WEST CHESTER, Pa. – After dispatching Kutztown in the NCAA First Round, the 11th-ranked and three-seeded East Stroudsburg University lacrosse team turns its attention to second-ranked and top-seeded West Chester with the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship on the line on Saturday at noon at West Chester’s Vonnie Gros Field.

Ticketing Info

• All tickets will be sold on-site.
• CASH ONLY
• Adults: $10.00
• Students/Seniors: $5.00
• Children (2-5 yrs.): $2.00

How To Follow

Those unable to attend can watch the Warriors take on the Golden Rams via the NCAA Championships Pass (free). Live stats are available on wcupagoldenrams.com. For more information, please visit WCU's Tournament Central. Follow @ESUWarriors on Instagram and X for live updates.

The Series

ESU and West Chester meet for the third time this season, with the undefeated Golden Rams edging the Warriors 13-9 in the most recent meeting on April 24 at Vonnie Gros Field and earning a 15-6 win at Whitenight Field on March 27. The Warriors held a 7-5 lead in the third quarter against WCU in the most recent contest, but WCU closed the game on an 8-2 run to secure the win. Both squads have now met in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship game six consecutive years, with ESU earning regional titles in 2018, 2021, and 2022, while the Golden Rams advanced to the NCAA Semifinals in 2018 and 2023. The Warriors previously knocked off an undefeated WCU squad during the NCAA DII Atlantic Region Championship game in 2021 with a 13-9 win at Eiler-Martin Stadium to advance to the NCAA Semifinals.

Last Time Out

Led by six points from Emily Mitarotonda and 18 saves by Abby Simonetti, the Warriors picked up an 11-7 win over Kutztown in the NCAA First Round matchup on Thursday. With the game tied at 3-3, the Warriors scored five of the next six goals to take an 8-4 lead and held a 10-5 advantage early in the fourth quarter. After the Golden Bears notched back-to-back goals to make it a three-goal game at 10-7, the Warriors shut out KU over the final nine-plus minutes and scored the final goal with 5:45 to play to advance with the 11-7 victory.

About the Warriors

Among 108 NCAA DII teams, ESU ranks first in save percentage, sixth in ground balls per game, and boasts a stout defense that ranks 14th in goals-against average. PSAC East Athlete of the Year Emily Mitarotonda ranks first nationally in free-position goals per game, third in goals and goals per game, fourth in points per game, sixth in caused turnovers per game, and 19th in ground balls per game. GK Abby Simonetti has been a brick wall this season, leading the nation in save percentage and saves, third in saves per game, and eighth in goals-against average. Her 218 saves this season rank third most in a single season at ESU and just five saves shy of second place.

About the Golden Rams

West Chester, the reigning NCAA National Champion runner-up and PSAC Champion, enters the contest with a 20-0 record. The Golden Rams advanced to the Atlantic Region Championship game with a dominant 19-3 win over Seton Hill on Thursday morning. The Golden Rams own the 13th-best scoring offense and seventh-best scoring defense in NCAA DII, while ranking 10th in assists and fifth in clearing percentage. Hannah Stanislawczyk ranks just behind Mitarotonda in goals and points, while Jessica Gorr boasts the fourth-best save percentage in NCAA Division II.

More Records

After becoming ESU’s all-time leader in points and the PSAC’s all-time leader in goals this season, Mitarotonda broke her own Warrior single-season record for goals and points against the Golden Bears on Thursday. The PSAC’s all-time leader in goals is just four goals away from etching her name as second all-time in NCAA Division II, entering the game with 307 career goals. She is also just three goals away from breaking the PSAC’s single-season goals record of 93 set by WCU’s Kathleen Sheehan in 2004 and 10 points away from breaking the conference’s career points record held by the Golden Rams’ Stephanie Kienle (2005-08).

ESU in the NCAA Tournament

The Warriors are making their seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament, having not earned a tournament berth before 2017. ESU holds a record of 10-6 in NCAA Tournament contests, including a win over Kutztown in 2024 at West Chester. The Warriors seek their third NCAA DII Atlantic Region title in four seasons, after advancing to the NCAA Semifinal Round in 2021 and earning their first trip to the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2022. The Warriors are 3-2 all-time in NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship games, with all five games being played against West Chester. ESU collected regional titles in 2018, 2021, and 2022, while the Golden Rams advanced to the NCAA Semifinals in 2018 and 2023.

What’s Next

The winner between ESU and WCU will capture the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship and advance to the NCAA Semifinals in Winter Park, Fla., which takes place on Thursday, May 23. The winner of the NCAA Semifinal advances to the NCAA Championship Game on Saturday, May 25.