draw controls (61) and caused turnovers (42). Senior Chessie Rahmer, meanwhile, earned All-America status along with first team IWLCA All-South Region accolades after leading ESU with 60 points (50 G, 10 A). She was second on the team in ground balls (55), draw controls (56) and caused turnovers (35) and enters her final season with 97 career goals.

"Both Emma and Chessie are certainly big returners for us," Barakos said. "They're so graceful on the field, and they're always in the right place at the right time. Hana Cicerelle is also looking strong. Her speed in the midfield is great, and she's been working hard this offseason to get into that rotation."

Cicerelle earned starts in five of her 19 appearances as a freshman in 2017, totaling 26 goals, 13 assists and tying for third on the team with 19 caused turnovers. Alicia Stratten also returns for her senior season after making starts in 11 of her 20 appearances. She recorded 19 goals, 12 assists, 43 draw controls and 19 caused turnovers.

Freshman Krista Mitarotonda, a four-time first team All-League player at Morris Knolls HS in New Jersey, is expected to play a key role on draws and in an attacking role in her debut season.

"Krista brings some height into the midfield, which we had lacked previously," Barakos said. "Rylie Toomey and Julianne Fitzsimmons should also get a lot of playing time, and Shannon Dent has been playing really well in practice. We're excited to see what she can do."

Freshman Brielle Curtis, who scored 105 goals in her career at State College HS, brings additional depth into the Warriors' midfield.

ATTACK

Juniors TJ Jefferis and Brooke Fritz headline the options up front for the Warriors, while sophomore Cassidy McKenna and Abbey Castor will also contribute in the lower attack positions. Jefferis was tied for second on the team with 34 goals last season, including the last-minute game-winner in the PSAC Championship game vs. Mercyhurst, and Fritz totaled 22 goals and 14 assists for the Warriors.

"We look to Brook to lead the attack this year," Barakos said. "And we look to TJ to continue to do what she does best, which is put balls in the back of the net. She's one of our top returning scorers.

"A strength of our team is that we can have eight or nine different players putting up goals every game. We're not a one-man show, and I think that makes us harder to defend."

Nine different Warriors had at least 14 goals last spring. Other options up front in 2018 are freshmen Bailey McMaster and Gianna LeDuc.

OUTLOOK

ESU was projected to repeat as PSAC champions in the preseason coaches' poll, and a return to the postseason is the goal heading into Sunday's opener. A new qualifying format set to begin in 2018 will have three teams each advancing to the national tournament out of four newly-created regions. The PSAC is part of the Atlantic Region, which also contains teams from the CACC.

"We're a young team, but we have that playoff experience from last season," Barakos said. "What I'm looking for is to be better prepared throughout the season and play at our best at all times. We want to keep raising the bar from game to game.

"I'm sure every team's goal is to make the playoffs," she concluded. "What I hope is that our kids are better lacrosse players at the end of the year, and that they get the opportunity to play for a championship."