EAST STROUDSBURG – For the fifth consecutive season, the No. 17 East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team and No. 1 West Chester will battle it out for the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Title on Sunday at West Chester’s Vonnie Gros Field. The first draw is set for noon.

About ESU: The Warriors look to build off an impressive 15-8 victory over Kutztown on Friday afternoon, where it avenged back-to-back losses with Kutztown. In that matchup, Emily Mitarotonda registered five goals, including four consecutive by herself in the third quarter to extend the Warriors’ four-goal to eight entering the final quarter. Kiki Fitzpatrick also contributed five points with a hat trick and two assists. PSAC East Freshman of the Year Hannah Schiemer also found the back of the cage three times. 

The Series: ESU is 0-2 this season against the Golden Rams this season, as WCU is the No. 1 team in both major poll, holding a perfect record of 20-0. After falling 16-5 at WCU on March 21, the Warriors gave West Chester it’s closest game to date with an 11-9 WCU victory at Whitenight Field on April 19. After WCU held a 5-0 lead, ESU fought back to a single goal game at 6-5 at halftime. ESU scored four of the first five goals in the second half to take a 10-5 lead, as ESU ran out of time, falling short of a comeback in the 11-9 final score.  

Three-Peat?: ESU seeks its third consecutive NCAA regional title after defeating the Golden Rams in the finals in 2021 and 2022 at Eiler-Martin Stadium. In last season’s matchup, Emily Mitarotonda scored seven goals, none bigger than the game-winning goal in overtime to lift the Warriors a 13-12 win in the Poconos and send ESU to Saint Charles, Missouri for the NCAA Semifinals.

ESU NCAA Tournament History: Following its win against Kutztown, ESU is now 9-5 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. ESU holds three regional championships, with its first coming in 2018 in Xeni Barakos-Yoder’s third season leading the Warriors. After falling to West Chester in the 2019 regional final and the COVID-19 pandemic wiping out the 2020 postseason, the Warriors have earned the last two Atlantic Region Championships at Eiler-Martin Stadium against West Chester. The Warriors look to top WCU at WCU in the regional final for the first time since 2018’s 16-14 win.

Know the Foe: West Chester looks to enter the NCAA Semifinals unscathed and will have to go through the Warriors a third time to do so. WCU has a top-five scoring offense and defense, averaging 18.4 goals per game and allowing just 6.79, ranking second in the nation in scoring margin with an average differential of 11.6 goals. Lindsey Monigle ranks sixth in the country in assists, often sending passes for goals to PSAC East All-First Team selections Keri Barnett and Hanna Stanislawczyk, who both rank in the top 10 nationally in goals. A well rounded team, Grace Frasso and Stanislawczyk both rank in the top-25 in caused turnovers, while goalkeeper Jessica Gorr ranks second in the country in save percentage. 

Does History Repeat Itself?: ESU is in an similar situation to the 2021 season, taking on an undefeated West Chester team in the Atlantic Region Championship. The Warriors got off to a fast start in that contest, building a 4-2 lead prior to a 52-minute lightning delay at ESU. The Warriors remained loose, having a dance party in Zimbar Gym, and never looked back as ESU took a 9-2 lead after a 7-0 scoring run. WCU got as close as four, but ESU took home its second-ever region title with a 13-9 win against the previously undefeated Golden Rams.

Best in the Nation: Earlier this week, Mitarotonda, Maggie Sell and Kiki Fitzpatrick were honored on USA Lacrosse Magazine All-America teams for their impressive 2023 seasons. Mitarotonda and Sell landed on the USA Lacrosse First Team, while Fitzpatrick was an honorable mention.