Reshuffling Near Top of Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Women's Top 20

Coming off a record-breaking 2022 season and a national runner-up finish, East Stroudsburg was a popular choice as the No. 1 team in the Nike/USA Lacrosse Division II Women’s Preseason Top 20. After all, the Warriors have 19 returning letterwinners, seven returning starters, three returning All-Americans and the preseason player of the year in midfielder Emily Mitarotonda.

We found out last week that there is, however, one thing the Warriors don’t have right now — their head coach. East Stroudsburg announced last Thursday that Xeni Barakos-Yoder, now in her eighth-year as the architect of the program, is stepping away from the team on medical leave after the birth of her second child. Assistant coach Rachel Ward, who joined the program in 2019, has been tabbed as the interim head coach.

ESU provided no additional details regarding Barakos-Yoder’s status, saying only that she is expected to resume her position as head coach at an unspecified point later this season.

Barakos-Yoder, a 2011 ESU graduate, has led her alma mater to unprecedented success in her first seven seasons, guiding the Warriors to the NCAA semifinals in three of the past four seasons, including the program’s first national championship appearance last spring. ESU is 95-25 under her leadership, with three Atlantic Region titles and five consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

Despite Barakos-Yoder’s absence, Ward and the Warriors opened the 2023 campaign with an impressive 16-7 victory Sunday over No. 13 Seton Hill, jumping out to an 8-1 lead and cruising to the win. Five goals from Mitarotonda helped lead the way.

The Warriors are one of eight undefeated teams that reside in the top 10 of this week’s poll and host No. 11 Pace on Saturday. Other key games this week include No. 5 UIndy against No. 7 Tampa, No. 6 Regis against No. 9 Grand Valley State, and No. 10 Adelphi at No. 12 Mercy.

NIKE/USA LACROSSE
DIVISION II WOMEN’S TOP 20

Also considered (alphabetical order): Bloomsburg, IUP, Lee, Maryville, Roberts Wesleyan, St. Anselm

Nike/US Lacrosse Rankings

Division I Men | Division I Women
Division II Men | Division II Women
Division III Men | Division III Women

HOT

UIndy (+3)

The defending national champions have not missed a beat yet under new head coach Elaine Jones, with four victories over unranked foes to start the season. The schedule gets more difficult beginning Saturday with a neutral-site game against No. 7 Tampa (in Charlotte), followed by games against No. 9 Grand Valley State, Davenport and No. 6 Regis.

Florida Southern (+2)

Despite trailing 4-1 after one quarter, the Mocs used a strong second half to rally for an impressive 15-10 upset over then-No. 2 Adelphi. FSC outscored the Panthers 8-1 over the final 30 minutes, with sophomore Giana Murphy scoring three of her game-high five goals after halftime. The Mocs defense held Adelphi scoreless for a stretch of over 33 minutes, allowing only a single second-half tally with just 32 seconds remaining.

Tampa (+2)

Four goals from attacker Sarah Hinkle and a game-high seven draw controls by Cece Colombo helped the Spartans remain undefeated with a 14-9 win over visiting Adelphi. Goalie Alex Walling recorded 10 saves and has a save percentage of nearly 61 percent through Tampa’s first four games.

NOT

Adelphi (-8)

In its six prior trips to Florida since 2015, Adelphi had posted a cumulative 10-2 record against formidable Sunshine State Conference opponents. Last week, the Panthers doubled that loss total, falling in two games against Tampa and Florida Southern and returning home with zero wins during their Florida swing for the first time ever. The challenge doesn’t get easier this week as Adelphi travels to No. 12 Mercy.

Seton Hill (-4)

The Griffins are favored to win their third straight PSAC Western Division title in 2023, but Saturday’s matchup against Eastern Division favorite East Stroudsburg did not live up to its billing. ESU built a 9-2 halftime advantage and led by as many as 11 goals in the second half while handing Seton Hill a season-opening 16-7 setback. The Griffins will need to become stronger road warriors as they play five more away from home before their first home contest on March 18.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS

• Preseason

• Week 1: Feb. 13, 2023

• Week 2: Feb. 20, 2023