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WEST CHESTER, Pa. – East Stroudsburg University's PSAC tournament run ended with a 13-9 defeat to top-seeded West Chester in Sunday's championship game.

The Warriors, who reached the conference final for a fifth time in program history, will now await their seeding in the upcoming NCAA Division II tournament, with the 16-team field announced on NCAA.com at 8:30 p.m. later tonight.

The Golden Rams (17-2) topped the PSAC for a second-consecutive year and a league-leading 22nd time overall. The home side was up 8-4 at halftime, and led by as many as eight goals at 13-5 before a late comeback attempt by ESU (14-5) fell short.

Junior Cassidy McKenna led the Warriors offense with three goals, as she recorded her second hat trick of the season. Sophomore Brielle Curtis added two goals, while junior Hana Cicerelle supplied one goal and a pair of assists.

After trailing 4-1 early on, ESU pulled within 5-4 on a strike by sophomore Krista Mitarotonda with 12:37 remaining in the opening half. The Golden Rams, though, scored eight of the game's next nine goals to take a commanding advantage they would not relinquish.

Ryan McKinney totaled three goals for West Chester, while five players added two goals in an all-around team effort for the Golden Rams. Senior midfielder Sami Barnett was recognized as tournament MVP at the conclusion of the contest.

Seniors Emma Rufolo and TJ Jefferis were the other goal scorers for the Warriors, with Rufolo also contributing four draw controls, four ground balls and three caused turnovers. Senior Brooke Fritz assisted on Curtis' second goal midway through the first half.

ESU entered having won three of the past four meetings with West Chester, including a 15-14 overtime victory during this year's regular season matchup on March 27. The Golden Rams will enter the Division II tournament on an 11-game winning streak.