NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – After a convincing 16-7 win over No. 15 Seton Hill in its season opener on Sunday, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association announced on Monday afternoon that the East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team remains at No. 1 in the weekly coaches' poll.
ESU earned 21 of 30 first-place votes, as No. 2 Tampa (5), No. 3 Florida Southern (1), No. 6 Adelphi and No. 7 UIndy (1) also earned top votes. Along with the Warriors, No. 4 West Chester and No. 17 Seton Hill represent the PSAC in the poll.
The Warriors built an 9-2 first half edge over the nationally-ranked Griffins and did not allow SHU within eight goals in the second half, reaching the 10-goal mercy-rule timing rule at 12-2, 13-3, 14-4 and 16-6, prior to the final score of 16-7.
ESU was led offensively by Emily Mitarotonda and Kiki Fitzpatrick, who both registered six points. Olvia Wenrich tallied four goals in her return from injury, while 2022 CACC First Team selection Campbell Heller recorded a hat rick in Warrior debut after transferring in from Wilmington.
Defensively, Maggie Sell caused four turnovers and scooped three ground balls. Jameson Kernaghan also contributed multiple caused turnovers, while GK Riley DiFiore made eight saves in goal in an impressive Warrior debut for the graduate transfer from York.
ESU readies for another nationally-ranked matchup on Saturday, hosting No. 13 Pace. The opening draw at Whitenight Field is slated for March 4th at Noon.
2023 ILWomen/IWLCA Division II Poll – February 27
| Rank |
Institution |
Points (FPV) |
Last Poll |
| 1 |
East Stroudsburg (1 - 0) |
714 (21) |
1 |
| 2 |
Tampa (4 - 0) |
644 (5) |
6 |
| 3 |
Florida Southern (3 - 0) |
635 (1) |
4 |
| 4 |
West Chester (2 - 0) |
609 |
3 |
| 5 |
Le Moyne (1 - 0) |
595 |
5 |
| 6 |
Adelphi (0 - 2) |
551 (1) |
2 |
| 7 |
UIndy (4 - 0) |
543 (1) |
7 |
| 8 |
Regis (CO) (1 - 0) |
508 |
8 |
| 9 |
Rollins (3 - 0) |
477 |
9 |
| 10 |
Grand Valley (1 - 1) |
442 |
10 |
| 11 |
Mercy (1 - 1) |
408 |
11 |
| 12 |
Wingate (3 - 1) |
399 |
12 |
| 13 |
Pace (1 - 0) |
351 |
13 |
| 14 |
Lynn (2 - 1) |
317 |
14 |
| 15 |
Flagler (3 - 1) |
284 |
17 |
| 16 |
Assumption (1 - 0) |
277 |
16 |
| 17 |
Seton Hill (0 - 1) |
254 |
15 |
| 18 |
New Haven (0 - 0) |
215 |
18 |
| 19 |
Embry-Riddle (1 - 1) |
179 |
19 |
| 20 |
Saint Leo (2 - 0) |
176 |
21 |
| 21 |
Mercyhurst (1 - 0) |
144 |
20 |
| 22 |
Bentley (0 - 1) |
94 |
23 |
| 23 |
Mount Olive (1 - 2) |
88 |
25 |
| 24 |
Colorado Mesa (0 - 0) |
76 |
24 |
| 25 |
Roberts Wesleyan (2 - 1) |
67 |
22 |
