SAINT CHARLES, Mo. -- After back-to-back emotional 13-12 overtime victories, the East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team sets its sight on its first NCAA Division II National Championship game in its 58-year history, battling the University of Indianapolis on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m. EST inside Hunter Stadium on the campus of Lindenwood University.

HOW TO FOLLOW: The NCAA Division II Women’s Lacrosse National Championship between the Warriors (20-1) and the Greyhounds (21-1) will be broadcasted on NCAA.com. Live stats will be provided via StatBroadcast. Live updates will be posted on @ESUWarriors social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

HOW WE GOT HERE: In identical fashion to its NCAA Atlantic Region matchup against West Chester, the Warriors and the previously undefeated Queens Royals entered overtime tied at 12-12. Just like its matchup with the Golden Rams, ESU did not win the draw and needed a tremendous save from GK McKenzie Gaghan to earn its only possession in overtime. Graduate student Kayleigh Pokrivka earned possession, and sent a transition pass to classmate Maddie Heck, who sent a pass to Kiki Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick sent the game-winning assist to the stick of freshman Sophia Graffeo, who buried her most important goal of her debut season to send ESU to its first-ever national championship game. The full recap of the historic Warriors victory can be found here.

THREE HEADED MONSTER: All season, Emily Mitarotonda, Gianna LeDuc and Kiki Fitzpatrick have caused chaos. The three Warriors rank first second and third in single season points in ESU history, with LeDuc leading the way with 103 points. Mitarotonda and LeDuc, both IWLCA All-America First Team selections, while Kiki Fitzpatrick is sitting at points at 101 points after two assists against Queens. The triple-headed threat has combined to contribute over 60 percent of ESU’s goals (193), 78 percent of assists (122) for a total of over 66 percent (315 points combined) 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.

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The historic 2022 season marks the first time ESU had advanced to the NCAA title game. The Warriors previously fell in its first two appearances in the NCAA Semifinals to Florida Southern in 2018 and saw its 2021 season end after falling to Queens during the 2021 season. ESU got its revenge in 2022, defeating the Royals in its final game before its transition to NCAA Division I this summer. ESU improved its NCAA Tournament record to 8-4. The Warriors had never previously made the NCAA Tournament prior to 2017 and have made it every season since.

KNOW THE FOE: It will the first-ever matchup between ESU and UIndy with both programs battling to claim its first national championship in its history. The Greyhounds advanced past the NCAA Semifinal round and avenged its only loss of the season by handing Adelphi a 11-6 loss on Friday evening at Hunter Stadium. Midfielder Peyton Romig led the offense with four points, while three other Greyhounds added three points in a balanced offensive attack. The duo GKs of Audrey Moran and Cassidy King combined for six saves. Romig one of the best players nationally in draw controls, averaging an impressive 11 per game, which ranks third in NCAA Division II. Like ESU, the Greyhounds thrive defensively as the nation’s leader in scoring defense (5.36 goals allowed per game). Not slouch offensively, UIndy boasts the nation’s sixth best offense (16.82 GPG). Offensively, Abigail Lagos paces the offense this season with an average of 4.05 goals per contest. 

WARRIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: As an athletic department, ESU seeks its first national title since the 2015 season, when the Warriors field hockey team downed Merrimack by a score of 1-0 after Ally Roth’s overtime penalty stroke. Other Warrior national championship teams include men’s soccer (1962 - NAIA), archery (1975 - Mixed, 1976-77 - US Intercollegiate [Men]), men’s gymnastics (1983-84, NCAA DII). The potential 2022 Warrior women’s lacrosse national championship would be the eighth overall in history at ESU.