NCAA Women's Lacrosse Regional Tournament First Round Preview: #6 Frostburg State vs #3 East Stroudsburg

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – The Frostburg State Women's Lacrosse team earned their first-ever bid in the NCAA Division II Tournament, sliding into the sixth-seed in the Atlantic Region as they will travel to the No. 3 seed of East Stroudsburg to face the Warriors on Thursday at noon.
 
How They Got Here
Earning a spot in a national tournament for the second time in program history, having played in the D III NCAA Tournament in 1992, the Bobcats are coming off their third straight MEC Title.  For the second straight season, the Bobcats went undefeated in conference play, currently sitting with an overall record of 13-6.  FSU defeated Wheeling 17-1 in three quarters to reach the MEC championship game, where they faced off against Dominican (CA) for the first-ever meeting between the two squads, coming back to take the crown in a 13-11 final.  Frostburg is the first-ever team to represent the Mountain East Conference in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
East Stroudsburg is no stranger to the big stage, having been to eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments, being runners-up in 2022.  The Warriors are two-time PSAC Championships and four-time Atlantic Regional Champions, having won the regional pod just last year.  ESU is currently 14-5 overall, standing with a 10-2 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.  East Stroudsburg defeated Millersville 13-9 to reach the semifinals, where they lost a tight 12-11 contest to Slippery Rock in overtime.
 
The Matchup
This will be the third time in program history Frostburg has faced the Warriors, as ESU has the 2-0 advantage in the all-time matchup.  East Stroudsburg dominated the Bobcats in 2021 on the former's home field with a 20-4 contest, while FSU kept it close in their next meeting in 2023, where the two teams battled at a neutral site in Sparks, MD as ESU snuck out the 12-8 victory.
 
The Players
Frostburg stands strong all over, starting up front with MEC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MEC selection graduate Camden DeMaio (62 goals, 37 assists), as she is joined by fellow First Team All-MEC member junior Neila Haney (73 goals, 23 assists), as the duo sits as the top two point totalers in the conference.  Joining them as another offensive weapon is also fellow First Team member senior midfielder Kerri Hayes, who holds a 24 goal and seven assist season, while also collecting 16 caused turnovers and 18 groundballs. Defensively, FSU is carried by a trio of key defenders starting with MEC Defensive Player the Year junior Jessie Bare (40 CT's, 42 GB's), as she is supported by junior Izzy Kelly (36 CT's, 39 GB's) and senior Delaney Devers (24 CT's, 27 GB's), all who received First Team honors as well.  Senior Julia Badolato is another Bobcat to watch out for on the offensive end, putting up 36 goals and 21 assists to award her a Second Team All-MEC nod, while junior midfielders Emily Lamoreaux (24 goals, 13 assists, 43 draw controls) and MEC Tournament MVP Daniella Boss (23 goals, 5 assists, 32 DC's), and senior goalkeeper Grace Dickey round out the rest of the field for FSU, all receiving All-MEC Honorable Mention, as the latter is the conference leader in save percentage (.523) and goals against average (7.56).  MEC Freshman of the Year Kamryn Lee posts a strong suit off the bench, being named to the All-MEC Freshman Team in her first collegiate season, as she holds onto 10 CT's and 15 groundballs.
 
ESU provides a tough suit all-around the field starting up front with PSAC Freshman of the Year Sadie Kauffman, who lit it up in the attack position, scoring a team-high 98 goals in her first year which is a top-3 mark in all of Division II.  The freshman dished out 25 assists to sit her at 119 total points on the year, as she's also caused 20 turnovers, picked 27 ground balls, and collected a team-high 92 draw controls.  Moving back to goal, the Warriors boast PSAC Defensive Player of the Year Abby Simonetti, who's made 222 saves in net during the season and holds a .558 save percentage and 9.52 goals against average.  Supporting Kauffman on offense is First Team All-PSAC member Lauren Hallman and Second Team All-PSAC selection Ariana Tucci, as the former sees 37 goals and 14 assists, while the latter holds 50 goals and 19 assists.  Molly Atwell was also named to the First Team, being a force to reckon with on defense, as she leads the team in caused turnovers with 39, while also scooping 22 ground balls and 34 draw controls.  Second Team defenders Taylor Vara and Emily Varilla round out the turf for East Stroudsburg, as the duo combines for 49 CT's and 59 ground balls.
 
The Rest of the Field
East Stroudsburg is the host of Atlantic Region Pod 1, as the No. 2 seed is represented by Slippery Rock.  West Chester hosts Pod 2, serving as the No. 1 overall seed in the region, as No. 4 Wingate and No. 5 Limestone round out the rest of the region and the second pod.
 
NCAA Division II Tournament Atlantic Region
Thursday, May 8 – FIRST ROUND
#3 East Stroudsburg vs #6 Frostburg State – 12 PM (Pod 1 in East Stroudsburg, PA)
#4 Wingate vs #5 Limestone – 3 PM (Pod 2 in West Chester, PA)
 
Saturday, May 10 - SEMIFINALS
#2 Slippery Rock vs Winner of ESU/FSU
#1 West Chester vs Winner of WU/LU