ST. LOUIS -- After earning PSAC and Atlantic Region Championships, the East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team turns its head to the national stage, facing Queens in a 2021 NCAA DII Semifinal rematch on Friday at Lindenwood University's Hunter Stadium. The opening draw is set for Friday, May 20 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

HOW TO FOLLOW: Both NCAA Semifinal matchups and the national championship game will be broadcasted on NCAA.com. Live stats will be provided on StatBroadcast.

TOP SEED: After a thrilling overtime victory over rival West Chester, ESU (19-1) was chosen as the top seed of the remaining four teams in the reseeded bracket and will face fourth-seed Queens (21-0). Adelphi (18-2) was tabbed the second seed, while UIndy (20-1) was picked as the third seed.

HOW WE GOT HERE: After trailing 3-0 to West Chester, ESU reeled off a 3-0 run of its own to tie the Atlantic Region title contest at 3-3. The back-and-forth affair saw ESU post a three-goal lead in the fourth quarter, but West Chester would knot the score at 12-12 with just over three minutes remaining. After West Chester won the draw control, Kiki Fitzpatrick caused a turnover and passed to Gianna LeDuc. LeDuc sprinted up the field, finding PSAC East Athlete of the Year Emily Mitarotonda, who made a move past defenders and flung a shot while falling for the game-winning goal.

THREE HEADED MONSTER: All season, Mitarotonda, LeDuc and Fitzpatrick have caused opposing defenses fits. The three rank first second and third in single season points in ESU history, with LeDuc leading the way with 103 points. Mitarotonda is right behind her with 102 points, while Kiki Fitzpatrick is sitting at 99 entering the final weekend of the season. The three were all named 2022 IWLCA All-Americans, with LeDuc and Mitarotonda landing on the first team, while Fitzpatrick garnered third team All-America status. The triple-headed threat has combined to contribute over 60 percent of ESU’s goals (168), 78 percent of assists (118) for a total of over 66 percent of the Warriors’ 457 points in 20 games this season. LeDuc, Mitarotonda and Fitzpatrick rank 10th, 12th and 13th nationally in total points.

D-FENCE: For how impressive its offense is, ESU’s defense is arguably the stronger unit. With two 2022 All-American selections in Kayleigh Pokrivka and Maggie Sell, ESU’s defensive unit ranks third in caused turnovers per game, leads the nation in ground balls per game, and ranks sixth in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 6.4 goals per contest.

NPOW: For her heroics and for scoring 12 of ESU's 26 goals in its first two NCAA Tournament games, Emily Mitarotonda was named the IWLCA National Offensive Player of the Week for Division II. Six of her seven goals came in the second half against West Chester, including the game-ending overtime goal to send ESU to the NCAA Semifinals. Mitarotonda becomes the first Warrior to win the award multiple times, earning the honor after a monster performance in the first two rounds of the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

BEEN HERE BEFORE: ESU is playing in its third-ever NCAA Semifinal, with the Warriors first-ever NCAA Tournament berth coming in 2017. Overall, ESU has a 7-4 NCAA Tournament record and looks to punch its ticket to the program's first-ever national championship game.

KNOW YOUR FOE: The Royals enter the contest with an undefeated 21-0 record. Its last loss came in the 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship to 2022 semifinal and national championship host Lindenwood. The Royals sport the number one scoring offense in Division II, posting 21.48 goals per game and average to outscore opponents by an average of over 15 goals per contest. Kyleigh Masteran (90 goals) leads the nation in total goals and, while Rebecca Kinsely leads the country in points (131).

THE SERIES: The series is split at 1-1, with ESU earning a victory during the lone regular season meeting; the 2010 season opener. Current Warrior head coach Xeni Barakos-Yoder played in the thrilling 14-13 overtime victory at Queens. Molly O'Hara recorded four goals including the eventual game-winner in overtime.

REMATCH: The Warriors came up just short the last time they were in the NCAA Semifinals a season ago, falling to the Royals by a score of 17-14. Graduate student and ESU all-time points leaser Hana Cicerelle and then freshman Emily Mitarotonda (six goals, 1 assist) combined for 11 goals, but could not come all the way back from a 12-8 deficit, cutting the deficit to as low as two goals at 14-12 and 16-14.

UP NEXT: The winner between ESU and Queens will face the winner of the three-seed UIndy and two-seed Adelphi on Sunday in the NCAA Division II National Championship game at 1:00 p.m. inside Hunter Stadium.