EAST STROUDSBURG – Defending Division II Atlantic Region champions East Stroudsburg University is less than 48 hours away from its 2019 season opener, with the Warriors traveling to Georgian Court for a 2:30 p.m. road contest Thursday afternoon.
ESU, which was ranked No. 7 nationally in the latest IWLCA DII coaches' poll released on Monday, is one of seven teams in the top 25 which will make their season debuts this week. The Warriors return 11 starters from last year's squad which went 15-4 (11-1 PSAC) and advanced to the DII Final Four in Tampa, Fla. They are 44-12 overall in the past three seasons under head coach
Xeni Barakos-Yoder.
"We're excited to see the legacy and tradition that we have built over the last three seasons continue into our fourth year," Barakos-Yoder said. "Every year we've gotten a little bit better, a little bit stronger and a little bit more confident. We're ready to continue to put the puzzle pieces together and see where we fit in with our competition."
ESU's two IWLCA All-Americans from a year ago, sophomore
Krista Mitarotonda (first team) and senior
Emma Rufolo (third team), were each recognized by DII coaches as potential Player of the Year candidates in a recent Inside Lacrosse feature. The Warriors also bring back four other players who have earned previous All-Region and/or All-PSAC accolades in junior goalkeeper
Tatyana Petteway, sophomore
Kayleigh Pokrivka, senior
Hana Cicerelle and senior
TJ Jefferis.
"Though we're bringing back a lot of experience, every year is different," Barakos-Yoder remarked. "We've been switching things up, trying people in new areas. I also think that some rule changes are going to allow people to see a lot more creativity out of the Warriors this season."
Included in this year's roster are eight newcomers: seven freshmen and one transfer. All will fight for playing time throughout the spring, with potential immediate contributors including
Chelsea Allie, a defender from North Oaks, Minn., and
Madison Bagatta, a midfielder from West Nyack, N.Y.
ESU will be challenged right out of the gates in 2019, with three of its first five opponents currently ranked in the top 15 nationally. After Thursday's opener, the Warriors will travel to No. 2 Adelphi for a 12 p.m. matchup on Saturday, and they also have upcoming dates at Whitenight Field with No. 14 Pace (March 9) and No. 6 LIU Post (March 13). ESU's home opener is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 7 vs. Chestnut Hill.
"We've been working really hard, but so has everyone else," Barakos-Yoder said. "The girls are ready to play their first game and start testing themselves, and I'm excited to see what team we morph into using both our growth from previous years and the new dynamics we've seen in the preseason."
IWLCA Division II Preseason Poll – Week 1
| Rank |
Institution |
Points |
FPV |
Record |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
Le Moyne |
615 |
21 |
0-0 |
1 |
| 2 |
Adelphi |
603 |
4 |
2-0 |
2 |
| 3 |
Florida Southern |
565 |
0 |
1-1 |
3 |
| 4 |
Lindenwood (MO) |
559 |
0 |
3-0 |
4 |
| 5 |
West Chester |
488 |
0 |
1-0 |
5 |
| 6 |
LIU Post |
475 |
0 |
1-0 |
7 |
| 7 |
East Stroudsburg |
449 |
0 |
0-0 |
6 |
| 8 |
Rollins |
416 |
0 |
4-0 |
9 |
| 9 |
Regis (Colorado) |
354 |
0 |
2-0 |
8 |
| 10 |
Mercy |
348 |
0 |
2-0 |
T-12 |
| T-11 |
Limestone |
330 |
0 |
3-1 |
11 |
| T-11 |
Tampa |
330 |
0 |
3-1 |
19 |
| T-11 |
UIndy |
330 |
0 |
2-0 |
T-12 |
| 14 |
Pace |
278 |
0 |
0-0 |
14 |
| 15 |
Florida Tech |
277 |
0 |
1-2 |
10 |
| 16 |
Grand Valley State |
249 |
0 |
2-0 |
17 |
| 17 |
Mercyhurst |
235 |
0 |
1-0 |
15 |
| 18 |
Merrimack |
233 |
0 |
0-2 |
16 |
| 19 |
New York Tech |
179 |
0 |
0-0 |
18 |
| 20 |
New Haven |
147 |
0 |
0-0 |
20 |
| 21 |
Colorado Mesa |
109 |
0 |
1-0 |
22 |
| 22 |
Tiffin |
95 |
0 |
2-0 |
25 |
| 23 |
Lock Haven |
66 |
0 |
0-1 |
21 |
| 24 |
Bentley |
58 |
0 |
0-0 |
23 |
| 25 |
McKendree |
34 |
0 |
0-0 |
25 |
| RV |
Mount Olive |
30 |
0 |
4-0 |
RV |
