EAST STROUDSBURG – After a record breaking 2022 season that saw the East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team advance to its first NCAA Division II national championship game, the Warriors has high expectations heading into the 2023 season. ESU brings an experienced roster, along with several newcomers expecting to make an immediate impact, as the No. 1 Warriors host No. 13 Seton Hill in the season opener at Whitenight Field on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. 

Who’s Back: ESU returns 19 letterwinners from its record breaking 2022 season, including three of its five IWLCA All-American selections in Emily Mitarotonda, Kiki Fitzpatrick and Maggie Sell. Madison Bagatta, Sophia Graffeo, Jameson Kernaghan and Allie Sweeney also return as starters.

Who’s Not: The Warriors will look to replace several key members from last season’s finalist squad, including a pair of IWLCA All-Americans in Gianna LeDuc (A) and Kayleigh Pokrivka (D). Other key losses include Kristen Andreychak, Maddie Heck and goalkeeper McKenzie Gaghan. 

Who’s New: ESU brings three talented transfers from all levels of NCAA lacrosse in Jocelyn Smestad (Presbyterian) and Campbell Heller (Wilmington) and goalkeeper Riley DiFiore (York)  Smestad appeared in six games for the Blue Hose in her lone season, tallying three ground balls and a turnover. Heller was a CACC First Team selection for the Wildcats, ranking second in the conference with 75 goals, which ranked 10th nationally and second among all freshman in NCAA Division II. The Warriors add seven freshman to the roster in Hanna Schiemer, Lauren Hallman, Jolee Roth, Mia LaBarca, Kenna Price, Lauren Waite and Kaz Kennedy. DiFiore, a graduate student transfer, has started 26 games in her career at York, posting a 20-6 career record, with a GAA of 7.37 and a save percentage of .570. She was named to the USA Lacrosse Magazine Preseason All-American prior to senior season in 2022 and earned IWLCA All-America Second Team and IWLCA All-Region First Team as a junior for the Spartans.

Coaching Staff: As announced on Thursday, Rachel Ward will serve as interim head coach to start the season, with head coach Xeni Barakos-Yoder on medical leave after welcoming her second child. She is expected to return as head coach later this season. Ward was named the IWLCA Division II Outstanding Assistant Coach this past winter after her role in guiding ESU to the national championship game. Ward will be joined by a pair of volunteer assistant coaches in former Warrior All-Americans Hana Cicerelle and Kayleigh Pokrivka. The two are among the best to play their respective positions at ESU in program history, with Cicerelle as the leading points scorer and Pokrivka a three-time PSAC East First Team selection and an IWLCA First Team All-American honoree in 2022.

Offense: ESU used a three-headed monster that accumulated 198 goals, 124 assists for 349 points a season ago, as Mitarotonda, LeDuc and Fitzpatrick all earned IWLCA All-America status and sit in the top three spots in points in a season in program history and finished in the top-12 nationally. LeDuc has graduated, but Mitarotonda and Fitzpatrick return. Sophia Graffeo, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the NCAA Semifinals is back for her sophomore season after scoring 38 goals, while Madison Bagatta also scored 25-plus goals for the Warriors a season ago.

Defense: ESU will turn to a new leaders on defense, with Pokrivka and Andreychak graduating. USA Lacrosse Preseason All-American Maggie Sell looks to keep the Warrior defensive unit stout alongside Jameson Kernaghan, Allie Sweeney, McKenna Conklin. ESU gets back Chelsea Allie, and Olivia Wenrich from injury. Allie missed the entire 2020 season, while Wenrich was injured in the seasons opener. 

Goalkeepers: Along with welcoming former York All-American GK Riley DiFiore to the Poconos, sophomore Bella Gismondi returns after a solid debut season in goal. In 12 games, she posted a 4.74 goals against average, making 21 saves. She went a perfect 6-0 in decisions. She did not allow more than six goals in any game that she appeared in. 

Preseason Polls: The Warriors topped both major national polls in the IWLCA Coaches and USA Lacrosse Magazine. In the latest IWLCA poll, ESU earned 23 of 27 first place votes. ESU was also selected first in the PSAC East preseason poll, narrowly edging West Chester, who was picked third in both preseason national polls.

Preseason Honors: Along with topping both national preseason polls, the USA Lacrosse Magazine announced that Mitarotonda (first team), Sell (first team) and Fitzpatrick (second team), were named to the publication’s preseason All-America teams. Mitarotonda was also named the Preseason Player of the Year by USA Lacrosse Magazine. 

Milestones to Watch: Entering her junior season, Emily Mitarotonda could become the Warriors’ all-time leader in both goals and points if she produces at the same pace a season ago. She needs 53 goals to become the all-time leader, while needing exactly 100 points to surpass former teammate and now volunteer assistant coach, Hana Cicerelle. Kiki Fitzpatrick needs 54 assists to become ESU’s all-time assists leader.  

Schedule: The Warriors will face a challenging non-conference schedule, featuring contests against No. 15 Seton Hill and No. 13 Pace to open the season.  ESU will then battle Frostburg State in a neutral site matchup at US Lacrosse Headquarters’ Tierney Field. After facing PSAC West foe IUP on March 11, ESU heads to Millersville for its PSAC East opener on March 15. The non-conference finale will be against Jefferson in Philadelphia on March 18. The Warriors will have a home-and-home against the six PSAC East foes in Millersville, West Chester Bloomsburg, Shepherd, Shippensburg and Kutztown.

Postseason: The PSAC Tournament will be held at the highest seed remaining in the PSAC East this season, after being held in the Western Division a season ago. The Warriors look to repeat as PSAC Champions and search for its third overall conference championship. 

Following the PSAC Tournament, the Warriors will look to secure its third-consecutive and fourth overall NCAA Division II Atlantic Region final.

The Warriors hope to advance to the NCAA Semifinal site for the fourth time over the past five seasons with an Atlantic Region championship. This season, the NCAA Semifinals and NCAA National Championship will be held at the University of Indianapolis’ Key Stadium on May 19-21.